Arrivederci. Au revoir. Adios! Auf wiedersehen! Sayonara.

     Say goodbye to the days where intellectual Christianity is commonplace. Say goodbye to a life voidof remarkable experiences, astounding peace, and clarity of vision. Intellectual Christianity, by my definition, is to understand with the mind yet lack experiential knowledge of the truth.  This can be shaky ground because it is the truth that makes or causes us to experience freedom. 

 Intellectual Christianity is probably one of the top causes of a lack of commitment and adherence to biblical doctrines among professing believers today.  In fact, only half of the 83% of Americans who identify themselves as Christians report that they are absolutely committed to Christianity (Barna, May 07).  This is a scary thought and helps drive home the point that we are in need of change. 

Your faith walk is designed to be experiential not just intellectual. Don’t misunderstand, I am not throwing out the need for intelligence, wisdom, knowledge, or any of the other necessary attributes God blesses us with BUT I am saying there is more. Sometimes when we receive knowledge in the mind we feel we have arrived at a perfect understanding of the issue.  Yet, God has another destination, he desires that we experience the truth behind the words.  Now is the time to expand your capacity to experience the truth and the power of God. Go beyond the established norm. Raise your level of expectation.

Many people learned of God on the level of the intellect its time to renew your mind and build with the principles of the kingdom.  We need to move from knowledge alone  to experience. We should desire to have a greater experience with the word. Think of it like this, intellectual Christianity is analogous to potential energy while experiential Christianity is like kinetic energy—that which is in motion.  Do you want to live a life with a lot of  stored energy or one where energy is being activated and used consistently?
   
    There is a difference in the life, thoughts, and actions of one who is having an intellectual Christian experience and one who is experiencing the reality of God. The one who is having the intellectual experience has information but their life doesn’t manifest victory and power, they can not really understand that God is in them and so they never really access or use the power that is inside of them. The one who is truly experiencing God also has knowledge and their knowledge is being proven.  They realize that the word is in them and because of that they have abundant life, power, strength, and an expected end. They realize they can and do take action. Their faith, trust, and obedience to God are always on the increase.  Their lives demonstrate the power and presence of God.  They enjoy life on every level.  Leaving intellectual Christianity and embracing a deeper experience is a radical move.  It means not not only talk about the word but to live it.

     Are you a radical believer?  One who has decided to take the limits off of God and know him, experientially? Then refuse to accept less than a real, living, and powerful relationship with the Lord. Determine to not just talk about the word but to put it in practice, daily in all areas of your life. Join me in saying goodbye to intellectual Christianity and say hello to a richer, fuller, more profound Christian experience.  

Let’s get radical!!!!

     Today’s challenge. Think about areas in your life that you may have learned of the word, thoughts or ideas of God but you have not experienced its power. Perhaps these areas resonate with you: obedience, truth, faith, submission, love, forgiveness, trust, stewardship or even relationships.  Determine in your heart that you don’t want to live solely on the level of the intellect but you want to embrace the experience of life with God. The power behind the words. Accept that it is His desire for you. Embrace His will.

     I leave you with a scripture to consider 2 Corinthians 13:5, Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it.  Test and prove yourselves [not Christ].  Do you not yourselves realize and know [thoroughly by an ever increasing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you unless you are [counterfeits] disapproved on trial and rejected? (Amplified version)