tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287942088344364757.post1279068544976592705..comments2023-06-06T09:16:10.989-04:00Comments on Blogity-blah-blah-blog: Deep Thought Thursday ~ Don't Be So Pushy!Dan Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14941809269156930279noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287942088344364757.post-58011658332349347722009-05-08T13:36:00.000-04:002009-05-08T13:36:00.000-04:00Dan, congrats on your new typographical endeavors…...Dan, congrats on your new typographical endeavors…<br /><br />First of all, I completely understand your hesitation in using the term, “Christian” to define your faith. I agree that the term carries a lot of baggage with it, and has become riddled with negative stereotypes, affiliations, assumptions, etc. I know exactly where you're coming from.<br /><br /> When I first came back to Christ a few years ago, many of my non-Christian friends struggled with my being a "Christian". They thought that I was going to become a gay-bashing, brainwashed, self-righteous, judgmental bastard. It hurt, but I wasn’t concerned with all that. I was only concerned that my life - my relationship with them - would prove to be a positive witness to what being a Christian is all about, therefore changing the perceptions my friends had about "Christians".<br /><br />I by no means am the perfect example of being a Christian. Yet, I believe that a genuine Christian's life will bear fruit and bear witness to all things opposite of what that term means to so many people today. <br /><br />I'm out to take back and set a new example of what "Christian" can mean. And that is why I will continue to call myself a Christian...despite what others have seen in it elsewhere. Where they have seen hate, let them now see love. Where they have seen arrogance, let them now see humility. Where they have seen empty religion, let them now see Christ. <br /><br />So, I will encourage you, Dan, to not shy away from calling yourself a Christian. Because, being a genuine Christian means allowing Christ to both be seen in and work through you. And, if others come to see Him in you, that reality can only radically re-define how others understand Christianity and what they think of when they hear the word, “Christian”.<br /><br />Peace.Matthew Barlowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13971890488208477342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287942088344364757.post-89354805195322515542009-05-08T10:43:00.000-04:002009-05-08T10:43:00.000-04:00Good post Dan. I agree with you that pushing your ...Good post Dan. I agree with you that pushing your religion, beliefs, practices, addictions, world view etc. on anyone is not a healthy way to do life. I really like what Pete Rollins says, basically that Christianity isn't fundamentally about what you believe, but how you go about believing what you believe. <br /><br />We're all going to have our beliefs, opinions and identities, there is no doubt about that. But holding on to them too tightly and forcing people to see things your way is not life giving and actually closes doors by limiting the possibility for beautiful life giving relationships to develop.<br /><br />Contrastingly, holding your beliefs in such a way so that you allow yourself to grow, develop and be transformed by interacting and truly trying to understand others will actually open up doors and provide opportunities for wonderful life giving relationships to develop :)Jesse Turrihttp://www.turridesign.comnoreply@blogger.com