First Baptist Church Bethany Students: Freaks and Geeks Introduction

have you ever wondered what makes Christianity... Christian? is that even a fair question to ask? cause i often wonder what are the things that makes Christians “christians” because it seems so many of them are so different... like... some are really nice, some go out and party, some are really republican, some recycle others don’t, some go to church all the time others only go to church like on easter and that’s it... so what makes a christian a Christian... well i don’t exactly know all details but i do know their are some things are that are pretty well... freaky and some that are uh... sorta geeky...

so for the next 7 weeks let’s talk about it...

some lyrics from joan jett to get us started on this one...

I don't give a damn

'Bout my reputation

I've never been afraid of any deviation

An' I don't really care

If ya think I'm strange

That’s what i am going to do...

isn’t Christianity weird? like Christians are weird people... strange people sometimes... like i have met some that are so nice, loving, and forgiving it is hard to believe that they are people... and then i have met some that go to church so much that i don’t if i could ever do what they do... Church 3-4 times a week! forget that....

so what is it then what makes a Christian a Christian... maybe it is just strangeness that does it...

here are some words from Paul

“The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out. It’s written,

I’ll turn conventional wisdom on its head, I’ll expose so-called experts as crackpots.”

(1 Corinthians 1:18–19 MESSAGE)

that the entire message of Christ (the gospel, story, Jesus’ life) points to a sense of silliness or strangeness to those that don’t understand it... but for those on the Way (and we will talk in great detail over the next few weeks about “the Way”) it makes sense... and the Paul adds this for irony... “this is the way that God works” GOD WORKS IN IRONY! who knew that God’s humor was in the sardonic and not in the slapstick... hmmmmm interesting stuff to mull and think about....

welll i leave you with this teaser and a whole bunch of other questions.... see you tomorrow night!!!!