Get off the on Ramp

The past month I've been really thinking about why Christ died on the cross? Another way to ask the same questions is why did Christ save me? These questions have led me into conversations with my Pastor which have led him to write similar blogs. As I look at most church goers in America I'm convinced that the answer to these questions have been answered wrong. I also feel a big part of why these questions have been answered wrong is because of unbiblical teaching and bad evangelism strategies. What has been taught time and time again is that the answer to the questions above is "Me" or "so I can go to heaven". At first glance these answers seem okay, but after thinking about this more I realize this is why most people are bored when they sit in church. This is also why Gandhi was able to say things like "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” We have made the story about us. As pastor David put it yesterday, we have made the story about the rescued instead of the the rescuer. If the primary reason for Christ saving me was so I get to go to heaven then the purpose for Him saving me is complete at the moment of me accepting Him. All I have left to do is wait to die, then cash in my inheritance, and get my ticket to heaven. I believe the entire story is about God, even the cross part of the story. I believe the reason Christ died on the cross was to exalt God. I believe Christ saved me for His glory. I believe my life has a purpose, guess who the main character in my story is? It's not me, it GOD. I try to upstage the main character all the time when I make my life about me.

Let me illustrate it this way. Go back to the moment you gave your life to Christ. Might have been in vacation Bible school or after hearing some evangelist speak. Imagine that moment being like an on ramp to the interstate. The on ramp is significant in your journey but it isn't the final destination. Once you give your life to Christ you begin an amazing journey of exalting Christ with your life. For many church goers they have made the on ramp their destination and have never really began their journey. Imagine how boring life would be if our our literal destination was an on ramp. Just put the car in park and watch other cars pass you by. When we believe that the primary purpose for our salvation is to get to heaven then that is exactly what we have done in our spiritual life. No wonder we have so many bored Christians. So come on guys, lets put the car in drive and make our lives about exalting God.

How can you make your life about making much of Christ? Great questions! My answer, just open your eyes to the brokenness around you. Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, seek justice, invite your neighbor over who doesn't have any family, be a giver instead of a buyer, FOLLOW YOUR LEADER!