Big C, Little C

A very good friend of mine passed away about a year ago and I miss him so much but I do have with me his words, the memories, and even a CD of music he made me. There is so much I remember that he would say to help explain things of the bible. One of my favorites was the difference between little C and big C.

Little C is the church without God. The one who focuses on works and judgment rather than grace and redemption. I am certain we are all familiar with the kind I mean. The bible warns us about such churches and warns the leaders within them about, "heaping coals" on people's heads or even dealing with "specks before dealing with the logs" in their own lives. Little C attempts to coerce people into the mold of it's idea of "Christian" rather then Christ's. This is the version the world expects of Christianity.

Big C is reverse contrast is full of love, grace, and redemption. I am not saying it's a perfect place. In fact far from it. It's a place though where people understand that we're anything but perfect. We all have different gifts. We learn to forgive each other when offended by one or the other. We spend time in the Word of God and lift it up to it's appropriate place within our lives. Big C invites everyone, right where they are at and loves them. This is the version that surprises the world and gets the world to either turn their head, open their ears, and pay attention or simply hate it in principle.

"Your religion is a crutch!"

If you have been a Christian for any length of time then you have heard someone, maybe several someones, say this in regards to your faith.

Lately I have been thinking about this and I find myself laughing. If these people had any understanding of what following Christ really truly means, then they would find that it's actually much more like swimming upstream in turbulent waters attempting to get from point A to point B. Point B would be a wonderful place full of treasure (gold, diamonds, pearls, and so on), hope, love, peace, etc. You're only hope in accomplishing this would be the random rocks you find in the rushing river that you can hold onto for dear life when you need a breather. Christians would call that prayer or the Word of God but each rock only holds so much to keep you going for so long before you must once again jump back into the waters and keep going.

Some may ask, "Why try to cross to the other side? Isn't life good at point A." Sure. Life can be good at point A. You could be the most fantastic person and lead a life that many would envy and yet still point B would be better. It's better because you have run the race. You have won the battle. Anyone who has accomplished a goal in life no matter how big or small knows that feeling of accomplishment. This is no different. Add to that, you will spend all your days with a loving caring Father who knows you and meets you right where you are at (he may even swim for you at times). If you have ever been abused, neglected, mistreated, etc then you know how important it is to be loved and His Son understands too.