Even If i Walk Alone

Instructing and encouraging you to live your life as a disciple of Jesus

Archives for July 2010

Kicking the Christians Out

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What are you concerned with in your life? What drives you to get up each day? Who are you becoming? These questions shape our character, the essence of who we are. Over the past couple of weeks I have found myself among Christians, yet I’ve never been so frustrated or heartbroken. Call me naïve, but I used to think that Christians and followers of Jesus were one in the same. That illusion was shattered several years ago, but it has become magnified of late for me. Let me explain what I see as the difference.

A follower of Jesus is one who is passionately in love with Christ, the Son of God. They will go anywhere and do anything for Him. Their hearts are broken by the dependency of the widows and elderly, by the desperation of the single mother and by the hollow eyes of the homeless. Followers of Jesus show compassion and love to everyone they meet, doing so in the name of Jesus. They share the good news of Jesus whenever they have opportunity to do so. A true follower of Jesus is humble, thinks of others first and possesses impeccable integrity. People are drawn to them because of the light that shines from them, a light that is the very reflection of God. This is what a follower of Jesus looks like, because this is what Jesus looks like.

In contrast, a Christian appears to be one who prayed a magic prayer at some point in their life, probably went forward in a church service to proclaim their faith, and more than likely got baptized in some water. If they are a really good Christian, they then become involved in a ministry or two at their church and eventually teach a Sunday school class or become an usher. The really super Christians may even become deacons or elders in their church. Their speech, dress and attitude are always wonderful for an hour or two each Sunday. Catch them during the week, however, and you’ll find a different story. These types of people compartmentalize their life. One compartment is neatly packed with their Sunday life, while another compartment is stuffed and bursting at the seams with their lives outside of church. Even at church you will hear conversations of negativity, jealousy, rumor spreading and disenfranchisement. Ephesians 4:29 states that, “No rotten talk should come from your mouth, but only what is good for the building up of someone in need.” In verse 31 of the same chapter we see that “All bitterness, anger and wrath, insult and slander must be removed from you, along with all wickedness.” Does this sound like the folks at your church? My guess is that it does not because our Western churches are filled with Christians instead of followers of Jesus.

When I was younger, churches and towns had “revival meetings” every so often. For the uninitiated, these were generally week long meetings held in churches or tents where an out of town speaker would visit and bring a message of repentance. I must be honest, as a youngster I dreaded being dragged along to these meetings. The purpose of the meetings was to shake the local Christians awake, to remind them of their true calling, and I think, to scare the daylights out of those in attendance. Perhaps we need to start having these meetings again. Christians in our churches are in such a malaise that it’s about time that they were shaken awake and scared back to the reality of the seriousness of their choices. We need to rekindle the flame of passion for loving God and telling others about His love. We need to repent of the religion of Christianity and turn to a life of following Jesus.

Let’s kick the Christians out of our churches. Let’s not be afraid to see our numbers drop until all that’s left are true followers of Jesus. Just as He stated in Matthew 12:30, we are either for Him or against Him. A religious life of platitudes and bickering is not a life that is for Jesus. It’s not why He came, and it is not a life to which we’ve been called. These are the salt that has lost its savor; these are the lukewarm. Do everything you can to never fall into that lifestyle. Instead, renew your commitment to Jesus today; determine from this moment forward that you will follow Him wherever He goes, and that you will imitate whatever He does. God has no use for meaningless religion and neither should we. Repent, follow Jesus, love God and serve people. Surrender all that you are and become a true follower of Jesus.

Are You a Christian Or a Disciple?

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I recently attended the North American Christian Convention as it afforded me the opportunity to see one of my favorite speakers, Francis Chan. If you’re not familiar with Mr. Chan, I would highly recommend that you check out his books (“Crazy Love” and “Forgotten God”) or listen to one his messages at the website of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, California. Chan’s topic for the day was the issue of being a Christian versus being a disciple. As he pointed out, there really is no difference, at least by Biblical standards. However, Western Christianity at large seems to be perpetuating the lie that it is possible to be a Christian without being a disciple of Jesus. This resonated deeply with me as one of my own personal mantras is “repenting of Christianity for a life of following Jesus.” One of the ideas promoted by the modern church is that by simply having someone pray a prayer and raise their hand, we have added one to our convert count for the year. Chan stated that he believes this is the most dangerous teaching in the church today. I couldn’t agree more.

Jesus told the people of His day that if they would follow Him they had to leave everything behind. They had to sell their possessions, they had to give away their money, and they had to forsake their friends and family for the sake of following Jesus. There is no hesitation and no compromise in the life of a true follower of Jesus. For someone to be a follower of Jesus, they must be “all in” or left out. From my study of Scripture I just don’t see any wiggle room on that. If you would call yourself a follower of Jesus, you must be willing to give up absolutely everything for Him.

Incredibly, some of the comments posted after Chan’s message were very negative. People were complaining that Chan was only saying that Christians must be disciples rather than giving them practical steps on how to become a disciple. I want to be as sensitive as possible here, but the last time I looked, those steps were quite clearly defined in the Bible. I think we have become a people that expect others to teach and lead us to such an extent that we no longer seek answers for ourselves. Worse still, in our ADD influenced society I think we often fail to even think at all. If something requires any level of depth it seems most are eager to move on to the next shallow but stimulating topic. Let me reiterate what is becoming a recurring theme here: following Jesus is hard. It’s not for the weak or the squeamish, but it is for anyone who loves Jesus with absolutely everything they have.

We need to stop being concerned with counting how many our church has “led to the Lord” and start making sure we invest in each one of their lives to encourage them to grow and mature in their faith. In other words, we need to be following through on the great commission and not just tell people about Jesus, but make disciples of all people. We need to spend enough time with new believers to ensure they understand what the next steps are and what God expects of them. Following Jesus is not a one time commitment, but rather a commitment that requires renewal every second of every hour of every day.

In summary, let me voice my agreement with Francis Chan. God didn’t call us to make Christians; He called us to make disciples. Let’s be certain that we as a church are not more concerned with someone raising their hand saying they’ve made a decision, than we are with discipling and nurturing that person. Leading someone to Christ and having their lives immersed by the Holy Spirit is only the first half of the commission. The second half requires that we make disciples of these individuals, so that they do not fall away from the faith and can positively impact the world with the love of Jesus.

Persist Without Exception

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One of the most appealing characteristics of the life of Jesus was his dogged persistence, His refusal to give in or give up. In the face of ridicule and persecution, He pressed steadfastly toward the mission for His earthly life. As Napoleon Hill would say, Jesus had a well defined “definite chief aim”. He knew what He was here to do, and nothing was going to prevent Him from achieving His goal. In the book “
The Traveler’s Gift”, author Andy Andrews relates the seven most important decisions one can make in life. The seventh decision, the one that ties the rest together, is to “persist without exception”. As Mr. Andrews writes, “I will continue despite exhaustion. I focus on results. I am a person of great faith.” Those are powerful words; we would do well to heed them in our walk with Christ.

Constantly, we are tempted to cut corners or to take the easy way out. It has been my experience following Jesus that He has never once chosen the path of least resistance. Without fail, He seems to choose the more challenging road. The people you encounter along that way are infinitely more interesting than those you might encounter on “Easy Street”. On the rugged road of life you find warriors, beaten and bloodied people, some on the verge of giving up, others who already have. On this path you will find opportunities to learn and to serve. By contrast, the smooth road that most will take is filled with blasé people content to coast through life oblivious to the richness and wonder of it all. As I’ve said many times, following Jesus is hard. If it wasn’t, everyone would do it. Everyone would sign up for their “fire insurance” and be done with it. This, however, is not the case.

Following Jesus means you will face struggles; you will have to endure difficult challenges. When the trials come, you will be faced with a choice: will you press forward, persist, and endure what has come into your life? Or will you lie down on the side of the road convinced you have done all you can and that you can go no further? While he’s certainly not a theologian, I like the way personal development guru Brian Tracy puts it: “Between you and every goal that you wish to achieve, there is a series of obstacles, and the bigger the goal, the bigger the obstacles. Your decision to be, have and do something out of the ordinary entails facing difficulties and challenges that are out of the ordinary as well. Sometimes your greatest asset is simply your ability to stay with it longer than anyone else.” Our goal is the biggest goal to which anyone could ever aspire; our goal is to live a life that looks like that of the Son of God. It doesn’t get much bigger than that.

With large goals come large enemies. Satan will do everything in his power to discourage, dissuade, and disorient you. He hates God and he hates you. You need to realize and understand this going in. The reason following Jesus is so difficult is because demonic powers of great strength will oppose you. You may suffer financial loss, emotional turmoil and spiritual discouragement. Demonic oppression is not only real, it is certain for those diligently seeking to affect their world with the love and power of Jesus. You will face trial and you will face pain. It is during these times that we will choose to follow or to flee.

On the other side of each tribulation is Jesus. He has gone before us and leads us down the rugged path of truth and light. The road is there before us. In our own power, we could never walk it; but by keeping our eyes on Jesus, by breathing deeply of His power, we are able to overcome whatever lies between us and Him. Whether or not we make it through depends largely on whether or not we will persist. Will we give up when the pain increases, when the joy we thought we’d find seems light years away? Will we fold when challenged, or cower when threatened? Or will we persist? Jesus has provided the way and beckons for us to follow. As we pursue Him and begin to encounter the obstacles between us, will we fall away or will we press on? Determine with me today that you will push forward, and that you will persist without exception.

Tithing

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One of the most controversial subjects among Christians inexplicably seems to revolve around the concept of tithing. Since this was an Old Testament principle, doesn’t the cross of Jesus nullify the tithe? Is the tithe figured off of my gross pay or my net pay? Do I have to tithe on money given to me as a gift? Is the tithe supposed to go to the local church? It is mind-boggling how such a simple concept can become so twisted and convoluted. The uncomfortable truth is that the root of all the questions and disagreement is greed and selfishness. Let’s face it, the reason we argue for tithing less is because we wish to keep more for ourselves. Now that we’ve gotten that ugly truth out of the way, let’s take a look at a few of the questions above.

Yes, the tithe is indeed an Old Testament principle, but no, the cross does not make the Old Testament law irrelevant. Jesus clearly stated in Matthew 5:17-19 that He did not come to destroy the law, but rather to fulfill it. He told those gathered there that anyone who breaks the least of the laws or teaches anyone else to break them will be the least in the Kingdom. Jesus’ blood on the cross fulfilled the need for sacrifice in the law. He became that sacrifice. But His blood did not mean that we were to stop living by the remainder of the law. For example, we never seem to argue that it’s okay to murder or steal or commit adultery because the cross of Jesus made those laws irrelevant. We also seem to fight for our day of rest, even though that too was an Old Testament principle. Like speaking out against one sin while engaging in others, we pick on tithing only because it disrupts our own lifestyle. We want to keep more money for ourselves. It is a case of idolatry, for as Paul states in Ephesians 5:5, a greedy person is an idolater.

Whether or not one tithes on their gross or net pay is another example of greed. We are simply looking for a way to give less. Your gross pay is your salary. We pay taxes from our salary, just as Jesus said that we should (Luke 20:25). Just because the laws of our land take taxes out of your check before you ever see it does not change the fact that you are simply paying taxes out of your salary. Taxes are a bill you pay, no different from your electricity or water bill. I’ve never really heard a debate about whether we should tithe on the amount of money we have left after all our bills are paid or before all our bills are paid. Again, the gross vs. net argument is one for selfish people seeking to keep more of God’s money for themselves. Keeping money that isn’t yours is called stealing in most cultures. I would never want to be the one who stands before God and has to explain why I stole money from Him. I can’t imagine a much more uncomfortable or dangerous conversation.

I think the answers to the remaining questions above can be summed up with a simple story. I was recently asked by a group of friends for my opinion on the tithe, whether the amount was truly the Old Testament principle of 10% or not. My response was simply, “As long as there are people living in poverty, as long as there are people without food or hope in this world, then we haven’t given enough.” It distresses me that the question is always, “How much must I give” rather than being overwhelmed by the opportunity to give all that we can for the purpose of carrying out the mission of Jesus Christ. Where you give that money should be where it is needed most in order to fulfill the teachings of Jesus. Perhaps that’s to an orphanage in Russia or a food bank in your city or a refugee camp in Darfur or a school in India. Perhaps it is to your local church if they are wise stewards of that money and use it to meet the needs of the orphans, the widows and those in need. We are the hands and feet of Jesus, entrusted with His money to do His works among His creation. That is the only litmus test we need keep in mind.

Remember that most arguments over tithing boil down to our own selfishness, greed and lack of faith. I have yet to meet someone who gives back to the Lord a portion of what has been given to them, who doesn’t have their needs met. God will bless you based on the attitude of your heart and the faith you place in Him. He cares for His children; He knows your needs. Let go of the earthly things to which you hold so tightly. Give all you can because it is our good pleasure to serve the One who gave His life for us. Total sacrifice was not too great a price for Jesus to pay for us. He asks for nothing less in return.

Rebounding From Discouragement

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It happens to all of us. Despite our best efforts, circumstances in and around our lives leave us feeling defeated, let down and discouraged. As children of God, loved immeasurably by Him, we know this is not the way we should feel. Jesus sacrificed Himself for us so that we might have life and a life of abundant joy at that. As H. Jackson Brown once said, “It’s not how far you fall, but how high you bounce.” The goal then is to determine how to keep from falling too far and how to maximize our bounce back up. I have three suggestions to help keep you motivated at all times. They are ways to keep you from getting too discouraged, and all provide elements of achieving a great bounce.

Select a role model. Find someone whose life reflects Christ in a manner you admire. This can be someone you know, an author, a pastor, a missionary, or an elderly acquaintance in a nursing home. There is no one definition of who can be a role model, just make sure it is someone who loves and glorifies God. If possible, talk to that person, as this will always lead to you being encouraged. However, most of us will never have the opportunity to actually meet our role models. Instead, study everything you can about that person. How do they react to difficult situations, how do they carry themselves, and what sort of language do they use? When you get discouraged or face a difficult decision, determine in your mind how your role model would react in the same situation; then act in the way they would. Jesus, of course, is the perfect role model. For some, particularly to those earlier on in their journey, it can be difficult to apply the life of Jesus to their modern problems. It’s okay to have human role models (past or present), as long as we recognize that the reason their lives look like they do is because they have themselves modeled their life after Jesus. Living like Jesus is the goal. Still, it can be beneficial to have other God-fearing people as role models if that makes it easier for you to relate.

Lean on your spouse. If you are married and have a relationship that is centered on Jesus, your spouse can be a tremendous source of encouragement. Always involve your partner in your plans, your dreams and your goals. If you are working toward a God-ordained purpose together, you will find great comfort in the company and help of one another. Nothing can diminish the struggles of a difficult day like the warmth of a smile or a hug from your husband or wife. As they perform little acts of kindness for you, your discouragement will melt slowly away as you retreat into the arms of the one to whom you have pledged to love and to cherish. If you are not married, remember that the church is the bride of Christ. Each of us shares an intimate relationship with Him. Jesus provides an unrelenting source of warmth and comfort to each of His children. Close your eyes and imagine His arms wrapped gently around you. He loves you and is there for you through sickness and health, good times and bad.

Surround yourself with well chosen friends. A friend can do wonders in lifting you up from your discouragement. Unfortunately, the converse is also true; they can so commiserate with you that you actually sink deeper into despair. Make certain you are surrounding yourself with Christ-focused people. Energy is contagious, so make sure your friends are radiating positive energy, not negative. I’m sure you have already experienced the phenomenon that it is virtually impossible to be down in the presence of a positive, upbeat person. Recharge your batteries by hanging out with folks who will lift you up and encourage you. Don’t wallow in self-pity or seek out those who will only feed your negative state of mind. Choose your friends wisely, because they are who you will become. Read positive books and listen to positive music. What we feed our minds is what determines our actions. Seek out the counsel of wise friends and avoid the negative people you know until you are again strong enough to be an encouraging voice into their life.

Discouragement is the result of circumstances, some self-inflicted, others beyond our control. Recovering from discouragement or avoiding it altogether, however, is a choice. We choose to be discouraged and we choose whether or not to bounce back. Circumstances do not keep us discouraged, attitude does; and attitude is always a choice. When I look at the life of Jesus, I do not see a discouraged man. I see a focused, driven person, always on mission, and always showing love. Jesus had many reasons to be discouraged throughout the course of His life; the people in His hometown thought he was a lunatic, the government thought He was leading a rebellion and the religious leaders accused Him of being the devil himself. Yet He didn’t let the misunderstandings of others or His circumstances keep Him down. He bounced back every time, and each time He bounced higher than the last.

Try using one or more of the suggestions above to shake off and rise above your circumstances. Always pray for the love of Jesus to so permeate your life that nothing else matters. Remember that you are loved and chosen by the King and Creator of the universe. In Him, we cannot be defeated. Stay focused and on mission, and always make sure to bounce.