Jesus didn't say 'follow other Christians.' He said 'follow me.'
A new series for Saturdays titled Shattering Misconceptions
It's hard to hold onto faith in the face of misconceptions that can lead to bad theology or feelings of shame. It's time to shatter some of those!
I’m going to start sharing these graphics every Saturday, focusing on something I think someone needs to hear. Things I believe, things I’ve struggled with, things that sometimes get drowned out by statements our culture likes to make that aren’t actually scripture.
On Saturdays, you won’t get a long post, just an image and a few quick thoughts. Feel free to share the images on social media or here on Substack. They’re for anyone who needs to be encouraged or reminded of something they may have forgotten—or not heard often enough.
It's easy to get sidetracked by this, to measure ourselves against those around us. Besides, it’s a whole lot easier to follow the crowd than to think critically for ourselves. As humans, we find comfort in being part of something bigger than ourselves. There is nothing wrong with learning from and cultivating relationships with and even following other Christians. We need community, and we can learn a lot from what others say and do. But we shouldn't follow blindly.
When teachings or actions don't line up with what we know to be true about God or his word, it is wisdom to question it, to explore and investigate and pray and ask God to show you the truth. The Bible says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you" (James 1:5). We absolutely will find wisdom and lots of good things in the words of other believers at times, but as Christians, our source first and foremost for guidance and direction should be Jesus.
The best news? We can trust in the goodness of Jesus, the wisdom of his teachings, and the compassionate heart he freely shared with everyone he encountered. Jesus isn’t swayed by party affiliations, doesn’t manipulate for personal gain, and doesn’t play favorites. He simply loves.