18 of 26

Write now Article Tools

Page 6 of 6

Creator into the room when he's good and ready for Him to show up (why do we invite someone to come who is already here?). I have finally realized that Jesus isn't a Christian either. So why the hell should I be one? And why the hell are you? Father's love needs no label and the Bride of Christ needs no walls.

I'd like to return to the illustration about growing plants and trees. I think some of us who are more damaged from early life events such as broken homes or a severe loss as a child have a need for a vessel in which to be planted, possibly even a hothouse in which to grow because our environment when we encounter God is so hostile to living things. But I mentioned that I think this is not the only way. Some of us who come from more sturdy stock or who simply haven't had to endure massive loss and pain early on may not need the confines of the church to encounter God in truth. These seeds can be scattered directly into the wild to find God in his natural state. I hope and pray for my sons that they can be these, because my process of un-learning so many lies about God has been particularly painful.

The church, however, as an organized institution and religion can serve a purpose for some that is completely valid. I don't want to take away the fact that God can be served just as well from within the system as from without. For God's sake, the last thing I want to do is create another religion/denomination-that's a song that's been played for millennia. I found God within the system. Rather, he found me there. So even what men intend (even subconsciously) for evil, God can redirect for good, always.

However, I do insist that the following distinction be made: The institutional church is not exclusively the Bride of Christ, because the Bride is alive and flowing in relationship with her husband. The Bride is a mystery, and if you know Jesus you are the Bride. The Bride is not a social club into which one has to gain admittance through ritual and tradition (i.e. the sinner's prayer). I'll put it this way: Father loves all his children, not just those who go to church, say the prayer, take communion, or play acoustic guitar. It's high time we stopped saying those kinds of things with our lips, actions, and lives.

We need to let God out of the box, let him be who he really is. We need to stop putting makeup on him in order to fancy him up for our friends. We need to stop tying strings to his limbs to make him dance our steps. We need to stop binding him with chains in order to have an orderly God. We need to uncover his lips so he will speak to us whatever he will. We need to take off the clothes we have draped over him to make him fit our culture and let him dance scandalously naked and to hell with what the neighbors think. Why? Because our pretty little box is nothing more than a common coffin, and can you imagine what that does to our gloriously risen King? We say every year that "He is risen," but deny the same by putting him in the box of our expectations. Stop having expectations of God and let him be who he is. And then allow your relationship with him to be saturated with expectancy (thank you a second time, William P. Young).

Here's a commonly misstated anecdote; you know that one about "inside the box thinkers" and "outside the box thinkers". If you really want to be one of the above, go for it, I ain't gonna try to stop you. Life is hard enough without people trying to make decisions for you. But when you finally awaken and finally see for real, you realize something: There is no box. That's the rugged country in which I have laid my mat. I hope to see you around.

Learn more about this author, Chris White.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

• << previous page
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

Add your voice

Know something about Sunday morning Christians?
We want to hear your view. Write now!