Some Things We Get Wrong - Part 1

I'm 35 years old now and really analyzing more than ever what it means to be a follower of Jesus. That sounds so generic, I know. But there are a few questions I am really trying to get to the bottom of. First, by "what it means to follow Jesus", I really mean "what it takes to follow Jesus". I've grown up in a fundamental Baptist church and followed Christ nearly my whole life. So why is it that I am still asking this question? Why is it that this "pilgrimage of consideration" needs to happen at all?

In trying to figure out "what it takes" to get this right, you must be able to first face the stark reality that you may have it wrong. It doesn't mean drastically wrong. It doesn't mean throw-everything-out wrong. It just means wrong enough to know that something is... well... not right.

I want to use this to explore some of those things that we tend to get wrong in the formative years of our faith. Those years when we lay the foundations of what we believe - and almost as importantly - how we believe. This is not intended to tear down. This is not an attempt to rail against the established fundamentals. This exploration is not at all meant to stand against the teachings of my youth - and especially not against the good men and women who invested so much of themselves in me. On the contrary, this is intended to give insight into the hearts and minds of those who grow up with Bible in hand to those who did not have that great blessing - and to help those who have known Him all their lives, but still struggle to know Him.

Over the course of a few posts, I'd like to share some of the things I think we need to be mindful of when teaching our young people. These will include:

• Why so ineffective? - What it really means to live the Christian life.
• Where to go from here? - How to understand God's will for your life.
• Where is this Relationship? - What it means to worship and what it will do for you.

In these, I hope to share a few things we tend to get wrong, with the intention of drawing you into some consideration on how we can make it different for the next generation of young people who, yet with good hearts, will struggle with doubt, inconsistency, and ineffectiveness. For there is surely nothing more disillusioning than to be utterly convinced that you have the truth, and yet be utterly lost on how to make it meaningful in your life.  So we start a journey of consideration - one that will bring us to re-walk paths we've already traveled and see what we've missed along the way. I hope you'll join me.