Are We Doing Enough?
Lately, I have been reading...and thinking...and reading some more. God has really been speaking to my heart (convicting me is more like it ) about some things and my faith. I hope I can really put it into words effectively enough to convey my point.
Up until recently I have been reading some really "radical" books by some really unknown, "underground", authors. They talk of a revolution of sorts. A revolution of faith, and what it means to be a Christian. They are what some would call "emergent". They are taking radical steps to a life of social justice and action. They are breaking out of the standard "formula's" being taught in our traditional evangelical churches and moving away from "religion" into relationships. Living out their faith literally just as Jesus did.
That is what got me thinking about my life and my faith. For the last few years or so I was looking at the Bible from a perspective of it not being a relational document or book but something that I can go to find the perfect formula or intructions to get myself out of a certain situation. But I was not living it.
For example, how many times have we read the story of the rich, young, ruler who asks Jesus what he must do to enter the kingdom of heaven. This person had followed all the "rules" and was "religious". But Jesus told him to sell all his property and give the money to the poor. Do we really use the verse that talks about Jesus telling the disciples that we will always have the poor among us in the right context, or do we use it as an excuse to not do anything at all. Their are poor people in your neighborhood right now. What are we doing? Are we doing enough. I don't mean to send them money. I mean ask God to show them to you, invite them in for a dinner and some community time together. Isn't that what Jesus did? Are we doing the same?
We all sit here and complain about how our faith is sodry and we are losing what we believe. Could it be that we never had it at all? Or do we have some sort of "corporate" belief system that can only be sustained on Sundays and Wednesdays.
What I am trying to say is that, as Christian's, are we just talking about a God who saves or are showing others the saving power He has. Are just talking about helping the poor, the disenfranchised, the lonely? Or are we doing like Jesus did and love them and show them that He and someone else cares.
Do we just talk about Jesus' salvation and passion or do we show it in our everyday lives. Where are our priorities? I think it is time we start looking at the "emergent" culture in our church. We just may see the real Jesus and it might just change your life. I know it is starting to change mine.
(If you want to know, the last 2 books that have been life changing for me is Donald Miller's "Searching For God Knows What" and the one I am currently reading now is Shane Claiborne's "The Irresistible Revolution (Living As An Ordinary Radical)")
Up until recently I have been reading some really "radical" books by some really unknown, "underground", authors. They talk of a revolution of sorts. A revolution of faith, and what it means to be a Christian. They are what some would call "emergent". They are taking radical steps to a life of social justice and action. They are breaking out of the standard "formula's" being taught in our traditional evangelical churches and moving away from "religion" into relationships. Living out their faith literally just as Jesus did.
That is what got me thinking about my life and my faith. For the last few years or so I was looking at the Bible from a perspective of it not being a relational document or book but something that I can go to find the perfect formula or intructions to get myself out of a certain situation. But I was not living it.
For example, how many times have we read the story of the rich, young, ruler who asks Jesus what he must do to enter the kingdom of heaven. This person had followed all the "rules" and was "religious". But Jesus told him to sell all his property and give the money to the poor. Do we really use the verse that talks about Jesus telling the disciples that we will always have the poor among us in the right context, or do we use it as an excuse to not do anything at all. Their are poor people in your neighborhood right now. What are we doing? Are we doing enough. I don't mean to send them money. I mean ask God to show them to you, invite them in for a dinner and some community time together. Isn't that what Jesus did? Are we doing the same?
We all sit here and complain about how our faith is sodry and we are losing what we believe. Could it be that we never had it at all? Or do we have some sort of "corporate" belief system that can only be sustained on Sundays and Wednesdays.
What I am trying to say is that, as Christian's, are we just talking about a God who saves or are showing others the saving power He has. Are just talking about helping the poor, the disenfranchised, the lonely? Or are we doing like Jesus did and love them and show them that He and someone else cares.
Do we just talk about Jesus' salvation and passion or do we show it in our everyday lives. Where are our priorities? I think it is time we start looking at the "emergent" culture in our church. We just may see the real Jesus and it might just change your life. I know it is starting to change mine.
(If you want to know, the last 2 books that have been life changing for me is Donald Miller's "Searching For God Knows What" and the one I am currently reading now is Shane Claiborne's "The Irresistible Revolution (Living As An Ordinary Radical)")