I was born into a Christian household but made the decision on my own to accept Christ as my savior. Now, I'm not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. I cuss, I can be prideful and even jealous. And lustful, can't forget lustful. But I know that I am forgiven because, let's face it, I'm human. I can't do it on my own.
I don't go to church, and for a very specific reason. For fifteen years I went to Flamingo Road Church (now called "Potential Church"
) I basically grew up there. When my parents went through their divorce, that's where I was. I served in the youth ministry and in the video ministry (which I particularly enjoyed). But then I began to see a demographic shift. I have a sensitive perception of superficiality and materialism, and I began to notice from the ministry on down that there was a growing trend towards a superficial, appearance-based approach. But the last straw was a gesture of dishonor. As I said, the church changed its name. Well, the day they announced the name change, they played video recaps of the church's history, the reasons behind the name change, so on and so forth. What made it dishonorable is that they did not once mention the pastor that preceded the current pastor, the man who got this church started in the first place, the man who
literally helped build that church. Not one mention, not one blessing. If there's one thing I take more seriously than anything else, I am an honorable person. There's no middle ground. And what they did was the height of dishonor. So I left, and I haven't gone back. But I don't "go" to church anymore.
I write. My best friend (who, like me, went to that church) said something very insightful. He feels closest to God/Christ when he's playing music. There's the conception of a "spiritual gift" that we are all given, and mine is writing. That's where I feel closest to God. That's how I worship.
Some might accuse me of "picking and choosing" when it comes to my faith, but there's really only one way for me to approach it within the confines of the world we live in. Matthew 22:36-39. There was a guy who approached Jesus and asked him what the greatest commandment was. And Jesus replied. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" That's how I live in this world.
We Christians get a bad rap. But the fact is, we should lead by example, so that people ask us why we do the things we do. At least that's what I try to do.
My favorite Christian bands are Thousand Foot Krutch (RAWKFIST!!!), Demon Hunter and August Burns Red. Lecrae gets mad props from me as well.
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