Communion, Candy, & Drums

I spent my childhood growing up in a medium sized southern church. I was the pastor’s kid, so of course there was a little rebel in me. Though what 4 – 9 year old boy doesn’t have a rebellious side to him?

Every single Sunday it seemed like I was breaking rules. Playing with the drum set on stage, running in the hall ways, drinking the communion juice post service…

Most always we’d be reprimanded and find ourselves sitting in the corner alone, placed in time out.

Eventually I became a Christian, I think it was out of fear, and I don’t think I was really a Christian, but, either way, alongside “becoming a Christian” I learned what it meant and looked like practically to be a Christian, I became a “good kid” I stopped running on stage, stealing communion, searching for the candy cabinet, and banging on the drums.

As I grew older, I started to abide to rules, avoiding bad language, drinking, and going to parties. I learned how to become a “good person”. Though the problem was I never learned how to become an actual Christian…

I think for many becoming a Christian won’t look anything like what they were taught growing up. I think at times our rules and laws can become worship of a legalistic religion, as opposed to a spirit lead relationship.

We look at Jesus, and we see him providing wine at a wedding to people who are already drunk, we see him hanging out with prostitutes, thieves, and tax collectors. In the Old Testament, we see him leading Ezekiel to cook with his feces. Post Jesus, we see his followers and apostles such as Stephen and Paul being lead by the Spirit to use harsh language – some at the time cited as “cursing”.

God is unpredictable.

He chose murders, adulterers, women, and children to lead.

It was the good, morally sound religious elite that he seemed to rebuke… Those that chose rules and laws, over love and compassion.

I’ve learned in my recent years as a Christian, as a follower of Jesus, someone who wants to give it all to Him… that sometimes I need to go against the grain, I need to rebel, and break rules. I’ve learned that I cannot box Jesus or God in… it’s not that rules and laws are all bad, its just that Jesus and God are better.

So may you drink the communion juice post service, go in search of the cabinet filled with candy, bang on the drums, and run through the hallways… Chasing and striving after Jesus with all that you were created to be.