Death To The "Cookie Cutter" Christian

 Lately The Lord has been opening my eyes to how within our "church culture" many of us have adapted this idea of needing to "fit in." We get so caught up in what we think a Christian should look like or how they should act, that we totally miss out on being the unique and different individuals that He has called us to be. Maybe you don't always feel comfortable being yourself because you fear what others have to say about you. Or maybe you attend a church where there are a bunch of rules and regulations that you have to follow in order to "be accepted" and considered a "good Christian." Yes, as followers of Christ our main purpose in life is to glorify God, but we do not all have to be/look/act/speak/write/sing/dress/worship the same in order to do so. There's no place in The Bible that says God called us all to be the same. You see He has designed us with gifts, skills, and personalities that differ from our neighbors for a reason. When you come to Christ, you don't necessarily have to change your personality and become someone who God did not create you to be.  God can and wants to use your differences to reach a particular group of people, in a particular part of the world, for a particular amount of time. He created you the way you are for a reason. Once you begin to submit yourself to Him, that's when He can actually channel your quirks, strengths, personality, and weaknesses to work it out for your good and bring Him glory. We actually belittle God's handiwork when we try to be someone other than He designed us to be, to fit some man-made Christian ideal.

 I remember back in January, of this year, I was in a prayer meeting with some of the women at my church and The Lord gave me these words:

"This is not a competition. I have made all of my children different and to be unique for a reason. This is not the time for comparison but full surrender to me. It doesn't matter how one worships or prays to me. It doesn't matter whether they dance, sing or cry. I see it all. I hear it all and I accept and love it all. Don't worry about what others think or say. Stay focused on running your race and staying close to me, the author and perfecter of you faith."

I know that God is helping me to break outside of the box that people and/or or myself, at times, put me in and making me comfortable with being me. At times, I struggle with feeling like my life should look a certain way, in order for God to use me. That I have to play a certain part, fall into a certain category, and look a certain way. God is showing me that He wants to use my weaknesses, the bad, and the ugly alongside my strengths to bring glory to His name. It's crazy how easy it is to fall into the trap of feeling like we need to meet a certain standard, in order to be used by God!! The world needs to see more Christians who are willing to be dirty, get dirty, and be transparent about their struggles. None of us is perfect and when we accept that truth, God is glorified even more through our lives! I make mistakes and I fall short of God's glorious standard every single day, but His mercy, grace, and forgiveness cleanse and keep me from being a slave to those mistakes.

When Jesus chose His followers He didn't go for those who had it all together; He chose those who were REAL. They weren't perfect before or even after He chose them. What set them apart from everyone else was their willingness to let Jesus use them for His glory and purpose. We are striving to be so perfect that we are leaving the perfect God out of the equation. God didn't require us to be perfect, but instead to let Him have His perfect way within us. There is no such thing as a "perfect Christian." The sooner we stop trying to attain perfection the better. We should be striving for excellence in all that we do, but not necessarily perfection. God doesn't ask for us to be so polished and poised at all times. In fact when we are super polished and perfect looking it causes people to be guarded up because they feel like they cannot relate to us. When people ask us how we are doing we have got to stop saying things like "I'm blessed and highly favored, walking in the goodness of The Lord" when you know that your marriage is on the rocks. Stop putting up a front and pretending that everything is alright when it's not.

If you look in the Bible the people written about were from all different types of backgrounds with different strengths and struggles. Take the disciples for instance. Simon Peter often spoke without thinking; was brash and impulsive. In my mind, I see him as this super radical and adventurous type of person. I mean the guy cut off a man's ear for goodness sake and walked on water. Whereas John was very ambitious and judgmental. He along with James wanted to call down fire from heaven on a Samaritan village because they didn't welcome Jesus. Despite their flaws and differences they were still used to to do great works in The Lord's Kingdom.  Jesus ended up using Peter to be "the rock" upon which He built His church (Matthew 16:18) and He asked John to take care of His mother, Mary, after His death. Both also contributed to writing books in The Bible.

We all have a special function in the body of Christ and are needed. The church cannot operate properly if we are so busy trying to be like somebody else. We see this in Romans 12:4-8:

"Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function,  so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.  In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly."

Maybe you have a stronger personality and God has called you to be a leader. Or maybe you are more timid but super organized and so you are a great assistant to the leader. Either way you have worth and value in who Christ has called you to be. You don't need to adopt sister Mary's mannerisms or talk the same way that your pastor does or pray the way that your mother does. Maybe God has called you to be behind the scenes baking and cooking for the homeless while another has been called to lead worship in front of the congregation. Both of you are needed and serve a great purpose as long as you walk in your gifted area.


"The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.  Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit^.

Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part!  Yes, there are many parts, but only one body.  The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other.  If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it."
1 Corinthians 12:12-27

FOLLOW CHRIST
BE YOU
BE AUTHENTIC
LEAD OTHERS TO CHRIST 


So with all that being said, I'm choosing to be the woman that God desires for me to be, no matter how uncomfortable that makes people around me feel. I have a purpose and a calling on my life that I will not make any apologies for and will continue to let God lead me wherever He desires. I'm going to shine bright and be the light that He has called us all to be in this dark world!!!

 "Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people."

Philippians 2:14-15 

Until next time,

Cierra

xoxo 

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