July was a whirlwind month for our country.  We had the confederate flag issue and the Supreme Court ruling on marriage. There seemed to be a lot of heated and passionate opinions on both sides of these issues in the media. As I watched this unfold, I really struggled with some of the comments of those that claimed to be Christians. It made me think that claiming to be a Christian was just like claiming to be a Cardinals or Royals fan.  It did not mean that you were an actual Cardinals or Royals player. It didn't define who you were. It was more like a label.

If you ever played Simon Says or Follow the Leader as a kid you will remember that you had to copy the actions of the leader. If the leader said to tap your left foot you had to tap your left foot. If the leader said jump up and down you had to jump up and down.  I don't want to be known as a label. I want to be known for copying the actions and the attitude of Jesus. I want to be known as a "Christ Follower". There are way too many "Christians" portraying poor examples to the non-believers. We need more "Christ followers". God did not call us to play it safe. He gave us a leader in Jesus, to follow His example, to take risks for others, to die to self so that we may live. So how will we know the difference between a "Christian" and a "Christ Follower"?  In Matthew, a book in the New Testament of the bible it says "You will know them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act". - 7:16

My prayer is for a community of broken, messy people that were once far from God becoming a community of "Christ Followers" and turning the world upside down.  Come join us with your hands and feet and become that community.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. - Galatians 5:22

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