I stuck my feet in the sand and she buried them deeper…again. How many more ways to pass the time could we come up with in the sand volleyball court while waiting for brother’s baseball game to end?
I watched the leaves rustle and the tree limbs sway against the wind. Children were playing all around me. Not a parent to be seen (except for me). Only in Rhineland, MO. Kids playing free. I felt safe and content and happy. But something was bothering me and it wasn’t the sand in my hair.
I thought again about the article I had read that morning. An article about a Christian foundation who interviewed atheists, college nonbelievers, about how and why they left the faith. Surprising themes emerged. One of the main themes was that there is a lack of clarity about the connection between Jesus and a person’s life.
One of the interviewed, Stephanie, seemed to have understood that the church does not exist simply to address social problems, but to proclaim the teachings of Jesus Christ and their relevance to the world. Since Stephanie did not see that connection, she saw little need to stay.
Jesus…not having relevance to the world? Young people not seeing their elders or peers impacted by what they believe.
I thought about this article as my girl buried my feet in the sand. I wondered…do we Christians have our heads buried in the sand? Are we a little too comfy with the status quo?
Why are young American Christians dropping like flies? Turning to atheism BECAUSE of the church. Or is it the family’s fault? Both?
Or is it none of these things and really a generation of many young people who simply don’t want to submit to the Lord?
Lately I’ve heard it said that churches shouldn’t claim to be radical because Christianity IS radical. A “radical” church shouldn’t be unique. If you are Christian you should be already radically different than the world / culture / unbelievers around you. Hmmm…
I was still thinking of this when Ruthie asked me if I love Jesus.
I said yes. I wondered, then, how could I help her to see how Jesus has really impacted my life. Of course I’d wondered this before but this time I felt desperate to make sure I didn’t pass up an opportunity. I told her my testimony. In as simple terms as I could. I told her the before and after story. The little girl nearby smiled as she listened. Her face seemed refreshed to hear such a thing. I wondered if she had ever heard about how someone’s life had been changed by Jesus.
The experts say that we parents need to model the truth, not just proclaim it. If so much of the truth impacting me happens in my mind and heart first, how do I model that?
I’m thinking today about how this can be done more intentionally in my life. Below are things I’ve done and wish I’d do much more often and consistently. I’d love to hear how you are doing this in your own life.
During our family devotion time, share what God is doing or has done in my life.
In difficult situations, praying out loud instead of internally in front of my children and others.
Ask my children for prayer in areas that I feel God is working on me.
Praising God throughout the day…out loud.
Praying for boldness and awareness in how to include my family in my spiritual life.
Praying for boldness and awareness in how to share my spiritual life with those around me.
I want more of this. Not burying…but digging to expose the past, the current and the future…and how Jesus is impacting and has impacted it all.
Digging to expose life…the abundant life I have in Christ which is the turning to him and dependence on Him in everything.
God working in my life affirms me in my faith. How much more does it affirm others?
What are the people in my life missing out on when I don’t think to share?
I am truly interested in how you are doing that in your life…please share!
Thanks Amy …. for putting your thoughts down so we can consider, learn and apply to our own lives.
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts, Judy!
This is really powerful. Oh, that we walk the walk, talk the talk, and be open about each step, not being afraid. Your list is good and makes me want to ponder the same…how am or can I make a difference?
Glad I stopped by.
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
Thanks for the feedback. I’d love to read your list if you come up with one! Blessings…
This is subject matter that I have often thought about. Not that I have children but I do think sometimes there is a great disconnect between our relationship with Christ and it’s infusion in our daily lives.
Yes–a disconnect. I want to close the gap of that disconnect. I’m glad it resonated with you even though you don’t think of it in regards to children. I was hoping people could resonate in regards to how they interact in all relationships. Thanks for feedback!
I think Wanda used the appropriate word: a disconnect. I struggle with it too. I think we have become so comfortable in our Christianity that we no longer heed the signs that others are falling away because they don’t see Christ in us, the hope of glory. It’s sad, and we need to pray for more salt and light to shine in and through our lives.
You brought up something for me. I wonder if it is just that–that we’ve become comfortable with OUR Christianity. OUR version of it. A version of Christianity that is quite comfortable in this world. But today I watched all kinds of sad things in the news and I realized…no…I don’t want to be comfortable here. I want to be salt and light and then go to my real home. This is not where I want to be comfortable. Not here…where hundreds…thousands of people including children die a horrible chemical death. There is something wrong here and I don’t want to be comfy anymore. I pray with you for more salt and light! Thanks for stopping by…
Amy how have I missed your blog until today? I found you at The Weekend Brew. This is an incredible post, very thought provoking, and although I no longer have small children at home, I still have the same questions as you. Sometimes I think we Christians do have our heads buried in the sand.
I’m glad you found my blog…and I found yours. Looks like we have some things in common (photography, writing)! Thanks for stopping by and for sharing your thoughts. Sounds to me like many of us Christians are feeling this same thing in regards to this. Blessings…
I have often been contemplating this issue and wonder if might not have heard the real gospel and how it effects our lives. I was in some or other church for many, many years. But only when I stepped out of orginazational church, did I truly find our lord Jesus.
Blessings XX
Mia
I have often been contemplating this and have found that for a large part the true gospel doesn’t get preached in many churches. I have been in churches for most f my life, but only truly found Jesus when I left organized religion.
Blessings
Mia
That makes me sad that you never truly found Jesus until you left church. I had the exact opposite experience. I grew up in a Christian home that did not go to church and it wasn’t until I explored churches on my own that I realized I had missed out on so much not being connected to the body of Christ so as to fellowship with other believers and worship the Lord together with others. I pray that you might benefit from that one day. It is a true blessing in my life that I’m grateful for. It IS hard to find a great church that speaks the truth…the true full gospel. Perhaps that is still out there for you. Blessings…
This is an area where God is challenging me as well, my friend. And I’m grateful for the ways you’ve thought through this in practical steps. I will take the treasures you’ve mined and follow your lead to be more like Christ–letting others see the difference He has so completely made in my life!
Thanks for visiting and for your feedback. I’m still praying about how to do this practically. It looks so good on paper/computer screen…so difficult to remember to carry out. Blessings…
Amy, I love your questioning…and your choosing to focus on abundance..I get that. So glad I discovered you at the Extraordinary Ordinary..
Peace and good to you in Jesus’ name.
Chelle
Thank you for stopping by…glad the abundant life resonates with you…I like the theme of your site!
This is something we need to constantly be working on, isn’t it? Letting the power of Jesus show through our lives. You give good advice for different ways to model this for your children. Very good thoughts here!
Yes–I think you’re right–it is and will always be what we need to be working on. And when we do, it is beautiful. The power of Jesus showing through our lives–I like that! Blessings and thanks for stopping by…