Be a Christian Like Me!

I know I haven't blogged for sometime, and whilst there is good reason (like a new job, a new baby and just plain exhaustion), there is still a lot I want to share. I hope you'll bear with me.
This is something that's been on my mind for a long time - possibly years. I'm not sure of its basis or validity, and would really appreciate feedback. I call it "Be a Christian Like Me" syndrome.

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I've been a Christian most of my life. As far back as I can remember I've been attending church, listening to sermons or talks, and thinking about how well they apply. One of the things we used to do as a family was to pick apart my Dad's sermons over Sunday lunch. They were interesting times, and I learnt a lot. Consequently I've come to appreciate solid, biblically based, applicable teaching. It doesn't have to be outright exegesis, but I think any teaching needs to be grounded in scripture as a whole - rather than single verses that support elegant arguments.

And this is where I get unstuck. Lately I've been listing to a lot of different speakers and I wonder how much is really biblically based, and how much is the speaker supporting their own life and walk with the help of scripture. Sometimes sermons seem to come across as, "If you just did this, as I do, you would have a greater understanding of God. Try this out - it works for me - and you'll get closer to God. Be a Christian Like ME!"

Now I don't doubt that God works in and through all of us, and we can certainly share how God has worked in us, and those experiences can certainly be helpful to other Christians. I worry however that too much personal experience as a basis for teaching is harmful. God hasn't called me to be Ian or Brian or Mary or Jane. God has called me to be Phil. Is not my experience and struggles with God worth as much as theirs? I repeat: I can learn from them. I can certainly try on some clothing and see if it fits, but ultimately I have to find God in my life apart from their experiences, and in my own.

The trouble with this is that it gets dangerously close to post modern thinking: My way to God is as valid as your way to God. Don't judge me. Let me find my way. It's this that causes me concern in my own thinking, and I haven't' totally resolved this issue. My pride gets in the way, but at the same time, God is not letting up on this issue within me as well.

In all things I want to honour God. I also want to value people and their experiences, to show them how much God loves them, and how much they are valued by God. He loves you, the man in the back row, as much as he loves those serving at the front. You, faithful attender, are as important to God as those serving in more obvious positions. You, shy teenage girl, wondering where your life will take you, are in God's thoughts as much as the bold, outgoing speaker or leader of your home group.

In our leader-led, out spoken, loudest is best, society, I think the last thing we need to hear is Be a Christian Like Me. Be a Christian like you. Tell me your story, that I may know God better through you.