I’ve been asked in situations recently to talk about the Christian way to do something.

I don’t know how to answer that question.

Because I know too many people who identify themselves as Christians who do things in very different ways. I know of people in different countries, on different continents, speaking different languages. And there may be a significant difference between the way Christians do things and the Christian way to do things.

As I mentioned on Tuesday, many of those different people have put in place rules for actions that are described as Christian but go beyond what Jesus taught or commanded or lived out.

I don’t remember where I read someone say, in essence, “Why do we talk about African Christians and Early Christians and Chinese Christians, but we never talk about white Christians?” Some of us cringe at the thought of saying that. Because whatever we are doesn’t need an adjective modifying Christian. We are standard Christians.

But we, whoever we are, aren’t the standard. Jesus is. The Way is what the earliest followers of Jesus were described. Saul, later known as Paul, headed to Damascus to capture those belonging to “The Way.”

When I write here, I try to be gentle, thought-provoking, suggesting rather than telling. I try to invite reflection and conversation with Jesus. I encourage us each to ask God for wisdom, to live at peace with others as much as it is up to us, seek peace and pursue it, to love one another as Christ has loved us.

Because loving God with all our hearts and souls and mind and strength and loving our neighbor as ourself may be, if Jesus is to be followed, the best way.