LRC, Houston - the weekends-free church in Houston, Texas

So much of what we see, think, hear, and “think we know” is because of the culture we were reared in: and the soup we are still marinating in- otherwise known as our lifestyles. I wear glasses, you wear glasses, and as Bart Ehrman so profoundly points out, “When a person just READS a Scripture, they are changing and interpreting it.”

Think about it: it’s a scary TRUTH!

This is particularly true for men. The Bible is the story of a son’s (Jesus) love for his father (God) and the father’s love for his son. When you consider that better than 70% of of the inmates who are in jail for violent crimes, and having extended prison terms, grew up without fathers, you can see the problem we are dealing with here. We’re talking about the minefield of relationships where few dare visit- especially men!

David Murrow, in his book, Why Men Hate Going To Church said, “Being intimate with God and going to church is to a man like a prostate exam. It is unpleasant and evasive, and so they don’t go!” Richard Rohr says (From Wild Man To Wise Man) that men hesitate going to church because it’s a turn off seeing men wearing dresses and quite often wearing white. Men know they aren’t lilly white, pure, and clean; and they certainly aren’t excited or turned on by men wearing dresses! Ahh, but I’m getting side-tracked here on just the male psyche.

Genesis 2:18 says it’s not good for ANY of us to be ALONE! If we’re going to live ANY kind of normal life we have to do so in relationships- multiple ones. Whatever you THINK of Jesus, He was a man of community (can you say Jewish?). Where’s your community, your extended family, the land where you are sowing your SELF? And just how good of a job are you doing at planting, weeding, watering, fertilizing, and caring for that garden? Or are you just wanting to harvest the produce without any interaction, relationships?

What’s is your image of Jesus?

I received an email this morning that said, and I quote, “I RELATE to Jesus in a much more humanistic way which creates a much more RELEVANT RELATIONSHIP that I have with God and with others in the past.” Do you have a real, relevant, and exciting relationship with Christ, or just a religious relationship? I dare say, and regrettably so, that most Christians only have a casual religious relationship: one that only exists for a need(s) to be filled.

Lest I start sounding bitter or cynical, which I am neither, let me simply invite you, as Jesus is right now, to come join us in a meal. You may not like every meal that is fixed (what kids do?). In fact, I can guarantee you that you won’t; however, you must eat (spiritual food) somewhere. If not here, where will you go?

Your answer(s) determines your life!