I dreamed last night about an Exclusive Club for Christians. Like most dreams it was kind of vague and incomplete but it left me with some clear impressions and some questions.
Wouldn’t such a club be unAmerican and discriminatory? Can we discriminate on the basis of religion? A couple of answers come to mind. Christianity isn’t a religion; it’s a relationship. God discriminates. In fact, this is the only distinction that makes a difference. He doesn’t discriminate between Jew or gentile; slave or free; male or female. But He does discriminate between those who are born again followers or his Son and those who are not. It’s a very significant discrimination: eternal life with Him or not.
But wouldn’t it be difficult to qualify members for this club? Who is a Christian? Isn’t that a very private matter? It’s true that we know much about our family and friends, even our Facebook friends. We know about their relationship status, favorite foods, music and art; but often we don’t know if they are followers of Our Lord are not. Why not? It’s the only question that matters. We should know this about every person in our lives: Are they Christian or not? The answer to that question should determine the nature of our relationship toward them and nothing else should matter: not their sex, their color, their status in life. If they are Christians we should be supporting and encouraging them; if not we should be witnessing to them.
But am I not just talking about the Church? Isn’t the Church the Exclusive Club for Christians? Take a look and you decide. Do we require members to be Christians? We make have “requirements” but is this the central password for admittance? “Christ is my Savior and Lord.” Do we even know for each of our “members” whether they are followers of the Lord. If the Church is the Exclusive Club for Christians is our agenda to carry out the will of Our Lord or is it to feel better or get energized to “make it” through another week? Is our church need centered or Lord centered.
It was just a dream; but it sure got me thinking.
Be blessed.
Nick
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