Daily writing prompt

Describe a phase in life that was difficult to say goodbye to.

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The phase in my life that I won’t say goodbye to is my Jesus Freak phase. One day I encountered the risen Jesus Christ and in a moment my life was marvelously and forever changed. Jesus was suddenly real to me and all I wanted to do was to get to know Him better and to follow and obey Him all the days of my life. Almost 54 years later, that’s still the burning desire of my heart.

Because I’m so excited about continually experiencing and obeying the literal and direct Headship and Lordship of the living Jesus, people sometimes think that I’m against traditional church. They sometimes even call me bitter. I’m not bitter with church. I just want it to be better. I want church to demonstrate and manifest the glorious reality of the risen Jesus.

Being a Christ-follower involves so much more than passively belonging to and attending a church. People can plant (or start) a Sunday morning Christian lecture group, but only Jesus can build an interactive, Spirit-directed gathering of the body of Christ.

Church attendance is not a sign or indication of spiritual growth. Many church attendees just sit in passive boredom waiting for the service to end. Jesus said that His disciples will be known by their fruit (by the quality of life they produce). He didn’t say they will be known by their church attendance.

The Bible says to submit to God, but too often Christians won’t even openly admit where they are rebelling against Him. The Bible says, “Resist the devil,” but too often Christians assist the devil and accept his deception. The Bible says, “Come near to God,” but too often Christians refuse to hear God speaking in their conscience. The Bible says, “Purify your heart,” but too often Christians deny and defy God’s call to purity. The Bible says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, but too often Christians grumble whenever their pride is hurt. Let’s become “doers of the word, not hearers only.” (Accept God’s call! Read and do what James 4: 1-10 says to do.

Christians are too often like a barrel of lobsters. If one tries to climb out of the religious system into the reality of the living Jesus, the others frequently try to pull him back. Step out of the religious barrel and into Christ’s glorious light!

Too many Jesus Freaks have been pulled back into the barrel. Today many people can’t see the risen Jesus because their religiosity has shut their eyes.

I’m the tall, white-haired guy in the back of this picture. To learn more about this group of people who seek to go beyond church as usual and to be active sowers and doers of the Word go to this link.