Tom Davis Article and Book

I recently read a wonderful book called Red Letter Days by Tom Davis. It reminded me that my life is not my own; my Christianity is not for the purpose of making me feel better about myself, not for the purpose of giving me something to do on Sunday morning. My Christianity, if not lived out the way Jesus would have me live it out is not true Christianity at all. Davis wrote a great
article on Beleif Net that pretty much tells it like it is: Christians S**k. I don't think he is saying this to every single Christian, but for the most part, we are focused on ourselves and not on the mission of reconcilliation that Christ sent us on. We are to be pleading with the world: Be reconciled to God... not just in the way we do Sunday morning, but in the way we do all of life! Everything is connected: the body, soul, spirit... Davis makes some pretty good observations about the Christian culture today, especially here in America.

Jesus told the story of the Good Semaritan in answer to the question: who is my neighbor? At the end of that story He said: "Go and do likewise." Davis brings this message out in his book Red Letter Days. He points out how it is interesting that rock stars, movie stars and television personalities (most of whom do not have a Biblical understanding of what they are doing) are out meeting real needs in the world while the Chrisians are content to listen to preachers, nod their heads in agreement, sing songs and go out and pass by the hurting, the sick, the prisoners, the hungry in our own neighborhood.

I find myself convicted by what Davis says. I s**k. My Christianity s**ks. I am not a good representative for Christ. I have been content to go to church, say a few prayers, sing a few songs and be on my way. I realize that I need to be intentional about reaching out to those in my own back yard with the Gospel. I beleive that the Gospel is the power of God to change lives; to give hope; to bring peace. I beleive this in my head. Oh that this beleif would find its way into my heart. After reading Davis's book I find it is getting nearer.