PILGRIM ON A NEW JOURNEY

Dear Church Family,

I write to you because I have a confession to make. I have been a Christian for over 40 years and for all of those 40 years my hands have been clean – and it is a sin! I have kept myself from getting dirty – and it is a sin! I have insulated myself from the filth around me – and it is a sin! I have been careful – and it is a sin!

You may ask, “What are you talking about? As Christians we are called to be clean.” (Yes, I know, I lived in Minnesota where “cleanliness is next to godliness” and maybe even more important than godliness.) But seriously, you’re right, Christians are called to be clean – to go to church on Sunday, to have a daily quiet time, to pray for one another, to be kind to our neighbors, to support missionaries.

But as followers of Christ we are called to get dirty. We are called to see the dirt and hurt around us and rather than shaking our head, saying a nice prayer, and writing a check, we are called to get dirty. After all, that is what Jesus did. He left the clean purity of Heaven, put on human flesh and dwelt among us, and got dirty. He didn’t see the filth from afar, shake His head, say a nice prayer, and send a check.

I write to you not only because confession is good for the soul but because I believe many of you are like me. I have been a “Christian” for about the same length of time as this local church has existed. And for those 40+ years this has been a good church, a clean church, a church that has preached the Bible, supported missionaries around the world, prayed and cared for each other – a good, clean Christian church – and it is a sin.

As followers of Jesus we are called to be the body of Christ. And as His body we are called to get dirty and to go out and to dwell among the lost, the hurting, the diseased, the abused, the lonely, the forgotten.

As followers of Jesus we can no longer pray sweet prayers, “God bless everyone.” We can no longer pray prayers that really don’t make a difference in eternity, “God help so-and-so pass their drivers test.” “God help us have fun.” “God help me to loose five pounds.” Gag!

As followers of Jesus we must get our knees dirty and get down and pray “Father, forgive them because they don’t know what they are doing.”

As followers of Jesus we must no longer read our Bibles just like we drink our coffee – with several packets of Sweet & Low and some half & half. No, we must take Jesus at His Word – straight up – and when He calls us to “go into all the world and make disciples” realize that it’s more than writing a check and sending someone else to go.

I write to you, Felton Bible Church, mostly because I need to be held accountable. I no longer want to live a clean Christian life. I want to be a follower of Jesus and to get dirty. I don’t know exactly what that will look like – in fact, I don’t have a clue about what that will look like – but in faith and obedience I want to step away from being a Christian, from church as usual, and to be a follower of Jesus. Please hold me accountable.

Love a pilgrim on a new journey,

Linda