We’re not that different

The idea for this post originally came from Jacob Riggs. It was on one of his older blogs, but I can’t find it. Still, it’s his idea. Just in case you don’t like it, the words are mine. :)

I just want to remind Free Will Baptists that we’re really not all that different from each other. Let me illustrate this point. The below map shows Nashville and Cookeville, Tennessee.

Notice that Nashville and Cookeville are on opposite sides of the map. Sometimes it seems like Free Will Baptists are like this. One group thinks that church includes KJV only, hymn books, neckties, and pantyhose. Another group thinks church includes the Message, multimedia displays, polos, and they’ve never heard of pantyhose. And many are in the middle, and some are even blending the two. We even call these “sides” conservative and liberal.

But let’s back up our perspective for a minute. Take a look at the map again, this time zoomed out to a national level.

The pins are in the same place. But you really can’t tell that much of a difference between the two. Yes, they’re separated, but not much. I would say that this perspective is how everyone else sees Free Will Baptists. The world, other Christians, and even other evangelicals can’t tell a difference between Free Will Baptists. That’s because we hold to the same doctrine: Free Will, Free Grace, Free Salvation. All the stuff mentioned above is philosophical and ultimately doesn’t determine salvation. (Let me interject that if you think that stuff does determine salvation, we are indeed far apart.) Churches, even individuals within the same church, hold differing views of how we live out the Christian life.

So with all the talk about change–which I’m for–don’t forget that we’re more like each other than we care to admit.

Sometimes I don’t feel like a Christian.

It’s true. Sometimes I don’t feel like a Christian. I get in a funk every once in a while. What’s crazy is that I know what it is. It’s pride. I get aggravated when things aren’t going like I want them to. Instead of waiting to let God do his thing and work it out, I want things to happen NOW. Of course, that’s selfishness, not kingdom mindedness.

The result is that I read my Bible just to read it. I pray because that’s what I’m supposed to do. Or maybe I don’t do either. Life should play out the way I want it to, right? Why should I give my time to God when he’s not willing to do this [whatever it is] for me?

That’s rich. To think that the God of the universe somehow owes me and should concede his will to mine.

Sounds ridiculous when I say it that way. But that’s what it is.

So usually something happens to remind me that God’s kingdom is bigger than I. And when I turn my attention back to God and away from myself, the funk subsides. It’s not overnight, but it does happen. I just don’t think God is as interested in what I want to do for him as who I should be in him.