the real thing

I grew up in the sleepy little town of Lindale, Texas. It seemed as if the population stayed at 2,500 for several decades. Last year Wal-Mart and Lowes moved in and the town finally woke up. Lindale was one of the most fascinating places for a Christian to live. It seemed to be the Jesus capital of the world: 50 churches, dozens of parachurch ministries, powerful music ministries galore. People came from all over the planet to be trained, blessed, commissioned, preached at, ministered to, and prayed over.

At the age of 23 I graduated college and moved back to good ol' Lindale and became a full time staff minister at a local Baptist church. It was a wild and crazy 8 years! We grew from 90 to 750 and then grew back down to 250 people showing up on Sunday morning! I am forever grateful for this 8 year season of my life for this one reason- I watched Godly people commit horrendous sins.

At first I was confused and outraged to see these repected global musicians and ministers spiritually abuse so many Christians. The lying, manipulating, and egotistic demands was sickening. I met a guy who was still emotionally paralyzed 10 years after the spiritual abuse he received from one famous minister. Did these ministries bear good fruit? Definitely so. And yet the devastation continued as spitual leaders misused the power that God had given them. The ugliness showed up in both the churches and the parachurch ministries. As a pastor I was forced into seeing the intimate details of much of this kingdom chaos and I hated every bit of it. Was this really the Jesus Capital of the World?

But, don't get me wrong. I was not just an innocent spectator in these acts of mutilating Christ's body "in the name of Jesus." I became a participant. I joined a team of gossipers and helped to get a wonderful Sr. Pastor removed from his church. It took me over a year to have my blinders removed and see my sin. I am thankful that this man recieved my confession and forgave me.

So why am I thankful that I got to watch all of this Christian crap? It forced me to ask the big question-

What is REAL Christianity?

I had seen all of the professional Christianity and wanted to vomit. God would not let me give up on faith and throw it all out the window. I am thankful for that. He wanted me to discover the real thing and live it with gusto. So what is the real thing?

I had to admit that it was not ministry, prayer, evangelism, church, Bible study, prophecy, worship, or committing your life to serving God. It is not hearing God, healing the sick, performing miracles, or being filled with the spirit (feel free to disagree with any of this!).

It is this....loving others.