What Are You Reflecting?

There is a new song out on Christian radio by Todd Agnew called "My Jesus" that just smacks you right between the eyes with the question:

Which Jesus do you follow?
Which Jesus do you serve?
If Ephesians says to imitate Christ,
Why do you look so much like the world?

To hear this song click here: http://www.myspace.com/toddagnew

Can anyone else say "OUCH!"
The first time I heard this song, I didn't like it. But then I heard it again, and I got past the tune and voice to the words... and those words began to sting. (If you have not heard the song, you need to heard it.)

Actually, I've thought about this a lot even before I heard the song over the past few months. We can get so caught up with how we look to the world. As a minister, I have had other friends in the ministry tell me that I needed a nicer car with power windows and that I needed to drive a car that said that I was a success, or that my clothing did not reflect a successful ministry and so on. It has always bothered me, not that I did not have those things, but that people can be so hung up on appearances and style that say "I am somebody."
This is one of the reasons that I began not wearing a suit all the time when I preach. This is why when I am running around town, you will most often find me in blue jeans or some other casual clothing. I decided that I was projecting the wrong image to the people that I wanted to reach the most.

A few months ago when I first stepped behind the pulpit without a suit on, I was concerned how people would react. Later that week, a "newbie" to the church came up to me and thanked me for not wearing the suit. He told me that for the first time he felt comfortable in approaching the preacher. He said that before he always was intimidated by me because I looked like "Mr. Professional." What an eye-opener that was!

You know, there is nothing wrong with nice suits or clothing. There is nothing wrong with nice cars. But I believe it is time for many of us to examine our motives for what we do and the image we project. As for me, I have decided that I want to be approachable. I don't care if anyone thinks I am a success or not... so long as my Lord is happy with me. That's all that really matters.

(I decided to post all the words to that song in case you have not heard it)

Todd Agnew - My Jesus
From the album Reflection Of Something

Which Jesus do you follow?
Which Jesus do you serve?
If Ephesians says to imitate Christ,
Why do you look so much like the world?

Chorus:
Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the arrogant
So which one do you want to be?

Blessed are the poor in spirit, do we pray to be blessed with the
Wealth of this land
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness
Do we ache for another taste of this world of shifting sand

Chorus:

And who is this that you follow
This picture of the American dream
If Jesus was here would you walk right by on the other side
Or fall down and worship at His holy feet

Pretty blue eyes, curly brown hair and a clear complexion
Is how you see Him as He dies for Your sins
But the Word says He was battered and scarred
Or did you miss that part
Sometimes I doubt we’d recognize Him

Chorus:

Cause my Jesus would never be accepted in my church
The blood and dirt on His feet might stain the carpet
But He reached for the hurting and despises the proud
I think He’d prefer Beal St. to the stained glass crowd
But I know that He can hear me if I cry out loud

I want to be like my Jesus
Can I be like You
I want to be like my Jesus