By Chris Surber

I have had enough. Take this as a letter of public resignation from the club. I’m out. I’m not a Christian anymore, at least not if being a Christian means any of the following things that I don’t stand for.

I’m tired of Christians implying or stating that to be a real Christian means I have to identify with any certain political party. In Matthew 22, Jesus isn’t telling His followers that half their allegiance belongs to Caesar and half to God. He’s telling them to give Caesar his money and God their heart.

I’m tired of Christians over spiritualizing trivial things that do nothing to advance the kingdom of God. I’m tired of Christians wasting hours in meetings talking about how best to have meetings. I’m tired of Christians fighting to get their way instead of loving one another. I’m tired Christians resigning from committees, or restructuring committees.

I am really tired of Christians squashing God’s will by committee. I’m tired of Christians missing out on the blessing that comes from following the light of Christ in a dark world. I’m tired of Christians living enslaved to religion and missing the bigger picture of the desperately magnificent joy that comes from letting go of this world and being embraced by Christ.

I’m tired of Christians missing out on Christ because of their addiction to religion.

I’m just a guy that Jesus found confused by the world and restored to sanity. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2 KJV)

I’m just a guy that Jesus found addicted to pleasures that would have slowly killed me, and He and set me free to enjoy His best for me. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36 KJV)

I’m just a guy taking a long walk through this world. This isn’t my home, and to be perfectly honest, not much in this world is of much value to me. For my beloved wife and me, the shine of shiny stuff in this world only reminds us of the shine of beautiful steel handcuffs. I’m tired of Christians being enslaved to stuff that shines in this world and missing out on the brilliant light reflecting from the throne of God in their lives.

I’m just a pilgrim follower of the One this world crucified, a stranger in a strange land. I’m just a guy passing through telling people about Jesus.

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21 KJV)

Chris Surber is pastor of Cypress Chapel Christian Church in Suffolk. Visit his website at www.chrissurber.com.