Untangling Christianity from the Way of Jesus w/ Andreas Beccai
Jul 28, 2023
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Pastor Andreas Beccai discusses untangling Christianity from the Way of Jesus. They explore the perception of Christianity as a brand, the limitations of church services, and the need for community in embodying the character of Christ. They emphasize the power of faith drawing people through compassion and discuss living with kindness and trust in God's work.
Christianity as a brand often lacks the compassion and love exemplified by Jesus.
Building bridges with others requires genuine love, curiosity, and practical acts of care.
Deep dives
Christianity as a Brand vs. the Way of Jesus
There is a disconnect between Christianity as a brand and the way of Jesus. Throughout history, Christianity has been used to justify harm and scandals involving Christian leaders. Many question the value of Christianity in the world. The character of Jesus, filled with compassion and love, drew people to him, but modern Christianity often lacks these qualities.
Living Up to the Character of Jesus
The speaker shares their personal journey of reevaluating their faith and finding a disconnect between the character of Jesus and how Christianity is practiced. They witnessed secular groups embodying the compassion and curiosity that they didn't see in religious people. They see a need for Christians to prioritize practical acts of love and care for others.
The Impact of Genuine Love and Curiosity
The speaker emphasizes the importance of genuine love and curiosity in building bridges with people who do not share the Christian faith. They share personal experiences of being a non-anxious presence, showing genuine interest, and creating a safe and healing environment for others. They believe that embodying the character of Jesus without strings attached can have a transformative impact on relationships.
Living Out Faith Beyond Worship Services
The speaker challenges the notion that a worship service is the main mechanism for shaping people into the image of Christ. They advocate for a faith that is lived out in everyday life, where genuine care, love, and compassion are expressed. They highlight the importance of being present in real and practical ways, pursuing good, and building connections with the community.
Christianity can be a brand as much as it can be a faith. If you grew up Christian, you're probably already aware of the fact that there are Christian versions of just about everything from streaming services like Pure Flix to entire genres of Christian self-help books. Life coaches, radio stations, and Christian businesses. But is Christianity in the United States today really the way of Jesus? When we read the stories of Jesus in the Bible, we see someone who exemplified a very different set of values than many might see in us today - a person filled with compassion and patience and love. People were drawn to Jesus in a way that we just don't often see people being drawn to modern Christianity. If that's the way of Jesus, why do things feel so different now? Is it possible that God can't always be found in a Christian church? Is it possible that when many Christians envision God, the Way of Jesus isn't the main thing that they think about? But imagine a Christianity where the adherents actually lived up to that character of Jesus. How would the face of modern Christianity change if we actually took that kind of God seriously? What if Christians were the kind of people that our neighbors wanted to be around? We explore all this and more here with Pastor Andreas Beccai!
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