During a fairly spirited debate the other night, my brother Josh and I were reminded of a very disturbing truth the other night. The devil likes to take good things and give them a little twist in order to render them ineffective for spreading the Gospel.
This has become especially true in the case of the modern church. As my cousin Andrew pointed out during this discussion, somehow we've designed our churches to be castles with motes around them. We get all of the people who look alike together and then raise the drawbridge, leaving the desperate and dying world outside. Like Jesus wanted us to keep Him all to ourselves!
How much more arrogant and sinful can we be? Is not the root of our sin founded in our own selfishness and pride? How can we think that this behavior is godly or Christlike?
I can't even remember to count how many times I've heard a professing Christ-follower excuse his or her lack of compassion or desire to serve with an arrogant, "I just don't feel comfortable around these people," or, "I just don't have anything in common with these people," or, "I don't want my kids around these people."
God forbid your children learn to be more concerned with the well-being of others!
You want to make the excuse that you just aren't feeling a sense of community when you are surrounded by hurting sinners? I would suggest that the community you seek only comes through service to others. You may be surprised how much you have in common with the people you are called to minister to.
Of course I am not suggesting that I have this all figured out. I am just as selfish and proud as anybody else. But I am learning that life is not about me. I am praying for strength to be less self-centered.
What I can't understand is how the majority of Christians continue to justify their selfishness as piety, and try to attach Jesus' name to their sin. They make up "principles" that are designed to protect them from people they aren't comfortable with.
I think of some folks who made a great show of starting a ministry to addicts. However, after a few weeks they realized that people who struggle with addiction are often very poor, look pretty rough, and have rough friends. Quickly, this group of "believers" made an announcement that the homeless addicts were no longer invited. This ministry was designed only for the "white collar addict."
Because the homeless addicts had no way to contribute monetarily and were the "scary" kind, they were no longer worthy of being served.
What?!
News flash folks. Read the gospels. Jesus never concerned Himself with whom He was associated. He didn't spend three years sitting in a castle ministering to the pharisees. He went to where the people were who were hurting. He gave them His truth, His love, His healing power.
The Gospel is hard. The gate is wide but the way is narrow.
It's hard because it's more than just saying a few words. It involves hard things like repentance and surrender. It involves redemption and newness of life. And those are the things that the broken sinner needs to experience a heart transformation and a life change.
Why would we want to make it harder than it already is? Why would we demand things of people that Jesus didn't demand of them? Things about their appearance or their past?
My challenge to myself and my friends is this. Open the door! Let down the drawbridge! Spend less time sitting in a circle ho-humming about "doctrines" that are irrelevant and man-made (like the ones that have a man's name attached to them).
Let's get back to truly being all about Jesus! What did He say? How did He say it? To whom did He say it?
Jesus threw open the door. He knew it was hard to walk through, and He didn't pull any punches. But He didn't qualify it in regards to lifestyles, careers, pasts, marriages (the woman at the well), income, race, etc.
This is the point of the new name. It's a big door. Jesus is the way. He doesn't need you to preface His truth with your comfort or convenience.
And He has a big roar! Jesus is the most famous person in history thanks to the power of His Gospel and how it impacts the world, everywhere it is spoken.
So let's try to speak it His way, by His grace, and by the power of His Spirit in us.
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