Becoming



The Butterfly - A quintessential example of "Becoming"


First I want to wish the Christian Chameleon Family a Happy New Year; I pray that 2013 is full of God’s favor and grace. Secondly, I want to say that this has been the most difficult blog I have ever written. I realize I haven’t written hundreds of entries, but the challenge of trying to translate what God has placed on my heart has been a great one. I hope it is clear and it blesses all who read it.
 

Every New Year, people take the time to review their life, to make sure things are in order, and prepare to make changes to better their situation. I have certainly done some self-evaluation in terms of my finances, my relationships, my ambitions and my spiritual well-being. As I took inventory of my spiritual condition, I found that I could improve on some things and I was prompted, by God I believe, to refocus my spiritual aim.

In re-evaluating my spiritual condition, a question arose to me..... “Why?” Not the “Why?” that Plato and Aristotle have attempted to answer that questions the very reason for the existence of humanity. Not even the “Why?” that Rick Warren brought a biblical perspective to in his best seller The Purpose Driven Life. This question was “Why are you Christian?”

Even this is misleading because the question was much more “For what?” rather than just “Why?” What is my Christianity good for? What is the end goal? What is the point of my relationship with God? So I want to ask you, or rather encourage you to ask yourself, that very same question. Am I trying to build a relationship with God to get a ticket into heaven? Am I going to church twice a week because the more I go, the more I think it hides those things about me that I am ashamed of? Am I reading my Bible so I can impress someone with how well I can recall scripture or give a mini-sermon when I feel so inclined? Are my Tweets and Facebook status updates anything more than self-promoting, Pharisaic blurbs that make the world think Jesus is my homeboy? Am I serving God so I can live “abundantly” and God can enlarge my territory (i.e. my bank account)? WHAT IS THE POINT?

I want to suggest to you that none of these things are the point. Yes, that includes Heaven. I want to further suggest that the point for God is to TRANSFORM you. I am convinced God is not impressed with the person who can go to church, quote scripture, preach, or sing if you are the same person inside that you were a year ago. I am convinced that what you possess or accomplish is not a direct manifestation of how tight you are with God. I am convinced that the moment you receive salvation is NOT the end of the journey. The point, in my humble opinion, should be about BECOMING. And this means more than cursing less people out this year than you did last year. It is simple to change your behavior when you’ve been such a hardcore social media Christian and you have to be accountable to your internet persona; but that doesn’t mean God has changed you. The point is a change in your spiritual make-up; a connection with God that you have yet to feel in your walk with Him thus far. What are you BECOMING? ARE you becoming? Or have you built a righteous caricature of yourself that you are satisfied to uphold?

I encourage you, don’t be satisfied with a “form of godliness”. Don’t get caught up in all the things that church and preachers tell you are a manifestation of how close you are with God. Ignore all the fancy lace and ribbons that give a false sense of what Christianity should look like. JUST START BECOMING!!! Study with the intention to learn about God and what He desires of you. Pray with the intention of expressing your heart to God and God expressing Himself back to you. Don’t be afraid to be challenged in your biases and convicted in your way of thinking. Honestly seek to become clay in the potters hand (Isaiah 64:8) and let God mold you and form you as He pleases! START BECOMING!!!!