Christians By Default

When I was a little kid, I assumed the world was split 50-50, Jews and Christians. If you weren't born into a Jewish family, you were a Christian. When I got a little older, I learned that there were more than just the two religions and that Judaism was a reeeeeal small slice of the pie!

Anyway, even though I learned that there were more religions than just the two, the idea that you were born into your religion never really escaped me. In my eyes, religion wasn't really a faith, it was much closer to a race. Your life didn't hafta reflect your religion at all, it's just what you were. I was born Jewish. I would be and will be Jewish for the rest of my life because Judaism is not just a faith, it's in my blood. It seemed to be the same with Christianity. My friends were Christians no matter what. They went to CCD and church on Christmas and Easter and that was it. It didn't matter whether they believed Jesus came and died for their sins or thought He was as real as Santa!

What I'm trying to say is that it seemed like if people weren't something else, they were Christian. In my small little town growing up, being a Christian meant not being Jewish. In my head, there were two kinds of Christians. The ones I knew, and the crazy evangelical ones. My friends at school, who used the title "Christian" didn't reflect Christ-like behaviors. Drinking, drug use, and sex were common things among my Christian friends at school and I didn't know any of the "Bible-thumpers".

But now I've come to question: What is Christianity without Christ? Doesn't the title "Christian" mean to be a follower of Christ? How can we call ourselves Christians and not believe Christ died for our sins? How can we call ourselves Christians and not believe in sin or that the Bible is God's word? How can we call ourselves Christians and not believe that Christ is Lord?!

We tend to enjoy categories (I think maybe even especially in America) so we all hafta be able to check off a certain "religion box" in our minds. So we're holding a mental piece of paper with our options:

Jewish ____
Muslim ____
Buddhist ____
Hindu ____
Atheist ____
Christian ____


And we think, "Well, I'm not Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, or atheist. I guess I'm a Christian!" But it doesn't really work like that. You can't be a Christian by default. You're a Christian by a faith that Jesus is Lord and that He came and died and rose again and only through Him and Him alone can we be made righteous and see the Father in heaven.

Heathen Books

Ok, so the topic's been out for a while and I feel like everyone's been looking to me to comment so it's time I put the statement out. I like Twilight. Wow! It feels good to really get that off my chest. There's actually more. I like Harry Potter too. I've read them all. I've seen all the movies for both series (to date). I know the question on all of your hearts. Yes, I'm team Edward. (Actually I'm REALLY team Emmet)

So why am I telling you this? Because this past Sunday at church, Pastor Mark TORE Twilight a new one. I mean he really ripped it to shreds. I laughed and all because he was stinkin' hilarious but when he talked about a 108 year old vampire marrying a 17 year old girl, I admit my first thought was to raise my hand and inform him that she was actually 18.

But here's the thing: I'm not addicted. I enjoy the books, I enjoy the movies. They entertain me. I do not idolize the books. I simply enjoy them. Furthermore, I do not, nor have I ever, thought for one second that the books were real. I've never believed that vampires or werewolves are real. I am able to recognize that this book is fiction and that romance isn't really like this.

Same with Harry Potter. Love the books! Loved em when I read em as they came out, loved em again this past year when I re-read them! I like the movies (although not as much as the books...but enough to enjoy a 15-hour movie marathon with my roommates, Cheryl & Katie one night). However, I'm not addicted. I've never been inspired to attempt sorcery. Not even when I read the first book when I was 7 did I consider attempting magic. As a 7 year old, I was STILL able to differentiate between reality and fiction!

So what's everyone's deal?? I've heard so many people bashing these two series as if they gave instructions to children on how to make meth at home. I mean, they're books. I don't think the problem is in the books! I think that if you, as a parent, haven't instructed your child on the differences between what's real life and what's fiction or that they shouldn't be practicing sorcery, that's on you! But don't try to make me feel bad for enjoying these books, because I DO understand the differences.

Hot dog! Who knew I felt so passionately? But for realz, if you don't like the books, that's cool. You don't hafta. I bet you have bad taste in a lotta books that I'm not interested in. It happens. But really, this doesn't hafta be a moral/Christian debate.

Aight, that's it. Gimme your thoughts and lemme know...Edward or Jacob?