Changing the Face of Christianity
Reversing negative Christian stereotypes, by helping Christians to be more like Jesus Christ.
Photo by o5com
Jesus, John the Baptist, and the Pharisees all had disciples (Mark 2:18). As Christians today, we are to be Disciples of Jesus. So the question this week is what does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?
As you ponder and respond to that question, evaluate how well you emulate being Christ’s disciple and ask God to show you where you might need to adjust your priorities. Share your thoughts.
R. Brad White is the Founder and President of Changing the Face of Christianity Inc. Brad is a former atheist and became an "on fire for God" Christian in 2005. In 2008, Brad became incredibly burdened by what he perceived as a Christian faith far off course, and Christians far from living the teachings of Jesus Christ. In 2010, Brad submitted to the calling to reverse these negative Christian stereotypes, by starting "Changing the Face of Christianity" (a 501c3 Texas non-profit corporation). Read more about R. Brad White
Mission: Reversing negative Christian stereotypes by helping Christians to be more like Jesus Christ.
What stereotypes? Hypocrisy, judgmentalism, intolerance, homophobia, superficial, and too political.
Target audience: Christians. Our message and our programs are about growing existing Christians.
Why?
Who are we? Just imperfect Christians trying to make a difference for God, bringing Him glory, according to His good and pleasing will.
How?
How can you support us?
Copyright © 2012 CFC Inc.· Log in
To be a disciple of Jesus Christ means that one is a student of the teachings of Jesus Christ. It means that one is consistently engaged in applying the principles taught by Christ in their everyday life. Most of all, a disciple of Christ is someone who lives an examined life. They’ve not only submitted themselves to Christ (John 14:23-24) but they’ve submitted themselves to at least one other fully devoted follower of Christ (James 5:16). Disciples of Christ then live submitted, examined lives that, over time, look more and more like the life of Christ.
In terms of “changing the face of Christianity”, This is a significant issue. My experience has been that when one comes to Christ, at first they could be considered “a convert”. Where they thought that the brokeness of life in and around them could be cured by some application of something other than Christ , they are converted to the realisation that Christ is the Cure. The sacrifice of Christ becomes defined in very personal terms and they begin the wonderful relationship with the God of the universe. Other Christians crowd around them and love on them and phone them and let them be the center of attention for a while. Christianity is all about ME, the convert.
After walking in the Spirit a little while, there is a perceptible change from “convert” to “believer”. As they become more of a regular around the Church they form friendships with the members. They pick up some of the load, perhaps volunteering in the nursury for example as they begin to see Christianity more about “us” than about “me”. The collective becomes more important and more time is consumed in pursuits related to Church. They get “tied in” as it were and may start going to a midweek bible study.
Ultimately, there is a maturity formed in which it is no longer all about “me” or even all about “us”. It becomes all about Him! The motivations line more and more up to the biblical standards. The giving comes out of a generous heart and not a religious one. The loving is Spirit-led and Spirit-fed. There is a hunger inside not only to apply the Word of God as preached on sunday over the pulpit, but as a result of one’s own study. The disciplines of a godly person become the normal outworking of the Holy Spirit given free reign in the person’s heart. They have become a disciple.
Going back to the original comment, in terms of the “changing the face of Christianity” this maturity must be accomplished in more Christians. I know people who have been believers for all their adult life who are still in the first catagory. Is it really all about them? Even “second step” Christians have a difficulty doing anything really significant in the culture. There is still too much shallowness about them to draw people away from their couches and TVs. Unfortunately, the Church is filled with people who do not have any desire for spiritual disciplines.
It is the great fault of the North American Church that we have not insisted on our converts and believers to become disciples. Today on this continent, we are in times of easy plenty. We have grown fat and lazy. These easy times are not forever. It is now that the swords need to be sharpened; it is today when we need to learn how to use the weapons of our warfare. In the middle of the battles that are surely coming to our streets is not the time to prepare for war. The definition of a disciple is one who understands these times and is preparing himself to be who God requires him to be in the coming hard times.