Say You're One of Us:


Deciphering How the World Thinks (Part 3)

Fiction:

The day was set: February 15th, 1994. Three young men and one woman enlisted for an almost impossible adventure ahead of them. They quit their jobs and said "Au Revoir" to family and friends. The names of the three young men were Cyril Taylor, Bartholomew (Bart for short) Ferguson, and Adeyemi Sonaike. The young woman's name was Betty MacLeod. They vowed not to destroy their bond. Their task: to travel around the world in seventy days by land and water. Their starting point was the city of Florence.

Maps, books, torchlights, first-aid kits, soap, shampoo, geisha, loaves of bread, jam, blankets, corned beef, disposable spoons and plates, extra pairs of socks, swim suits, towels, a water cooler, sun glasses, batteries, a video camera to document their travel, and an alarm clock that automatically changes time depending on what country you're in. All these they took for the road.

They traveled by Greek Cruises, stopping at Crete and the Aegean sea, and then they sailed to Holland and Belgium. They crossed Central America, and headed south towards Buenos Aires. On the eleventh day Bart broke the news. He couldn't continue this trip any longer, it was too difficult. But Cyril, Yemi, and Betty continued. On reaching South Africa, they rented a car and drove north through Africa. They stopped at Cairo. Betty began to cry, but Cyril and Yemi encouraged her to keep going. They couldn't stop now. They had come as far as forty-one days. They kept going. From Cairo to Nuweiba, from the Red Sea to the Jordan. Then east through Eastern Europe, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, and India. Finally, they were on their way back to where they started. They got back to Florence, on the seventieth day.

A team of only three. Out of four.

* * *

The Observation:
Say you're one of us, but choose not to finish the task. You can say it, but you don't have to do it. This is the portrayal of many who claim they are Christians today. Not everyone who gives himself such a title is necessarily who he says he is. Many get offended when people do or say things in the name of Christianity. But why people get offended still amazes me. Not everyone who says "I am who I am" is really who they claim to be. The church is not as simple as the erection of four walls.

Say You're One of Us:
They say they have love, but they commit murder with their lips. They say they don't go clubbing, but they jump from one man's bed to another in secret. They say they are free, but they imprison others by unforgiveness. They say, "God must come first," but their thoughts are always elsewhere. They point fingers and judge others instead of showing them the way. "He who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk just as He walked," 1 John 2: 6.

The Truth:
Not everyone who claims to be a Christian is really one. The world is full of buildings called churches, but not all form "the church." The true church is the one working on it's imperfections and working towards perfection, while drawing others closer to the truth. The true church is not judgmental, but loving. The true church does not hide the truth, but spreads it. Saying you're one of us implies that you need to walk the talk. Me blogging about this does not mean I'm one of them, but if I do what I say in secret (when no one is watching me), then yes, I'm one of them.

Are you one of them? Or do you just claim to be one of them? Say your thoughts in the comments section below.

Photo by Redbubble


23 comments:

Blogoratti said...

.."They say they are free, but they imprison others"... so so true.

Jennifer A. said...

@ Blogoratti, yes, they imprison others with words of judgment and damnation, meanwhile they were set free by God. Thanks for stopping by, as always :) So I saw that you can't wait till Friday (on twitter)...lol.

Remi, United Kingdom said...

Profound!!! We must walk the talk we talk! Besides what is done in secret will eventually find its way out in the open.

What caught me... The world is full of buildings called churches, but not all form "the church." I can't scream oh! lol.. I have said this enough times...!

Jennifer A. said...

@ Remi...I think it even needs to be publicized more that these buildings are not necessarily 'the church' unless they're walking the talk. Thanks.

Hope your week has already begun well :)

jhazmyn said...

True words...was having this same conversation with hubby on sunday, and how we also need to constantly check our lives to ensure that we walk the talk

Jennifer A. said...

@ Jhazmyn...something you said caught my eye, "constantly check our lives." That shows that you're not judgmental, but that you know if you check yourself first people will automatically be inspired by your lifestyle.

When we judge others instead of checking ourselves first, they get angry.

DayDreamer said...

Bam! You really hit the nail on the head with this one. My friends and I were just discussing this. If we say we're Christians then we can't go around judging other Christians. There is truly a need to break out of our pharisee-like behaviour and let the Spirit of God have His way with us. Thanks for this post!

Jennifer A. said...

@ Homie..."pharisee-like behavior." That's exactly what it is, as much as some may not want to admit it. White-washed on the outside, but rotten on the inside. God needs to help all of us to walk well, it's not about us...but about millions of people out there who are hungry and thirsty for the TRUTH.

Anonymous said...

hmm....

Patrinas Pencil said...

Jaycee,
Thanks for being a part of the "body" of Christ. Thanks for shinning your light on the truth. I appreciate YOU!

Patrina ><<(">

Jinta said...

brings to mind my high school motto: 'be thou an example'

Jennifer A. said...

@ aka bagucci...hmmm abi?

@ Patrina...I would say the same for you, and many others reading this. Thanks :)

@ Jinta...FOR REAL. I know exactly what you mean. Starts from us, eh? More precisely...moi!

Patrinas Pencil said...

I forgot to say, "I am one of 'US' - to the best of my ability in Christ. I am mindful of His Holy Spirit who keeps me standing upright, for I am painfully aware that me alone - in my human ability will fail everytime. I therefore am singing praises to my KING - the KING of all KINGS - Jesus Christ the LORD! As for me and my house (my earthly tent) we are following JESUS!

Patrina ><<(">

Jennifer A. said...

@ Patrina...my dad's favorite song is a song that goes like, "As for me and my family (2X), the Lord we all shall serve, as for me and my family."

Unknown said...

Girl, am glad i visited your page today. Very inpiring article about walking the talk. So much is going on in our chrches today, and for me, the Lord has called me into shining His light of truth thro correction (Hebrews 12:5-11). It's really not easy but as many people as the Lord brings closer to me i won't hesitate to shine His light...How mournful to see some of us wearing dreses to church that look like we were going to a club! Makes me wonder where is the Spirit of Truth (John 14:26) that Jesus says will teach us how to behave (AND DRESS) as christians?

Jennifer A. said...

Joy,

The first time I read Galatians 5:19, and I looked up the definition of "lewdness," I knew that the way we carry ourselves/dress is definitely important in God's eyes. Keep being a light and letting God use you as an example.

Thanks for reading :)

Patrinas Pencil said...

@ JOY
EXACTLY!!
another scripture to go along side of yours for discernment and direction is :


“I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. . . .
By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.”
2 Tim 1: 12, 14

The Holy Spirit is the vital tool that helps protect our hearts from the influence of the "world".

Patrina ><<(">

Patrinas Pencil said...

@ Jaycee

I've never heard that song of your dad's but sounds like a good one! Can you sing it for me? :)

Also, I had to look up "lewdness" too :) and I'm a pastor's kid!!

Patrina ><<(">

Anoda Phase said...

waoh! how true...even I have to check myself after this...

We must walk the walk, not just talk the talk...we say we r xtians and yet tell lies? God help us to search ourselves...thanks for sharing this Jaycee...

Jennifer A. said...

Anoda Phase...we all need to constantly go for a check-up. That's what life is all about :) Thanks, hope your day has been fantastic so far.

The Life of a Stranger called me said...

I blog not so they see I am one of them. I blog to remind myself why I must work harder to stay one of them.

Actions speak volumes. My writing is an action of my concious state to implore my unconcious state to do whatever it takes to remain one of them.

And so I write. I read. I study. I talk. For I have found that even in the secret, the moment I neglect to do neither, my stay may just never be guaranteed. And so I go back again.

Even though it may be termed oscillatory, but thankfully it has now reached a steady state. And so I go back again.

Back to His word, back to reading all that pertains to Him, back to Him. For I have found in the secret, simply by utering my feelings to Him and For Him, gives me a sense of peace. And so I go back again.

Jennifer A. said...

@ Life of a Stranger: one statement you made just blew my mind away.

"My writing is an action of my concious state to implore my unconcious state to do whatever it takes to remain one of them..."

This is exactly how I feel about blogging about it. Thanks...*sigh*

Kafo said...

okay i am reading everything in reverse today
wow
this is HOT.
this is ouch. you pulled no punches on this way and the bite is in your voice but it is the truth that needs to be said.

can i borrow that one
say you're one of us

the wheels are already turning

take care