Getting Celtic

One of the many, many reasons why I love FirstLight: we use a Celtic Cross, and, yesterday, Steven's sermon was about "getting Celtic," which emphasized part of the Celtic Christian belief that God is everywhere, and that all people are spiritual in some way, but also that there is something very important about Jesus and following Him. The sermon touched on the Celtic belief that evangelism is not about trying to prove people wrong or use guilt and fear to shame them. Instead, it involves treating people as individuals, not as random strangers who need to be preached at. Learn names, befriend, and simply enjoy time in fellowship and conversation without coming across as a high-pressure salesperson, or, even worse, by telling someone that they're going to go to Hell unless they become a Christian.

Yes, I have met and conversed with people who told me that the majority of their experiences with Christians were of being told that they were going to go to Hell. And, for some reason, being told that didn't seem to invoke in them a desire to become a Christian. Imagine that.

It grieves me that this is the impression of Christianity (and evangelism) that so many people outside of the church are getting. This beautiful faith -- the peace and grace and trust and love and adventure of following Jesus -- is being (mis)represented so destructively.

This needs to change. I know I can't change what other people do and say, though, and they have the freedom of speech to say such things. However, so do I. And I can continue to speak up and offer a different perspective of what it means to be a follower of Christ.

By saying that it's a beautiful faith, it doesn't mean I claim that it's simple, or that everything will magically change for the better overnight, or that following Jesus means I'm happy all the time and life is a cake walk, or that I never struggle with sin or doubt. That's just a bunch of crap, isn't it? Sugarcoating is fake and nauseating, so, no, I'm not suggesting that approach. I'll be the first to admit that it's not easy to follow Christ and there's definitely risk involved and it challenges me daily and oftentimes I stumble. Yet, I keep on trying, because I know it's the way I want to live, and there's growth and freedom with each step closer. That's part of what makes it so beautiful, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Another great part of the sermon: Steven talked about Saint Patrick, and how he's the patron saint of Ireland. He then said something about how it's a little known fact that Saint Patrick is also the patron saint of me Lucky Charms. I never realized...ha. Speaking of Ireland, I've been researching how much it would cost to go on a spiritual pilgrimage there. I've been wanting to go to Ireland for years, but now I might actually be able to afford it. Maybe. My first priority is paying off my student loans as quickly as possible (I have come to despise debt, so I definitely won't be "charging it" when I go), so it may be a year or so before I can save up enough to travel there. Even so, I'm enjoying the process of looking into it and exploring my options...