I'm currently reading the novel "Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller. How I can across this book, I really don't remember. I've had it on my shelf with other novels, but never read it til now. Right now I'm in the 12th chapter out of 20, so I'm just about half way done with it. "Blue Like Jazz" is Miller's our personal ideas about Christian Spirituality, note I did not say Christianity. He makes a distinct difference between the two terms. To him a person needs to find God in their own way which is true. Not everyone finds God the same fashion. I found him at a play called "Heaven's Gates Hell's Flames."
One of the things Miller talks about is he and a bunch of friends set up a confession booth, where THEY confessed to people around. Like they would apologize for things: I apologize for not talking about Jesus as much as I should. I don't help out at homeless shelters, I drink and I smoke. I sin all the time, but at the same time I repent and ask for forgiveness. I'm sorry I don't pray or read my Bible as often as I should, like the Bible says I should. That's my confession to you.
But the novel has got me thinking, he also talks about not finding God in a church and that the term Christianity scares people, hence using Christian Spirituality. We believe in Jesus, we believe he died for our sins, but we're not like those televangelists. People tend to think all Christians are like them and other people they meet that just throw Christianity in their face and like start preaching to them. Most Christians respect what other people think, and while we do talk about our faith, it's not in a pressuring manner. We do it out of love for Jesus. God isn't contained to a church or other religious building. He's all around, He's apart of us. He's everywhere; in the trees, stars, sky, animals, plants, etc.
Christians aren't scary people that will push our faith on you. We're just people who love our faith, because we believe Jesus died for our sins so we won't have to.
Christians like you I understand. It's people, some of my close friends included, who try to drive the Bible down my throat at every possible chance. I had a guy who wanted to date me, but when he found out I wasn't Christian, he changed his mind. And when I told all my evangelical friends that I was converting to Judaism, a dead silence took over the phone. I'm glad there are people like you in this world, but sometimes it's frustrating to know that some aren't.
I have a friend who does try to push his faith. He's acutally judged me and my actions. It's people like that that make "Christianity" and bad thing. It is frustrating that people give any group a bad name. Thank you for the comment :-)
I've grown up in church all my life, and like Miller I had a bad taste and understanding of God for a long time. I struggled with bitterness towards the church and I resented the 'religous' side of Christianity. I read "Blue Like Jazz" expecting more religion to be shoved at me, instead I realized that part of my anger was justified. God didn't plan for me to be trapped by religion, he planned me to be freed through it. I still struggle with 'Christianity', but spiritually I am more of a Christian than I have ever been.
I really enjoyed that book, and I am even now in the midst of re-reading it. I hope more people pick up Miller's book and see Christian Spirituallity in a whole new light. :D
-S
Ooooh, I'm reading that book right now actually. A friend recommended it to me. :) It is definitely a good read and I really like the note at the beginning and the quote about jazz as well. So far it's really fun to read!
the book is so dead on.
its kind of creepy yet really exciting when reading it and seeing that me being a christians should be something im not afraid of. i hate to think people think im judging them because im a christian. i would never ever do that, and i love how so many christians are now banding together with this book to fight the horrid stereotype.