Thoughts on Christian Spirituality

This is what sparked this topic for me… I am always frustrated with the division in the religion of Christianity but it has some how just become the norm, kinda weird because I thought it was a religion based on unity and love and hope no matter where you are or were in life… i dont know… denominations? weird concept to me….Anyways what got me thinking about it again was reading all of these blogs about a book called The Shack by William P. Young.  There has been so much controvery over this book it makes me sick.  This book is helping so many people and yet we as chrisitians still find something to fight about just because doctrinally it may not line up with exactly what you believe or how you imagine God to be but let me remind you that it is a fictional story….fictional…. Christians spend more time fighting than any other religion I know.  Maybe not killing each other physically but definately spiritually.  We beat each other down with rants on pre-destination vs. freewill, or gifts of the spirit are they for today or have they passed away, should we dunk people when they are getting baptized or sprinkle them with water, how should we take communion.  I think we spend so much time arguing about God that we forget Him all together.  I have wanted to walk away from going to church on several occasions because of these petty arugments.  But the would only be hurting me because if you really want change you have to do it , you can’t wait for someone else.  Sometimes I think God is looking down on us and is dissapointed,  no we aren’t making golden calfs to worship but have we made the religion of whos right and whos wrong our idol.  I sometimes think that we forget that Christianity is a relational ministry.  Think about that for a second.  Not just relational with each other as humans but relational with God the creator of the world.  Do you spend more time talking to God or about Him??  I think I am guilty of the later.  I think about God like he is George Washington or Thomas Jefferson rather than my spiritual Father and recite facts about Him like I am reading from a text book.  It is weird what american Chrisitiany has become.  You have to ask your self if we took a wrong turn, or is there a better way?  There has to be more than just fighting with other Christians and reciting facts from the Good Book.  We are supposed to show people love and liberation from the weight of sin that is carrying this world to it’s knees.   I don’t know I could go on and on and this is probably the first blog of many about this subject. What are your thoughts??

-Tyler