I Don't Want to Be a Christian Anymore

It's not that I don't want to be a follower of Christ; I'm just tired of the word "Christian", and all of the baggage that it carries.  It's a tired, weary word, so loaded with prejudice and connotations that one wonders that it even signifies.  Maybe we could go back to "followers of the Way" or just "disciples of Jesus Christ." 

Christians have to be attached to this kind of garbage, and these kind of theatrics, and this kind of fanaticism, and this kind of "art".

We are lampooned by members of the Gen-X brat pack in "Saved", and misrepresented in bestselling novels like "The DaVinci Code."  No wonder; we are the willing harbringers of such piffle as "What Would Jesus Do?"* and the "--God" billboards.

Not that I think Christians won't be persecuted.  But for crying out loud, let's be persecuted for the right things.  There is a fine line between being subversive and being just plain obtuse.  Subversion may create hatred but demands respect.  Obtuse efforts to bring about cultural synchronicity simply make the claims of Christ easier to dismiss.  Christ on a cereal box isn't breaking anybody's heart.

*What would Jesus do? The problem is that we don't operate that way, any more than we stand at the crossroads of any decision, small or large, and ask ourselves questions like, "how may I channel my alcoholic grandfather in this decision?" or "how may I behave according to my mother's prejudices?"  These things are built into us, the fruit of long relationships.  We don't use Christ as a stencil for our day to day actions.  We seek Him, and he grows through us, organically, like a vine. 

I think I read about that somewhere, once.    

Comments

[Dingo]

I've spoken with the Christians and I've got good news: They don't want you either. They don't like all the posturing, the "I'm edgy AND conservative" persona, the whining about irrelevancies like Benny Henn and the Da Vinci Code. They want you out. I volunteered to tell you. They said, shouldn't we get a better Christian for something like this? I said, "No, he'll hear it better coming from me."

[Distant Land]

hey man... i dunno u but i think the way u write is very... i really like it... its smooth... plus what u wrote in "i don't want to be a christian anymore" ur right... i agree i dont want to be one anymore either..

[Christian]

I don't want to be a Christian as well but it's hard to say I'm not a Christian when my name is Christian

[Christian]

I don't want to be a Christian as well but it's hard to say I'm not a Christian when my name is Christian

[Joshua]

But if you suffer for being a Christian, do not feel ashamed, but glorify God with that name.

(1st Peter 4:16)

[eileen]

i feeel the same not that i don't believe anymore just fed up with the constaints it brings but feeling bit scared as all my friends are christians my husband is one of the leaders of the church. i have been a christian since i was 17 now i am 59! i am fed up with living within 4 walls and want to break out to be of use anywhere.

[Isaac]

im having troble fallowing the word or god and for some reason idc about anything like i want to be a good chritian but is so hard and when i tell god im not gonna do something i end up doing it later cn someone plz help tell me what i should do?

[DB]

Isaac,

You are suffering from a common condition called "being a sinner." I'm qualified to make that diagnosis because I am actually a spectacular sinner myself, as are most people I know. The good news is that God is faithful and gracious, despite our persistent efforts to push him away. I would say your anxiety is a good sign. Seek the Lord while he can be found, and trust in his goodness and mercy, not in your own righteousness.

And let me know how I can help you.

DB

[Isaac]

ty DB but what should i do to but him back in my life becouse be4 i use to have a good relationship with him and then all of a sudden i stopped careing whay should i do to get him bac in my life and again thank you

[Isaac]

*what ?

[DB]

Isaac,

You don't seem to have stopped caring entirely, or you wouldn't be struggling with this. People who truly don't care don't bother to worry about it.

Meditate on Phil. 1:6, and I would say if you are not regularly in a good, gospel-believing, bible-preaching church, seek one out. Make friends with older believers who will pour themselves into your life.

Sanctification (the process by which Jesus makes us more like himself) is a long, hard, painful process, full of fits and starts, and we often feel as if we are far away from God. But He is never far from us. Ask him for the faith to believe that.

DB

[Isaac]

ty u have help me alot last night i actually read the bible and praid but like its hard to do god's will when like all my friends arent chritian and like i dont want the samething to happend to me like it did in the pass the i doing everything good then i stop and i start sinning then i go bac to doing everything good then i sin it like a pattern and i want it to stop. what should i do?