Ok, now that I have some time I will expand on my statements from earlier.

When I say that I'm a Christian, I mean that as loosely as the term allows. You would say more that I'm a follower of Christ. Today, the label Christian typically means (or stereotypes) that you're anti-anything not in the Bible and you go to "church" every Sunday. There's a very good book out there called "Pagan Christianity". The authors explain where a lot of traditions and ceremonies originated for the church. You see that a lot of these practices were carried over from Roman converts, mainly Constantine I. A lot of these traditions still bind the church to old practices. Go to any church today and you'll sing a few songs, hear about their projects or outreaches, and then have someone speak at you for an hour or so. This is not what the church originally was, nor is it what Jesus intended it to be.

The New Testament church was a group of people living together, sharing all their possessions and caring for one another's needs. The church is the people, not a build or a place that it symbolizes today. People who love and share and profess their commitment to Christ by showing their commitment to those around them. They didn't need "outreach" missions or seminars to draw people in. Everyone outside saw their love for each other and wanted to know more, thats when they taught them about Jesus and his sacrifice so that we could be reconciled to God. This is the type of "Christian" I want to be. With the world today, its not easy. I know of a group that have achieved a place as close to a New Testament church body as I have ever seen. They live together on a plot of land and share life, multiple families living in the same home, teach their children diligence, hard work, and most of all love and reconciliation with your neighbors. I wish our situation was such that we could live there with them, but we have too many bills from living like normal people and could not sustain them there. They live simple lives, their kids are honest, humble, and not full of greed. Most of them don't have cell phones, but they know what they are (they're not Amish). Its because everyone they know lives less than a mile away. They don't feel the need to have all sorts of material possessions. They find more value in their friends and family than in gadgets or clothes, etc. These people are what I would call real Christians. They're not any more spiritual or smarter or know God any better. But they love one another and they all care for each other's needs. Thats the type of "Christian" or follower of Christ that I want to be.

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