Don't get me wrong.
I'm the first person you will find wearing their Chacos, chilling in my Eno, posting arsty coffee shop pictures, going thrifting, etc. Because I love my Chacos, my Eno, obviously coffee and who doesnt love cute/cheap clothes? But it seems that we as Christians have put ourself in this category, like you have to look a certain way, or be a certain kind of person to fit the category of a Christian, which is no doubt very untrue.
But I feel like Christianity has become a trend.
This last weekend, I was at a college retreat with my favorite people and it was incredible. My church has a very hipster vibe and I love that about it. I mean it is literally smack dab in the middle of Atlanta, how could it not be? ATL rocks. Anyways, as I was looking around, I noticed that we all kind of looked the same. Which there was nothing wrong with--heck I had on the same thing as everyone else. We all had our Chacos, vintage overalls, flannels wrapped around our waist, hipster glasses and our north face backpacks loaded with our enos, Nalgene water bottles, Bibles and journals. Once again, these are my favorite things, no shame. But throughout the week I would find myself looking at others girls, wishing that I had their shirt, or jeans or whatever. As if not looking the part made me less of a Jesus lover. Sounds bizarre, right?
I would constantly find myself trying to fit this part, which thinking back to it really irritates me. I was doing my quiet time one morning when this idea of inauthenticity popped into my head. We as Christians should stand out. But not because of the way we look, or the pictures we post. But through our actions to those around us. The way we live our everyday life should be a representation of Christ in us. We should have a light about us that makes people wonder why we are so full of joy.
Believe me, you will find me with all the windows rolled down in my car with my feet out the window with my high-tops on blasting my Jesus music. Because I love it. But I feel as followers of Jesus, we need to ask ourselves how authentic we are being on a daily basis. Christianity is not a look just like Jesus is not a religion. The only 'look' we should have is the one that reflects the Love we have for the Father on everyone around us.
No amount of Christian activity can compensate for an authentic relationship with Christ.
In no way shape, form or fashion am I saying that any of these material things are bad. They aren't at all, they are some of my favorite things that I will continue to wear, including right now as I am typing this. I just can't help but wonder if as someone who has been a believer for a while, what new believers think. That there is some kind of category they have to fit in to be a true believer.
Jesus wants us to come to him, wherever we are at. Totally, genuinely, 100%, ourselves. He wants us as we are. His love is not found for us in how we look on the outside. His love is bountiful. Perfect. Overflowing. He loves our perfectly imperfect selves. Every time our hallelujah is tired, He gives us a new song.
That is the core of who Jesus is.
We are to take this love and share it to everyone we meet. We are supposed to love everyone so radically that they wonder why. Jesus died for us, knowing we might not ever love him back. That is what I define as true love. Because He loved us first, We are to love.
This is who we are as Christians.
" God is not looking for extraordinary, exceptionally gifted people, just laid-down lovers of Jesus who will carry His glory with transparency and not take it for themselves".-Heidi Baker
