finding God’s purpose | 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.

All too often we don’t incorporate the use of our minds with hearing God’s voice, but he gave us an incredible tool in and through our cognitive abilities. Some have had thoughts in the past that if God is going to direct us, he is going to by-pass our mind. I guess our reasoning is that God is Spirit and if he is going to speak it will be something spiritual that we won’t be able to comprehend.

I think perhaps that we may be confusing faith and thinking.

There are probably many ways that we can ‘hear’ God’s voice speak to us. These are some of the filters, ‘grids’ that we need to consider if we want an accurate ‘take’ on what he is saying.

A) God’s Word – Three Grids

1) Grid of Thinking: How are you doing in your thought life?

Phil. 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

True?
Noble?
Right?
Pure?
Admirable?
Excellent?
Praiseworthy?

2) Grid of Accepting: How are you doing with what you believe?

James 3:17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

First Pure?
Peace-loving?
Considerate?
Submissive?
Full of Mercy?
Good fruit?
Impartial?
Sincere?

3) Grid of Doing: How are you in your attitude or response to another person?

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails…

Patient?
Kind?
Does not envy?
Does not boast?
Not Proud?
No Dishonor?
Not Self-seeking?
Not Easily Angered?
Keeps no record of wrongs?
No delight in Evil?
Rejoices with the truth?
Always protects?
Always trusts?
Always hopes?
Always perseveres?
Never Fails?

B) Listening to the counsel of a brother or a sister who are in a godly relationship with you.  Discipling or Mentoring

C) Does the next step violate or hurt anyone?

Does it make sense, does it line up with where things should be?