You Call Yourself A “Christian” ~ The Benchmark

Greetings Dear Reader,

When we talk about technology or construction we know that there are standards by which we measure what is good work and what is not.  When we cook there are standards.  You do not want to add too much salt or not enough seasoning. There are benchmarks that measure quality on almost everything.

If we hope to follow Christ there is a benchmark that is the outward evidence of us doing it.  We are to love others in the same way and degree that Christ loves us.  We are supposed to be known for our love.    

We should be so good at this that we are held up as the standard of how to love people.  Instead we have so much infighting that we have hived off into many denominations.  Division squanders resources that could be used for the other things we are supposed to be about.  We divide over things that do not matter keeping us from working together on things that do.

We are required to love each other.  It is the way in which the Father operates.  It is my obligation to love everyone.  The minute I look for exceptions to that requirement I have abandoned the spirit if not the letter of it.  I have forsake the command to love for some lesser position of my own devising.   

If I put my focus on loving others then I will be moved to take care of the other things that identify me as a Christ follower.  There is no good reason to refuse to love others.  It is the benchmark of the Christ follower.  It is the foundation of all that God commands.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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How Can You Know Me – Closing Thoughts – By my Love

Greetings Dear Reader,

Please forgive me if I get a bit preachy this morning.  I am so tired of those who claim to follow Christ failing to be recognizable by the mark their Maker demands they carry.  I fail at times, but I genuinely want to love everyone at all times.  I do not want to judge and condemn.  That is just not my job as a Christ follower.  Let me start with a true story. 

There was a time when my Sons, Avalon, I, and others engaged in an annual paintball war.  One summer my eldest kept trying to get the drop on me.  In fact he did several times but for one reason or another I always shot him first.  Perhaps it is because I have learned how to shoot at someone who outdrew you. 

In any event the last time it happened I said, “Hey Son…”

He said, “I know dad, you love me.”

I tell people I love them.  Sometimes it makes them uncomfortable.  I try to live it much better than I did in those days of paintball and family shuffling.  I am so weary of anything taking precedence over us loving each other.  I am weary of a world on its way to God tripping over those who claim to know him.  Our benchmark is LOVE, full stop.  If we do not show love to every friend, follower, neighbor, and enemy we are failures. 

Dear Reader, I call on you to hold those who claim to be Christians to this standard.  We need to stop shooting our wounded, hating our enemies, and crucifying the fallen.  That is not our place.  That is not my duty.  My first duty is to love God and every human.  My heart needs to be broken over the needs others (it is).

There is nothing inside the church building that can rescue you or guide you that you should not be able to find in the quiet praying guy in the next cube row.  There is not a sermon, song, or sacrament that is more important than you learning to have faith in the one who came to seek you out so that he could love you.

I am just a sinner saved by grace trying to get home.  I have no right to judge, condemn, or pick up a stone.  None of Christ’s followers have any ground to stand on when it comes to judging others.  We are to be known by our LOVE, full stop.  I was the lost cause.  I am an outcast.  If I have any hope to find the love, grace, and forgiveness I need then I must be honest that I am not better than anyone else.

I call on my fellow followers to stop being anything but loving to the world.  I call on those who do not follow Christ to hold us accountable to do just that.  I do not have to accept everything as acceptable or right to do this.  I can say that we all sin and that comes in many flavors and still love you.  I cannot condemn, divide, and hate and love you.  Saying something is wrong is not hate.  Failing to see that my sin is no better than yours is lying.  Denying that I need something beyond me to redeem me is a lie. 

We are all on our way back to the Father through the Son.  If you cannot obey the singular command to love then you need more love from me.  I get that.  Until you are willing to love unconditionally everyone made by God then please don’t tell anyone you are one of his.  Your political position, religious sect, or social issue does not matter if it does not align with the commands to love the Father with all your heart, soul, and mind the command to love your neighbors and enemies. 

I was the lost cause.  I am the outcast.  It bears repeating lest I forget that I was on the other side of faith headed toward a life of death and destruction.  I stand by the door.  I refuse to turn anyone away.  I refuse to see anyone as unworthy of love, grace, and mercy. 

So Dear Reader if you are one of his put down your signs, cross the lines, and love like Jesus does.  If you are not one of his don’t listen to anyone who does not do this.  I love you. I will fail.  I will not condemn you.  I will defend you from those my tribe who do.  Please take an honest look at us sort out the noise from the truth. 

“By this will all men know that you are my disciples, by your love for one another,” - Jesus

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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How Can You Know Me – Not By My Denomination

Greetings Dear Reader,

In the early first century there was only one type of Christian.  They were people who had seen Jesus and chosen to follow him.  We can see the seeds of division that are forming when Paul warns the churches not to argue about who saw Jesus and who learned the Gospel through other means.

If we look at it honestly every departure from the original body of Christ is the result of a division.  We are supposed to be known for our unity.  It does not matter which denomination you claim it springs from some form of strife, argument, or persecution.  When I first chose to follow Christ I was taught almost immediately to judge and condemn certain denominations.  It was years before I encountered a church that did not participate in this infighting. 

There is supposed to be no division in Christ.  We are not Baptist, Episcopal, or Methodist.  We are followers of Christ who need to be one in him.  When we claim our sect over this we create disharmony.  We create confusion as to how to follow Christ.  We create noise that distracts from the Gospel.

You will rarely hear me talk about my church or denomination.  They are both good but do not focus on who they are as a denomination.  The Gospel is the idea that we are a community of people who know Jesus and seek to reach a community that does not.  It is not my place to put forward anything but Christ. 

If you know me and wish to join me at church you would be welcome.  If you are investigating who Jesus is it is a safe place to do it.  If a church tells you that they are better than other churches do not believe it.  Look at what they do and then decide. 

It is in Christ that I live, and move, and have my being.  Everything else either enhances or detracts from that.  Everything else is either subtext or noise.  Hold us to a standard that filters out the noise Dear Reader. 

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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How Can You Know Me - Not by my Demands

Greetings Dear Reader,

If you read this BLOG regularly you know that I want everyone to have affordable competent healthcare.  I am not sure we are going about it the right way.  A bad start, however, is better than nothing. 

It lacks compassion to fight against healthcare without a plan to care for health.  Worse still there are those who wish to be seen as Christ followers who place heavy demands on those seeking to follow Christ.  The demands are often designed to get humans to change behavior in order to pursue Christ. 

So many other demands are placed on following.  One will be told how much to give, what to wear, even who to hate.  There are churches that extort their congregations for their own purposes.  This is the worst form of taking the name of the Lord in vain.

Other demands say that one must “clean up” one’s life before Jesus wall accept him or her.  This is like saying that you have to get better before you can see the doctor.  It is not the place of man to think he can merit God’s favor.  It is given freely through the death of Christ.  We are loved and accepted unconditionally. 

When we place any conditions on following Christ other than those he places on following we are wrong.  Following begins with faith.  Following in faith is the only way to follow.  One does not have to “do” anything to be “good enough” to follow Christ. 

Once one accepts the challenge to follow Christ he will ask us to change.  It is never, however, to gain acceptance.  It is also anyone else’s prerogative to tell you how one has to be to follow Christ.   I will talk about what  a Christ follower looks like but it is not my place Dear Reader to tell you what you have to do to be a “:good Christian.” 

Hold those of us who claim to follow accountable.  If we add any conditions to following other than following in faith we are misleading you.  If we ask to be known by our demands and practices then know that we are putting more baggage in the Gospel than Christ does.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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How Can You Know Me – Not by my Condemnation

Greetings Dear Reader,

Too often I see those who are supposed to represent Christ condemning those with whom they find fault or disagree.  It is so easy to see the faults of others and be blind to my own.  It is too easy to condemn when we should be remembering how Christ felt about those who need h im.

When questioned about keeping questionable company Jesus responded that it is the sick that need a physician.  He insisted that our place was caring tor the needs of others.  He measures us by the sick, hungry, and needy. 

It does not matter what the issue is.  You can fill in your pet cause Dear Reader.  When we land on the side of condemnation and judgment we become ineffective.  We tread on the Gospel we are supposed to live.  We hurt the name of Jesus and his message.

I am not saying that those who do these things do not have faith.  I am saying that they are not showing the face of Christ as he wishes it shown.  The only people we see Jesus rail against are the religious leaders who burdened the people instead of caring for them.

I am not to be known by my condemnation and judgment.  I am not to forget that I come to Christ with the same needs as everyone.  No matter how closely I follow I will not ever follow closely enough to justify condemning anyone else. 

Jesus Friend of Sinners – Casting Crowns

Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away

We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing

Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see

The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me

Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded

A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners

Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers

Let our hearts be led by mercy

Help us reach with open hearts and open doors

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

Yeah...

Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who's writing in the sand

Make the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands

Help us to remember we are all the least of these

Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees

No one knows what we're for only against when we judge the wounded

What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners

Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers

Let our hearts be led by mercy

Help us reach with open hearts and open doors

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast

For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came

Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast

But you died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

'Cause You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners

Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers

Let our hearts be led by mercy

Help us reach with open hearts and open doors

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks Yours

And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast

Yeah...

You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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How Can You Know Me – Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

Anyone who spends a moment or two with me or my writing will know that I strive to be a follower of Jesus Christ.  I do not any longer call myself a “Christian”: because I feel the term no longer communicates.  I am not ashamed of Christ but I am often ashamed of how those claiming to be Christians act.

So how can you know if we are genuine?  How can others recognize that I am sincere in my faith and following?   I usually write for my own benefit and hope that you glean something you can use Dear Reader.  Since there is need, I am hoping that I can give you some filters to recognize the followers from the fakers. 

This also serves to remind me what I must be in order to recognizable as a follower of Jesus.  I must live by standards that reflect who Christ is for everyone.  There are things that Christ followers are not and I must not be those things.  The journey requires that I leave some things behind.  Most of them are too burdensome to carry anyway.

I am going to walk through a few things that should serve as a filter for us all.  If you see someone claiming to be a follower of Jesus it is proper for you to measure him by this standard.  We are not perfect.  Doing some of the things I will ponder does not mean that we are not following but it may mean we have lost the path.

Claiming to follow Christ is volunteering to be measured by a standard.  It is my responsibility to submit to that even when it is difficult or undesirable.  It is in these things that we test and grow our faith.  It is in doing what is right even when it hurts that we find our healing.  Walk with me if you wish.  Ask questions and tell me your thoughts.  Your company on the journey is one of the most precious things I have Dear Reader.

Who Am I – Casting Crowns

Who am I, that the lord of all the earth

Would care to know my name

Would care to feel my hurt?

Who am I, that the bright and morning star

Would choose to light the way

For my ever wandering heart?

Not because of who I am

But because of what you've done

Not because of what I've done

But because of who you are

I am a flower quickly fading

Here today and gone tomorrow

A wave tossed in the ocean

A vapor in the wind

Still you hear me when I'm calling

Lord, you catch me when I'm falling

And you've told me who I am

I am yours

Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin

Would look on me with love

And watch me rise again?

Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea

Would call out through the rain

And calm the storm in me?

Not because of who I am

But because of what you've done

Not because of what I've done

But because of who you are

I am a flower quickly fading

Here today and gone tomorrow

A wave tossed in the ocean

A vapor in the wind

Still you hear me when I'm calling

Lord, you catch me when I'm falling

And you've told me who I am

I am yours

Not because of who I am

But because of what you've done

Not because of what I've done

But because of who you are

I am a flower quickly fading

Here today and gone tomorrow

A wave tossed in the ocean

A vapor in the wind

Still you hear me when I'm calling

Lord, you catch me when I'm falling

And you've told me who I am

I am yours

I am yours

Whom shall I fear?

Whom shall I fear?

'Cause I am yours

I am yours

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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