What is This Blog?

I feel it necessary to explain the purpose of “BiggStreams” as a spiritual discussion.  Obviously, the word spiritual or faith can mean different things for different people.  I am a Christian, so my spiritual/faith life is formed as a follower of Christ and that is the position I write from.

In all honesty, I don’t like to use the word “Christian” because I don’t agree with or recognize the world’s definition of what that means when someone describes themselves that way.  When I tell someone who is not a “believer” that I am a Christian, most of the time their first impression of me is not really who I am or anywhere close to what being a follower of Christ means.

A lot of that is the fault of mainstream media’s presentation of the faith they love to mock (i.e. — Hollywood in particular); a world that strongly opposes the principles of following Christ, the idea of an absolute truth, etc., because it is easier to ignore than follow and grow in such a truth; and, just as much as anything else, a lot is also due to the poor way in which many “Christians” display, present and demonstrate their faith — even with good intentions.

As a follower of Christ, I am NOT represented by the Religious Right, moral values politicians, televangelists, legalistic denominations, cheesy “Christian” entertainment, annoying street preachers and tract distributors, extreme revival movements or the popular Easter and Christmas “only” church attendees.  (I’m sure I’ll keep adding to the list…lol).  That does not mean I don’t think there are genuine followers of Christ present in all of those categories and does not mean I am sitting in judgment of anyone who identifies with those groups.  Nor does it mean “my style” is the only style God desires from His followers.

I’m just opposed to having my statement of faith in being a “Christian” to conjure up images that do not reflect me and my personal beliefs and many world images of the faith come from the categories above.

I am ONLY represented by who Christ says I am and how I live out my personal relationship with Him on a daily basis.

And that means I will fail.  That means I will not always “look” good.  It means I recognize this is all a process and will always mean more growth is necessary.

Judging someone thru the lens of a moment misses the big picture of a journey.  Can you imagine if King David, whom God called “a man after His own heart,” was judged only by some of his moments and not his full process working through all kinds of emotions, failures and successes?

I am transparent and authentic in this blog (and in my life) which makes me an open target for criticism and misperceptions by anyone who might just read a blog post every now and then and not recognize the journey BiggStreams portrays.  That’s OK.  If that’s the case, it is really not my issue and the reader is missing the point.

Transparency and authenticity are good. They are necessary to genuinely reflect both the struggle and joy of authentic Christian faith and everything else that comes along with it.  Cynics will always be there taking their shots and pointing out “hypocrisy ” and sometimes they will be right.  But, too often, the charge of “hypocrisy” is an easy excuse to justify our own weaknesses.  If no one is perfect (and last I checked, no one is), then we are all subject to our own hypocritical moments.

Understand, too, that my blogs will reflect where I’m at during that very moment.  I don’t polish them up to make them look perfect or make me look better.  Sometimes, I’m going to be in the midst of doubt and questioning.  Someone once pointed out that my blogs were starting to reflect bitterness.  That’s simply because I was struggling with bitterness and working through it — and not afraid to let others see my struggle.

You have to share the ENTIRE journey, not just the parts that make you look good.  That is the key to to being authentic.

BiggStreams reflects my journey and the things God is showing me.  You have your own journey, but we all often intersect and can learn from each other.

Seems to me that is what a community of faith is supposed to be about.