Is there a difference between being a Christian, and behaving as a Christian?
Perhaps this is merely semantic, but it occurs to me that a common issue in the lives of Christians, especially young Christians, is a disparity between when we call ourselves Christians, and when we behave as Christians.
Usually we best behave as Christians when we’re with friends of similar beliefs and backgrounds, at church, in circles where talking about God it is immediately acceptable. That behaviour probably isn’t as evident in places where religion isn’t as pervasive – the workplace, school, university. A Land Called Paradise is not ostensibly a ‘Christian’ film, but what I found most encouraging was how it depicted the universality of belief and how it affects your life.
This uplifting film, the result of a comprehensive survey of American Muslims, has a number of Muslims ‘talking’ about what they want to say about themselves, about God and about Islam.
These believers talk about loving God. They talk about relationships and sex, about fashion; you know, normal things. But in all the things they talk about, what becomes clear is that their belief is part of who they are – there isn’t a division between being a Muslim then being a student then being a friend, depending on the circumstances.
The film could easily have featured Christians talking about movies, work and fashion, and the outcome would be the same: a positive movie that shows no matter who you are, where you live, or how you got to be where you are, if you are a follower of God, then you are a follower of God at the movies, at work, and buying clothes. It is an unshakable part of who you are.
Uplifting
Is there a difference between being a Christian, and behaving as a Christian?
Perhaps this is merely semantic, but it occurs to me that a common issue in the lives of Christians, especially young Christians, is a disparity between when we call ourselves Christians, and when we behave as Christians.
Usually we best behave as Christians when we’re with friends of similar beliefs and backgrounds, at church, in circles where talking about God it is immediately acceptable. That behaviour probably isn’t as evident in places where religion isn’t as pervasive – the workplace, school, university.
A Land Called Paradise is not ostensibly a ‘Christian’ film, but what I found most encouraging was how it depicted the universality of belief and how it affects your life.
This uplifting film, the result of a comprehensive survey of American Muslims, has a number of Muslims ‘talking’ about what they want to say about themselves, about God and about Islam.
These believers talk about loving God. They talk about relationships and sex, about fashion; you know, normal things. But in all the things they talk about, what becomes clear is that their belief is part of who they are – there isn’t a division between being a Muslim then being a student then being a friend, depending on the circumstances.
The film could easily have featured Christians talking about movies, work and fashion, and the outcome would be the same: a positive movie that shows no matter who you are, where you live, or how you got to be where you are, if you are a follower of God, then you are a follower of God at the movies, at work, and buying clothes. It is an unshakable part of who you are.