Author: Wick

(Thanks to Steve for making me aware of this.)

Famous author, Anne Rice, is making waves recently for “Quitting Christianity…in the name of Christ..”.  There are all sorts of responses someone or some group can have to an occurrence like this.  Anywhere from Catholics biting their thumbs at her (making horrible youtube videos explaining why she’s “going to hell” now), to Vampire Novel fans yelling “Hooray!!!” and then awkwardly quieting when they realize she still loves Jesus, to being accused of all of this being a publicity stunt to sell books (as if she needed one?), to entire denominations creating a website that tries to sell her on joining them instead of the Catholic Church.

I’ll take a brief moment to say, in case she’s reading this (she’s read my blog before…boo yah), Anne – I’m still looking forward to book 3 of your “Christ the Lord” series!  Any planned release?

I agree with Anne that sooooo much of what is done and said in “the name of Jesus” does not represent Jesus well at all.  It’s easy to point fingers at the Catholic church….very easy, in fact.  Which is probably why I’m not Catholic.  Not that I’m a hater, either…there have been many wonderful things that have come from Christ-centered people within’ the Catholic Church.  But her beef is not with the Catholic church alone, in statements she’s made publicly the focus seems to be how “Anti-______” most Christians in general are.

It will likely cause some people to look more closely at the picket signs they’re raising, and think more about how much they’re living toward the Love of God that desires to make all things New.  Unfortunately, it will also cause more than a few who have become disenchanted with organized religion to get hazy stars in their eyes about the ambiguous notion of leaving the local church, and doing “something else” in it’s place…still loving Jesus.

She’s not the first person to hesitate at the label “Christian”, because of how many horrible things are being done by those who also claim the title.  It was the same thing C.S. Lewis struggled with.  As noted in chapter 8 of his book “Mere Christianity“, Pride and Self-Conceit is something that every human being deals with.  Humility in our walk with God, and with fellow humans…MUST be foundational in our love for them. 

To quote from Chapter 8, “Whenever we find that our religious life is making us feel that we are good–above all, that we are better than someone else–I think we may be sure that we are being acted on, not by God, but by the devil.”

I’m as guilty as many others, in experiencing this kind of sin.  I confess it.  I ask God for His forgiveness and redemption from it.  But I am thankful for the label “Christian”, not always because of the group of people it connects me to, as much as the Loving Savior it points to communion with.  A God who Loves and offers some pretty amazing Grace, but also infinitely compels us to be transformed and calls us to join in offering this New Life and freedom from sin to others.  May God be with Anne Rice as she continues to seek Him “in fear and trembling”…and may God use what is being discussed to bring repentance/revival…

This is not a call to sell everything you own. Nor is it a call to do good deeds, believing that whenever you hug a tree you get another or larger jewel in your crown or mansion in “heaven”. This is a revelation of what it means that God’s Kingdom is coming. To regularly practice detaching ourselves from temporary things, and attach ourselves to things of God’s Kingdom.  To pay attention to where we are investing ourselves and our resources.

Also worthy of note, is that “heaven” wasn’t a cloudy place with gold-paved streets somewhere “up there”. What is being talked about here is the place where God’s presence is. Where God reigns and rules. We are to center our lives (our “heart” a couple verses after this) and “invest” in the things of God.

How appropriate the literal translation of “ἀνέκλειπτος” is here. From “unfailing treasure”, it literally means “without fail”. In a culture where “fail” has become a noun, a quality that some thing of event can be “full of”, we understand this word very well. Yet there are so many places in our lives where we are investing in things that fail.  God has something better in mind.

Relationships being built or maintained on foundations other than the eternal. Young men and women who desire the “romantic” always emotionally high version of Hollywood love. Myths of ambiguous things like “happiness” or “achieving success” as our main goals. Or to think that if we can get to a certain point financially, balance our social calendar just so, or get a house where we can hang out far enough apart…it will work out.  God has something better in mind.

Even as parents, who desire the best for our children, but so easily end up filling their toy chests and play areas with piles of things to distract them from the things in the other pile. You don’t have to read too many parental magazines to realize the value/necessity of children to experience “boredom”. Or the decisions by many parents to make “small sacrifices in presence” now, so that when they achieve financial freedom, or professional status, or whatever…they will be providing “enough” for their kids.  God has something better in mind.

In this chapter, Jesus is announcing a Kingdom that will not fail. That is eternal, foundational, and True. When we spend time centering our lives on Jesus Christ and the Kingdom He is ushering in, we will not be disappointed. When together with our spouses, children, and friends…we spend time on even the simplest involvement in Kingdom living…giving to the poor, loving the unloved, offering grace and forgiveness and life…it is beyond worthwhile. It is time and resources well invested, not simply because of the return we gain…in fact, by this world’s standards much of it may seem quite silly…but because of the eternal Truth we become involved in and transformed by. That is real, and lasting.  Anything else is full of FAIL.