Take the Red Letter Pledge

I want to be remembered as a Red Letter pastor, one who was particularly focused on encouraging my congregation to follow the teachings and example of Jesus. I value all scripture but the words of Jesus seem to be God’s most clear and direct communication on how we should live now. I seek to understand the rest of scripture through the lens of Jesus' example and his teaching.

Red Letter Christians is a great organization led by Shane Claiborne and Tony Campolo that encourages Christians to make following Christ our highest priority, one that shapes every aspect of how we think and live. They (and I) encourage Christians to make the following pledge:

Red Letter Christian Pledge 
I dedicate my life to Jesus, and commit to live as if Jesus meant the things he said in the “red letters” of Scripture.

I will allow Jesus and his teaching to shape my decisions and priorities.

I denounce belief-only Christianity and refuse to allow my faith to be a ticket into heaven and an excuse to ignore the suffering world around me.  

I will seek first the Kingdom of God – on earth as it is in heaven – and live in a way that moves the world towards God’s dream, where the first are last and the last are first, where the poor are blessed and the peacemakers are the children of God, working towards a society where all are treated equally and resources shared equitably.

I recognize that I will fall short in my attempts to follow Jesus, and I trust in God’s grace and the community to catch me when I do.  

I know that I cannot do this alone, so I commit to share this journey with others who are walking in the way of Jesus. I will surround myself with people who remind me of Jesus, help me become more like him and hold me accountable for my actions and words.

I will share Jesus with the world, with my words and with my deeds. Like Jesus, I will interrupt injustice, and stand up for the life and dignity of all. I will allow my life to point towards Christ, everywhere I go. 

I've signed this pledge and if  you would like to sign it too you can do so here.