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 October 24, 2003
A couple of months ago I was driving by a nearby church and noticed a sign outside that read, “What would Jesus drive?” This woke me up to the reality that besides needing to know what to drive, there is a huge need for a users' manual for Christianity, a Christianity for Dummies, if you will. After all, where can the new Christian learn the really practical things that every good churchgoer needs to know? For example, lingo for proper communications with other Christians—“plead the blood,” “shake that tree,” etc.; where to go to get the fish for one’s car; approved Christian music, makeup, hairstyles and attire; the proper hair length for a Christian male (above the collar, of course) and, for that matter, what shampoo does a good Christian use?
 We seem to have a problem with mainstream Christianity, and it isn’t hair length. Ned Flanders gets a laugh because there are way too many too-nice, too-fake, cookie-cutter Christians in the world and, on the flip side, too many Christians who feel guilty that they don’t naturally fit that mold. The truth is that God didn’t save us so we could all wear the same clothing, speak the same language, drive the same cars, have the same theology and belong to the same political party. The Lord doesn’t want you to conform to a stereotype. In fact, just the opposite: He wants to set you free to be more uniquely yourself than you ever could have been without him.
So what does a true Christian look like? What do people look like? The beautiful thing about following Jesus is that when you love him and surrender to him (not to a stereotype), he will make your life unique and interesting. Jesus said he came to give us life abundantly. On the outside you may see a tattooed, rough-looking Harley-rider, but on the inside is a heart moved with passion for God. She may come across as a ruthless, straight-talking lawyer, but inside is a heart driven for justice, fueled by love.
 No, you weren’t meant to be a polo-shirted, jargon-spouting Christian robot. And God never intended for you to be. The conformity we should share as Christians should come in the form of love, love that’s growing within us because we are filled with the spirit of the one true God who is love. Take another look at Jesus and then follow his example: Enjoy your freedom, celebrate your individuality, have good boundaries and don’t let the conformists get you down. As Augustine said, “Love God and do whatever you want.” God bless the Ned Flanders of the world who made that sign, but love God and drive whatever you want.
 article by Hannah Zasadny
email her about this piece at chezhannah@hotmail.com |
