Grow in Christ

I found out from another user that National Bible week began today (Nov 20). The best way to grow in Christ is to read the Bible, and this is a perfect reason to begin reading!

http://www.gmi.org/ow/today.html

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

http://www.achristianblog.com/2005/10/30-second-bible/

”...Christianity is no longer life changing, it is life enhancing.”

Does Jesus rule your life? Is He a pretty glow of light in the backround or a blinding beam of grace that never leaves the uppermost part of your mind? “God is a consuming fire.” (Heb. 12:29) Has He consumed your soul?

“We are in a war between dullness and astonishment.” The most critical issue facing Christians is not abortion, pornography, disintegration of the family, moral absolutes, MTV, drugs, racism, sexuality or school prayer. The critical issue today is dullness. We have lost our astonishment. The Good News is no longer Good News, it is okay news. Christianity is no longer life changing, it is life enhancing. Jesus doesn’t change people into wild-eyed radicals anymore, he changes them into nice people! If Christianity is simply about being nice, I’m not interested.

“What happened to radical Christianity, the un-nice brand of Christianity that turned the world upside-down? What happened to the category-smashing, life- threatening, soul transforming gospel that spread through the first century like wildfire & was considered (by those in power) dangerous? What happened to the kind of Christians whose hearts were on fire, who had no fear, who spoke the truth no matter what the consequence, who made the world uncomfortable, who were willing to follow Jesus wherever he went? What happened to the kind of Christians who were filled with passion & gratitude, & who every day were unable to get over the grace of God? “I’m ready for a Christianity that “ruins” my life, that captures my heart & makes me uncomfortable. I want to be filled with an astonishment, which is so captivating that I am considered wild & unpredictable &, well, dangerous. Yes, I want to be “dangerous” to a dull and boring religion. I want a faith that is considered dangerous by our predictable & monotonous culture.