Worthy or unworthy of the name.

Have you ever picked up a book and been convicted before you have even finished the 2-page foreword?  That is exactly what happened to me when I read Chris Tomlin’s foreword to Crazy Love by Francis Chin.  Let me cite it from the book: “Acts 11, at the end of the verse 26, it says, ‘The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.”  What I find interesting is the simple thought that the Christians didn’t name themselves.  But rather, they were called (named) Christians by those watching their lives.”  So, I thought to myself, what would people watching me 24/7 call me?  Hypocrite comes to mind.

Then I did what any self-professing Christian would do…I tossed the book on a shelf and tried to forget about it.  Key word here is tried.  The Holy Spirit is relentless in Its pursuit when it comes to matters of your very soul.  (And thank God… I mean Himself…. this Trinity thing is confusing, anyway I am thankful.)  With the tenacity of a bloodhound on a fresh trail those words kept coming to my mind.  If I desire to be called a Christian by others, not just myself, shouldn’t there be a tangible difference in my attitude, actions, and heart when compared to those of the world’s.

Well, long story short…I picked the book up off the shelf and I am reading it again filtering it through the Word.  This time I hope to get past the foreword.

Thankfully, RT.