I read a Facebook post comment yesterday where a woman wrote about being dissatisfied with some of the churches she’s frequented. She called one a Stepford church because everyone looked alike — women wore the same kind of 2.5 inch heeled pumps and similar floral print dresses, calf-length, with a platter collar. It made me think about the followers of Jesus’ in his day — certainly not a bunch of primped up clone-like people sitting in a building, but rather a bunch of rag-tag outcasts following a wandering teacher on a mission.
Following Christ has nothing to do with conforming in a homogeneous church, secluding ourselves in a holy huddle with just our kind, or trying to look the part of the perfect Christian. Following Jesus is an adventure in an upside down kingdom of non-conformity, joining with a band of halo-crested, God-loving ragamuffins of a trillion different sorts and sizes. We’re a shining light troop of many-colored skins, round and thin, tall and short, belly laughers and wall-flowers, belligerent belchers and priggish prissies. We’re quirky holy rollers, each crafted in our mother’s womb, branded with a unique blend of spirit breathed gifts, sent into the world with a bow on top.
Like aliens, we live amongst robot-like, soul-numbed, desperate world climbers, in a swampy, sinking territory of delusions. Yet, we’re also part of a subversive kingdom on earth, a God-breathed, invisible, holy kingdom our faith tells us is real, more real than the moon, and the stars, and the presidential elections. It’s the oasis in the desert,the billowing willow in the thorns, a promised land, brought directly from heaven to a dirt packed, rocky-road earth where God shines a light through our eyes and a spotlight in our hearts — where we shine and pay it forward for the waking dead, so they too can rise.
Turning our backs on American Dream yearnings, on double-car garage strivings, corporate ladder climbing, and heaven defying callings, we steer toward the beating heart of God’s will as disciples in this topsy-turvy kingdom where sinners are saints, the poor are rich, and those in mourning are most blessed. We cross boundaries of racial divides, befriending the other, serving instead of leading, forgiving rather than hating, turning the other cheek.
We’re God’s contortionists, shift-shaping, morphing from sinners into God-shaped, rag-tag saints in-progress. I don’t say it’s easy, in fact I fail most days at morphing into a Godly person. Those ugly, shadowy patterns of anger, unforgiveness, worry — you know– they sneak back in the cracks in our souls. Yet, I’ve found that in following Christ, grace comes along, convicting, refining, offering us wisdom for doing our imperfections in new ways, and sometimes helping us to just surrender. Yes, transformation into ‘little Christs” is often a slow refining process. Yet, what’s so great about being a rag-tag saint in-progress is, like the early followers of Jesus, we’re never expected to be perfect, we just keep stumbling along trying to do our best, and we’re still very loved.
Come to me all who are weary and I will give you rest! Put my yoke upon you!
This is the way of the Prince of Peace, the counter-cultural, world-changing carpenter-savior, who took roofs off religion, masks off injustice, and who, by loving the unloved, set an earthquake-like revolution in motion through the centuries, a revolution still rising, quietly, like yeast. It’s a way paved for us by the great orator of creativity, the designer of zebras and amoeba, of kangaroos and diamonds, who made humans as colorful and diverse and bright as the millions of stars and moons, unique masterpieces made in God’s image, to help redeem the world.
Conformity we don’t do well. Status quo won’t work. Imperfect, diverse, and colorful works of art, we get out of our church boxes, take off our church pearls, put on sneakers instead of heels, and roll up our sleeves, diving deep into the outrageous fortune of God’s omnipotent, unorthodox will.
Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2
WE LOVE YOUR COMMENTS!
“We’re God’s contortionists, shift-shaping, morphing from sinners into God-shaped, rag-tag saints.” What a creative illustration! He bends and shapes us when we choose to turn His way instead of being a stiff slave to the attachments of the world. I know I still journey this everyday, through being fearful of losing what I have, to even comparing my dress to others in church! Yes, I am far from an earth-quake revolution, yet thankfully He shows me daily how much He loves me and loves all.
I think most of us who grew America and in the church have much shift-shaping to do! Thankfully we follow the earth-quake making revolutionary!
Like aliens, we live amongst robot-like, soul-numbed, desperate world climbers, in a swampy, sinking territory of delusions.
this is so enlightening!
Like aliens, we live amongst robot-like, soul-numbed, desperate world climbers, in a swampy, sinking territory of delusions.
this is so enlightening!
makes me read your other posts.
thank you so much Donna!
So Much This: “Following Jesus is an adventure in an upside down kingdom of non-conformity, joining with a band of halo-crested, God-loving ragamuffins of a trillion different sorts and sizes.” Amen! Blessed to be your neighbor at the RaRa linkup this week.
Amen Tara!
Not conformed (it sneaks in in so many tricky ways!) but transformed (never really an easy process for me) – so worth it though when we see ourselves beginning to reflect God’s love in our own unique ways. Thanks for linking with #SmallWonder!
I’m adding a section that describes how hard it can be..I woke up thinking about this morning, that it’s a journey of grace and conviction too!
A slow refining process, and sometimes all we can do is just surrender our on-going imperfections!
“Turning our backs on American Dream yearnings, on double-car garage strivings, corporate ladder climbing, and heaven defying callings, we steer toward the beating heart of God’s will as disciples in this topsy turvy kingdom where sinners are saints, the poor are rich, and those in mourning are most blessed.” Love that quote friend! Turning towards Jesus and away from all.the.things has made me experience Joy like no other!
Love that exclamation point you make…”Turning towards Jesus and away from all the things has made me experience Joy like no other!” Beautiful!
Oh this: “Following Jesus is an adventure in an upside down kingdom of non-conformity, joining with a band of halo-crested, God-loving ragamuffins of a trillion different sorts and sizes. We’re a shining light troop of many-colored skins, round and thin, tall and short, belly laughers and wall-flowers, belligerent belchers and priggish prissies. We’re quirky holy rollers, each crafted in our mother’s womb, branded with a unique blend of spirit breathed gifts, sent into the world with a bow on top.”
OH how I hope we are THIS!!! xoxo
What I also realize after I wrote this is that following Christ also convicts us day by day with the gentle spirit of grace when we start conforming…! But I do believe we are each a unique blend to serve in this beloved kingdom..
“We cross boundaries of racial divides, befriending the other, serving insted of leading, forgiving rather than hating, turning the other cheek.”
Amen my sister. This is beautiful. This is what is needed, more unity, more serving, forgiveness and more love.
Amen!! Amen! Amen!
“…..serving instead of leading”. Ahhh yes. The beautiful “thy will be done” rather than “my will be done”. So much beauty in your writing Kathy…i could requote many lines. Your reminders of Christs followers living simply brought a rush of memories of my beautiful Senegalese family and friends who adopted me into their
community. My greatest gift of my Peace Corps experience was to
witness the endless generous God
loving spirits who had little access to cash and most resources above the harvest they created with their own hands and rain (if mother nature chose to provide). No matter how how little food a family had..if a guest arrived they were always welcome at the food bowl. Senegal is proud of its cultural tradition of “Teranga”….a word that means welcome. These beautiful people who had so little materialistically, shone bright with the most beautiful spirits of serving each other and strangers. Every simple greeting in Senegal is May God be with you. May you have peace. I am eternally grateful that I lived amongst a tribe of a most beautiful people of God. It is a struggle to avoid the trappings all around me in this capitalistic society. I find deep prayer/ meditation and simplifying the things in my life, avoiding technology, serving those in need, being grateful, immersion into nature and art, and having the HVQ community…..all slices of spiritual paradise.
Oh my gosh what a beautiful story and elaboration on the simplicity of the gospel message, and what a beautiful, meaningful comment! Your words touch a deep joy within me today, reminding me again of the beauty is right here in front of us and what matters most.
WHOA!!!!!! GIRL, THIS IS INCREDIBLE!!! I am SO FIRED UP after reading this! It’s like a simmering within me continued to blaze hotter and hotter as I read your absolutely brilliant descriptions and gorgeous imagery- rising from your spirit-filled gift of words.
Seriously, I want to quote every single line in this message. I am printing this off and reading it to my women’s group. I am sharing this and telling my dear friends about this one. Kathy… You are so amazingly talented. This is fresh spirit fire burning high and and rising into the heavens…
My soul is ABLAZE. Thank you friend. This is my absolute favorite of yours…
Oh your words fill me with such gratitude Christine! Your great gift of inspiration is oozing out of the computer reminding me
of how blessed I am to know this reached your heart and soul, and that you are my new, amazing friend I met through our words!!
I am so eager to read your book..I’ve been on a deadline with a project so my time has been limited but can’t wait to have focus time!