-Clear As Mud-

I’ve shared many times about growing up next to the Mississippi, White & St. Francis Rivers. Very few people ever tried to swim those around where I lived due to strong current/undercurrents & murky waters. I remember tales of divers who had to dive in the Mississippi & refusing to go back down after they had come face-to-face with catfish the size of a car! They couldn’t see them until they were right up on them. The Mississippi is clear as mud.

Sadly, that’s about how many Christians have made Christianity: clear as mud. Not sure if you knew it, but there are over 30 kinds of BAPTISTS alone-not to mention all the other Evangelical, Protestant, & Catholic churches. Then you throw into the mix all the cults & other main religions, and it makes people wonder, ‘Who is God & how in the world can I know Him?’

There is no way in this short few paragraphs that I can do a full apologetic & ‘prove’ Christianity to you, or anyone else for that matter. If you are a critical, analytical thinker and are struggling with the question of God’s existence or Who Jesus is, I would love to steer you to some material that will challenge & help you navigate the topic. Lee Stoble holds a Yale law degree & was a journalist for the Chicago tribune. He was a professed atheist & wrestled with God until he came to grips with the reality of Jesus. I can lend some material from him or Josh McDowell (somewhat the same background) or you can check our Lee at:


The concern I have for many Christians is that we have become a caricature to much of the world. Unfortunately, when Christians are portrayed on movies or TV it is not in the most positive light. Sometimes we’ve painted ourselves in a dark cast too! We’ve spent more time slinging mud sharing Christ.

Again, time/space won’t permit a lengthy treatise, but I believe we should walk what we say. In doing so, we’ll prove Christianity in three ways: Real, Relevant & Relational. Real: Not just a plastic, play-acting religion. Relevant: A faith that works in the day-to-day grind of life! Relational: The God of the universe cares enough to become one of us to make us one with Him. He wants to be involved in our lives & commands us to be involved in the lives of those around us!

One of the disciples, John, who lived & served with Jesus, said this about Him:
He came into the very world He created, but the world didn’t recognize Him. He came to His own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. John 1:10-14 NLT

The first century world didn’t even recognize Jesus when He came. He came to put a face to the name of God. I suppose the religious folks of the time had some preconceived idea of what God was, & simply missed the ship! I’m afraid if the 21st century world watches many of us; they too will miss out on who God really is. As I said, I’m afraid we’ve made Christianity out to be a caricature. We seem to spend more of our time infighting & arguing amongst ourselves & our ‘brand’ than we do in living out His love. God help us. We’ve made Christianity out to be clear as mud.

Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not down on all things ‘church,’ or disillusioned & ready to jump ship. Far from it! As the late E.V. Hill said, I just want to encourage us who believe to behave!

If you’re seeking to know who God is I’d love to help you in your search. If you know Jesus-show it! Live it! Let’s be more interested in sharing Jesus than sharing verbal barbs with each other. As to my affiliation: while I am a Southern Baptist, I am first & foremost a disciple of Jesus! Let’s not make this clear as mud!

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Cell: 870-217-9376
Dave Jackson-Campus Minister djackson@absc.org
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