"Evangelicals"

So I was watching Religulous the other day while I was a little restless in bed, and I found myself looking at what my definition of “Evangelical” was, mainly because I belong to the “Evangelical Lutheran Church in America”. So after taking a good look at the Erik schematics this is what I have come up with.

To be Evangelical in America is usually connected to the four guys that stand outside Sports authority field at Mile High shouting through their mega phone the love of Jesus. That he came to save our souls which are in dire need of saving. Or it is tied to a man/woman in a very nice suit on Sunday morning yelling at me through my television in-between sports center and Batman:the brave and the bold. And after watching Religulous I can understand the frustration in this country with “Evangelicals”.

Personally I am not a huge fan of those kind of Evangelicals. I understand that they are doing a very positive ministry. They are sacrificing their self comfort to preach the name of Jesus Christ and I respect them for it, but I have never found that type of ministry to be appealing. This can easily be explained because when people have to shout at me through a mega phone they give the cliff notes bible and I have read the whole book. This might be the only book I haven’t used cliff notes on when I have to study. So this small taste of Christ must be an acquired taste because when you get a cookie it will make you feel good for a moment but I have always been a meat and potatoes Christian. When you get the good news, when you shout “praise God” at a youth gathering, when you feel love and connection in huge moments those are the delicious cookies and treats God gives us. But when all you hear are those little treats, you can become a little sick to your stomach just like if your diet consists of Twinkies, ding dongs, and Girl scout thin mints. That is why people who have a meat and potatoes faith sometimes have a hard time with this “Go Jesus Go” evangelical because of the fact it is fluff and no stuff.

Yet when I was trying to put this thought into perspective, one of my Kids from youth group reminded me of my passion and adoration for one TIM TEBOW. So how on earth do I reconcile my distaste for people who have to shout JESUS at me, but my love of how Tebow can share his faith on such a national stage? After looking through a couple of Tebow’s interviews on the YouTube I have realized what makes him different. When I see someone telling me I need to love Jesus and believe, I feel pressure on myself. That, I need to do something for God to love me and I need to change isn’t anyone else’s responsibility but mine. Tebow is the shining star that is proof that a relationship with God is between a person and their God. Tebow has never told me that I need to believe. Tebow has never told me that I need to be saved. All Tebow ever talks about is his love for Jesus Christ, and his relationship with a loving and companionate God. Yes he wears his faith on his sleeve by praying before and during football games, but he will never tell you what you need to do. He brings light to the phrase “preach the Gospel at all times and use words only when you need to.”

THAT IS A TRUE EVANGELICAL. Not a person who tells YOU what YOU need to do, but a person who actually leads by example and is unashamed by that fact! A person who can be completely open and honest with what they believe without acting like they are ashamed of it.

So here I stand, perhaps, on the wrong side of the Cross looking back at those telling me that an Evangelical is one who tells people THEY NEED TO BE SAVED, and saying that isn’t what Christ calls me to. Christ calls me to be an Evangelical by what I do and what I believe. An evangelical is one who shares their story of the love of Christ without telling others what they HAVE TO DO. Coming to Christ is a choice. A deeply personal and private choice, and to think it is my responsibility to MAKE others come to Christ seems very, well, Unchristian. Christ calls me to a life of humility. (which I know is something ironic to put on a public blog) So through the jokes of “Tim Tebow” is the second coming, and “OMG Tebow is the too much of a Jesus freak”. I look at him as an example. An example of what an evangelical in America should be. He says he love Jesus and you can tell his sincerity in his statement. Hey doesn’t shout at YOU TO LOVE JESUS, he love Christ and that enough for him. He is evangelical in his actions by building a hospital in the Philippines, visiting sick kids in the hospital and praying with them, and being a clean player in the NFL which is more rare than a white guy at the Apollo. So for those people who share the good news I thank you, but we could use some more Tebow and less Scream-o. An evangelical is Christ in the world, not telling others to be more like Christ.