I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:15-16 NRSV Bible)
Rev. Maxie Dunnam was driving on Poplar Avenue, in Memphis, Tennessee, when he noticed a bumper sticker on the car in front of him. He inched closer and saw that the bumper sticker read in big letters, "I am a Generic Christian." That got his attention. He tried to get closer. Some smaller letters were written beneath the larger ones. He got dangerously close to the back of the car to read the words, "Ask me what I mean." Mr. Dunnam was intrigued even more. What was the person with this bumper sticker trying to say?

Dunnam's interest was whetted further by the fact that the bumper sticker was on a Mercedes. He wondered how a driver of a Mercedes could be considered generic of anything. A couple of blocks later the driver pulled into a car wash. Dunnam had no intention of having his car washed that day. Nevertheless he also turned in to the car wash hoping to meet and speak with the driver with the intriguing bumper sticker.

The man told him that he was a member of a local congregation. He was so tired of the denominational emphasis in so many churches that he wanted to proclaim a different kind of message. He wanted the world to know that he was a Christian not tied to any label--therefore a generic Christian. The man might have had a point, but on further reflection Dr. Dunnam says, "I wonder if we don't have too many generic Christians and not enough disciples."

Generic means inclusive or general or something that has no trademark. Are we that kind of a Christian?

Loving God, I pray today that you will help me not to be a generic Christian, but a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Ron Newhouse

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