The Evangelical, Post-Modern, Emergent, Missional, Orthodox, Conservative, Liberal Body of Christ.

Wow my head is spinning. I had a great dinner last night with friends from a former church that imploded while we were attending. We have all gone separate ways; I am active in church leadership at Olathe Life Fellowship, another friend is a Pastor considering a new church plant in the Houston area, and the other finally getting settled into a church and becoming active in the life of that body of believers. The topic of labels came up when I ask my Pastor friend if he would consider himself an evangelical, he replied; "Yes, but I don't call myself that." Then he threw in the word "Emergent." We talked briefly about the controversy surrounding that word. So today I began to explore some of those labels and judgments surrounding some of our verbage and struggle to identify ourselves.

I know less now about where I fit in than I did yesterday.

So here is what I know for sure;

I am Evangelical.
Because I believe strongly that we are to carry the good news of the Gospel to the hurting, and that there is no other name in heaven or earth by which man can be saved, but Jesus.

I am Post-Modern.
Because of the period I live in, and the language I use to reach those around me, who live in this culture, with the Gospel of Christ.

I am Emergent.
Because of the creativity I use to share that Gospel with those around me.

I am Missional.
Because I am concerned for those in today's culture and when they hurt I hurt, so I seek to help them knowing, that God cares for them, and as I help them and care for them I show them a living example of the Gospel, and open the door for sharing the good news.

I am Orthodox.
Because I think the word of God is true and perfect in it's original form. That Jesus is and was God, creator of the universe and became flesh, and was tempted in every way that I am, and so he understands my temptations and I can look to him as my example. His sacrifice on the cross made it possible for me to have eternal fellowship with God, not by anything I could ever do or not do, but by his grace and mercy. Also because I believe that the great commission included the importance of discipleship.

I am Conservative.
Because I want to preserve the Gospel and it's truth so that it may change others lives. I am conservative because I believe in being responsible as we take care of the earth, and all that God has in trusted to us. I am conservative because I believe we are positionally perfect through Christ. I also believe that we should use the resources and intelligence we have been given to do what we believe God would have us do.

I am Liberal.
Because I believe we should give of our resources freely to help those in need, that when I meet Jesus he will ask me as well as all the nations "When I was hungry did you feed me, when I was naked did you clothe me.?" And because I believe that If Christ has set us free we are free indeed. I am liberal because while I believe we are positionally perfected in Christ, we cannot achieve perfection on the earth, even if we are church leadership. I believe that Gods Mercy and Grace trumps mans intelligence.

So you might say that I am just a mixed up kid. Or you might say I am rebelling against boxes and labels. What is important is; what God will say when I stand before him someday.