Christ | Blue Collar Theology

I follow Christ, period.

I know that I live in a day and age where I am judged by the word “Christian”, but the problem with “Christian” is that there is no singular definition that suffices.

Is it “Christian” by my standard or yours, because they are probably not the same?

“Christian” has taken so many meanings from so many corners of the world for so many different eras. For some, “Christian” gets its definition from the Crusades. For others, it is the standard by which my wife wears her hair. And, I agree with you those two are not even close to being on the same playing field but that is how diverse and how polar the word “Christian” has become. It has taken on definition from the actions or lack thereof of those who are supposed to be learners of Jesus.

So, you can have “Christian” I don’t want it. I don’t want to have my life governed by a sliding scale of judgment, innuendo or manipulation. You can try and put the term on me, but I’ve decided not to wear it.

I’ve decided that I would rather get lost in the identity of Jesus. I want to live, love and look like him. Oh, he had his accusers. He had those who wanted him silenced. They were more interested in their name, their pedigree and their protocol. The accuser’s religious pride could not handle someone who just did not care about his religious appearance or his family name.

Yes, I’ve decided that I want my life to be on a trajectory of Christ. If I can stay on that trajectory then my life will have meaning. I’ll agree with you again, I’m still a long way off, but that is where I am heading.

By the way… I love the way my wife does her hair.

My wife and I just completed a 4373 km road trip last week. We saw thousands of signs. Not once did we stop to admire any sign. I know that every business pays big dollars to construct and then have you read their sign, but they didn’t garner the attention enough to make us want to pause and admire in wonder.

We did get excited however after 17 hrs of a tag team push to see our destination advertised only 23 km away. There was ‘glory’ that was to follow. Every sign pointed to the one thing that we were waiting for. We wanted rest and a hug from our daughters.

I love the thought in the gospel of John that he has focussed all his energy, all his depth on the destination of where we the readers should be in our thoughts. We don’t want to stop at the sign to admire it, we want to move toward and admire Christ. He is the one focal point, he is the fullness of God living in a body. (Col. 1:19) He is the fulfillment of all the institutions and festivals embedded in the Jewish life.

We need to make sure that we get excited about the right thing not just the sign telling us about it. I don’t know too many people who don’t get excited about ‘potential’ especially when it comes to an area that they are interested in or passionate about. Signs are all about potential. As glad as I am for potential, I want the real and tangible I want the destination.

The “Glory” that Jesus was looking forward to when he was in the last hours of his life here on earth, Paul picked up on. He said, “To them (the Lord’s people) God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Col. 1:27NIV)

God wants everyone who follows Jesus to live a humbly righteous and priestly life that is Spirit led and empowered in every area. That is what Jesus was excited and joyful about! When he was in the ‘worst’ moment, He looked forward with joy. His Spirit was about to be located exponentially in every believer, everywhere, every time.

Signs speak directly to the culture in which are found, “Kilometers eh?”