Polar.

I sat in church yesterday listening to the sermon thinking to myself, “I don’t belong here.”

I’m not talking about being Baptist. I’m not referring to the fact I belong to a mega church. I’m talking about today’s Christianity. To me, it’s not very Christlike. 

I’m sorry.  I know I’m going to hurt a lot of friends and family. I mean, let’s face it, I’m the picture of what Christianity is supposed to be. I was born into Christianity. I am born again into Christianity. I graduated from seminary for gosh sakes! I perform my fair share of ministry. I give money to my church. I pray fervently. Regardless of what I’ve done or do, I am the living image of John 3:16. Yet, I am ready to turn in my Christian membership card. 

If someone like me doesn’t want to be affiliated with a church or other Christians, what do you think is going on in the unsaved and unchurched community? What is it about Christianity that makes anyone want to be part of the current club or want to be a future member?

I’m not talking about the miracle of the Holy Spirit moving within a soul. I’m talking about the most common reason for that stirring, which is the faith and witness of those of us who are already Christians.  

I’m not mad. I am broken hearted. Christianity is about polar opposites these days. We aren’t following the Golden Rule or the Great Commission. Most of us follow people: a pastor, a president, a polarizing personality. 

We build our altars to them through word of mouth and social media. We applaud their ability to put someone in their place by calling out individual sins (as long as they stay away from our favorite sins). We like their ability to speak for us and take up for us. We’ve lost our own voice. We value someone else’s sternness far more than Christ’s request to make more disciples, not less. We applaud and idolize them through banners and buttons and pedestals. They fight the fights we want to fight, not addressing the sins of “the church.”

Polarizing tactics don’t just draw lines in the sand demanding that the other guys go away or shut up. Polar ice caps are forming on our hearts and consciences. 

“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”

One thing about it. We egg on those who “preach” by correcting and rebuking the other side. We just ignore the “encourage,” “great patience,” and “careful instruction,” parts. 

But don’t mind me. I’m not one of you. Thank God.

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