how would you describe your faith?

I had my last training shift at Upper Crust last night. Joanne, one of the regulars, sat at the bar as I finished up my side work.  Her book caught my attention.  I didn’t read the whole title, but in bold orange letters, the word JESUS beckoned to me.  I asked her about the book, and she explained why she was reading it.  Joanne told me about her beliefs, and then I asked her to describe her faith to me.  She said that she’s in the pursuit of truth, always learning.  She said that she was a Christian, “in the most liberal sense of the word.”  Then she turned the question on little-old-unsuspecting me.  She asked me as I wiped the counter, “How would you describe your faith?”

There was no turning back.  I stared at the black and green flecked granite bar for a moment, then answered, “I’m a follower of Christ.”  After a pause, I rephrased my response: “I’m surrendered to Christ.”  I have found that this answer is solid.  The word “Christian” has so many negative, ugly and unseemly connotations.  How sad!  I can’t even use the phrase Christian to describe myself without seeming cold, judgmental and hateful.  

Quite frankly, that’s not the Christ I serve.  The Christ I serve created me for a divine romance with himself, that I might know the Greatest Love.  He laid down his life to pay the penalty of my shortcomings, that I would be reconciled with the Father.  He lavishes a love so great on my that I can’t even imagine its limits. That’s the love that he died to share with me, with you, with Joanne.  He even died so that my Agnostic and Atheistic professors would recognize his love.  My prayer in this time is that I could be a witness of this beautiful dance of Grace and Truth that Jesus so perfectly modeled.

Also–had a wild spiritual convo crop up outa no where tonight at the MLL Spring Banquet.  I just sat and picked at my Thai food (yuck) while my fellow students (and professors!!!) asked me to describe my beliefs and the work that I’ll be doing with Campus Crusade for Christ next year.  So, naturally I just presented the gospel to three other students and two professors. One prof wanted to stay late to discuss spiritual things.  The two of us sat the restaurant for a half hour after the rest of the party had left.  Absolutely loco, I tell you.  That stuff doesn’t just happen.  The Holy Spirit is alive and moving in SLO. Pray for changed lives!