I was at risk of becoming the one at the pearly gate whom the very Jesus I thought I was serving says He never knew. I lost the plot altogether, grasping at the path toward eternity that fit most nicely into my temporal goals.

FROM CHRISTIANISH TO CHRIST-FOLLOWER

So, the question begs: How does the transformation begin? From Christianish to Christ-follower. What is the road? And what is the method? It is certainly a painful road. A gravel-laden path that requires going back to the very beginning and digging deep into Jesus’ words and actions during the time He walked and breathed on planet Earth.

When you look at the New Testament from the Jesus perspective, it breaks down quickly into eleven key components of His history:

1. How He came into the world.
2. How He was tempted.
3. How His enemies responded to Him.
4. How He ministered to the common man.
5. How He made His living.
6. How He responded to His enemies.
7. How His friends responded to Him.
8. How He loved.
9. How He performed miracles.
10. How He died.
11. How He left.

The truth is here—not merely in the verses we have memorized, but in the manner in which the Savior spent His days. For me to become the true definition of a Christian, it will require breaking His thoughts down—and being willing to transform my own behavior into what I discover. It will require facing the music—and then doing something about it. It will require unlearning and baby steps. I have no idea what that sort of experiment will entail.

But I’m going to find out.

I now set out to find the right road.

The functional method.

I will be a Christ-follower.

And leave the stench of Christianish behind for good

I Am Christianish

1. Have you found your Christian efforts leading to dysfunctional lifestyle patterns? Describe how.
   
2. Does the idea of attempting to do the right thing when you are actually on the wrong road resonate with you?
   
3. When you search your motives, do you find that you are trying to please Christ, or do you find instead that you are attempting to earn your Christianity?
   
4. How does the following comment relate to your life: “I segregated myself—splitting my soul into two segments: one that would openly serve Jesus and one that would secretly protect myself. I became like people I deemed my-kind-of-godly instead of becoming like Jesus. I pursued Christian success instead of pursuing Christ.”
   
   

© 2009 Cook Communications Ministries.  Christianish:  What If We're Not Really Following Jesus at All? by Mark Steele.  Used with permission.  May not be further reproduced.  All rights reserved.

Christianish:  What If We're Not Really Following Jesus at All? by Mark Steele
David C Cook/August 2009/ ISBN 978-1-4347-6692-2/288 pages/softcover/$14.99
www.davidccook.com