Becoming a Christ loving Christian

"...I used to be driven by my fear of God. I also used to work hard to prove that I was committed to God. Now I have tremendous fear and awe of God, but that doesn't motivate me. Now I work hard to serve God, but it isn't to prove my devotion. Now I think I'm actually in love. Maybe that sounds corny to you, but I can't think of a more appropriate way to say it."
-Francis Chan, Crazy Love

"The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."
-Matthew 13:44 (NASB)

I used to read the above quotes and think to myself how does that happen? Why am I not in love with God? I have even heard myself say, "Ya know, it's the logic and reason of Christianity that makes me the most excited about it." I remember the time and place I said that and the look that my best friend Leland gave to me after it was said. At the time I couldn't have told you why he looked at me like that, but I knew from his face that he was not thrilled. Basically, the motives and things I used to do "for God" were fueled by the fact that Christianity was the most logical religion, most compelling story, and most culturally accepted lifestyle. I'll even use an illustration from one of my favorite movies, Transformers, to explain what I mean.

In the movie, these Transformers or Autobots could change from a regular looking SUV to a three story high, monster-robot that could pretty much do anything. I mean these things had cannons, grenade launchers, lasers, roller blades, sounds systems, nuclear reactors, and the list just keeps going. You can see why every male on this planet might be obsessed with this movie. Anyway, there was one thing that gave these robots life, personality, and a mission. It was called the Allspark (I really don't care how dorky I sound right now). Literally without this "spark" these machines would be the car you drive or an interestingly shaped, awesome, metal, sculpture.

Well, that's what I was (If any of you ladies described me as an interestingly shaped, awesome, metal, sculpture, I could definitely be okay with that. That's a joke). I was someone who had read Christian books that helped me explain my faith, someone who had Christian friends to approve of my faith and was baptized to pubplically acknowledge my faith. I was even someone who went to church his whole life, which is a culturally-made proof in itself more often than not. You see, I had the weapons, the gadgets, and the metal body (Joke again), but I did not have the spark. I couldn't tell you why you should become a Christian other than reasoning you into it. Now I'm not saying God was totally not present in my life, because He was definitely there. Dear Jesus only knows where I could have been without Him, but I will tell you this, I was not a Christ loving Christian.

My pastor always says, "Christians are people who love Jesus!" It's so simple but so profound. You see, a Christ loving Christian is someone who knows Christ crucified. Now what the heck does that mean? I will expound upon this statement on the posts to come. Tim Keller has a sermon that explains the process I went through and the process I have to go through every day to find the true Lover of my soul. His teaching has been extremely instrumental in the changing of my faith. His teaching and the process I went through to see the glimpse* of Christ Crucified is this:

1. We need the initiating love of God
2. We need to repent of not only our sins but the good things we do and the motives behind them.
3. We need to be melted and moved by what it cost for Christ to die on the cross, so that we could be brought into eternal communion with the God of all things (I like this one the best)

Stay tuned. I will tell you just how God found me.

*I say glimpse because the Love of Christ is so nourishing and powerful, that I should never become bored or content with what He is revealing to me. If I do, it is because I am idolizing things other than Him. That is why this is titled "BECOMING a Christ loving Christian." With Him there is always more!