Even If i Walk Alone

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

mission

The Curse of Affluence

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Blessings from God are often measured in terms of material wealth. It has been so throughout most of recorded history, and it remains the prevailing thought in much of Christendom today. Whether that wealth is measured in flocks and herds or money and cars is irrelevant; possessions are seen as a harbinger of the blessings of God. Indeed an entire subculture has sprung up around this teaching, the so-called “health and wealth” theology. Subscribers to this thinking believe that the Bible actually guarantees that if you will follow Christ with all your heart you will become rich and experience an abundant life. This teaching is of course in direct contradiction to Jesus’ teaching of forsaking your earthly possessions and that the poor would be blessed, not the rich (Matthew 19:16-28; Luke 6:20; Luke 16:19-25).

What if we have it all backwards? What if instead of our possessions being a blessing they are actually a curse? The more material things we own, the more we have to lose. The greater our collection of stuff becomes, the harder we work to keep it all. Suddenly we wake up one day and realize that instead of being the lowly and humble servant of Christ we intended to be, we have become the rich young ruler who cannot let go of his possessions. Before we go further, let me be clear that I am not saying that wealth and possessions are necessarily a curse or even inherently bad; just humor the thought for a moment and open yourself up to think about this in a different way. Ultimately whether or not the goods entrusted to our care are a blessing or a curse depends on our attitude toward them and our willingness to release them for the service of Jesus.

When we are generous with our resources I believe it becomes easy to get lulled into a slumber where we dream we are not controlled by money. Meanwhile, regardless of how extravagant our giving may be, the probability is that we continue to pad our savings account and add to our retirement funds. We give much away, yet we also store away considerable sums for ourselves. But what if we stopped being concerned with saving for ourselves and instead poured all of our resources into building the Kingdom of God? What if we kept only enough money for ourselves to cover our food, shelter, clothing and transportation? Simply doing that would still place us in the top 15% of the richest people on the planet. Yet if we would so simplify our lives, how many more resources could be released to feed the hungry, care for the sick, and take the message of Jesus into places that have never heard? It is a challenging and difficult concept to ponder, and I will tell you up front that I don’t have the answer to this paradox; it remains a burden on my heart about which I continue to pray diligently.

No longer storing away for a rainy day or our own retirement comes with great risk. What if we lose it all? Who will care for our needs? But isn’t losing it all exactly where Christ said we would find true life? Didn’t He say that we must forsake everything to follow Him? When did we determine that those words did not apply to us? Perhaps we in our affluence have molded Jesus into a God of our choosing rather than choosing Jesus for the God that He is. The message of Christ has not changed; His message and mission are the same today as they were when He walked the earth. As Jim Elliot once said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain that which he cannot lose.”

We have been numbed and blinded, and now we are in the precarious position of trusting our possessions more than we trust God. Don’t believe me? Try this test: by the end of the week, withdraw all your money from the bank and cash in any retirement and investment funds you might have. Take all of that cash, drive downtown and distribute it all among the poor. Please leave a comment below and let me know how you did. Is that ludicrous? Is it irresponsible to take our earthly wealth and use it for the things Christ told us to do? The only reason we find this to be a crazy idea is that we have become comfortable in, and seek assurances from, our wealth. What we may have perceived as a blessing is now a curse and an anchor because it stands between us and God.

Again, I do not have the answer to this dilemma. I confess that I have not fully liquidated my assets and given it all to the poor. I am haunted by my own lack of faith and selfishness, and am seeking God’s answers and strength in this matter. How about you? Are you at the place where you can give absolutely everything away for His purposes? Have the perceived blessings in your own life become a curse, something that stands between you and God? I think it’s worth pondering this to determine just how tightly we hold onto our possessions, and to examine how ready we are to totally rely on God to provide for our needs. Let us boldly and prayerfully seek God and give serious consideration to what He would have us do with our resources. Praise Him for all He has provided; glorify Him in all that you do with those gifts. Hold loosely to your material possessions so they do not come between you and your faith in God. Don’t allow your blessings to become a curse.

God’s Will for You Life

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Does the fear of stepping outside of God’s will prevent you from making a bold leap of faith? Many waste their lives just waiting to hear from God, or to receive some divine direction that never comes. We can become paralyzed by all the possible good choices that surround us because we are afraid of missing the best opportunity. I submit to you that a heart that is totally devoted to God, a life that is wholly given to Him, cannot casually step outside of His will. If your driving passion is to see others come to Christ, how can your actions then be contrary to the will of God? God’s heart is for people, and so when our heart is for people as well, we are acting in concert with Him.

God has placed passions in our hearts so that we might utilize them to bring glory to His name; everything we do is for this purpose. One of the reasons we sometimes get stuck with indecision is because we are making too much of the decision about ourselves. We are not the point; a phrase that has become popular in recent years is that “it’s not about you!” The whole point of our life is to glorify God. We read the Bible searching for clues as to what to do with our lives because we are under the mistaken impression that the book is all about us. On the contrary, the Bible is God’s word given to us, but the book is all about Him. We are not the subject of our faith, He is. When we understand that it’s not about us, but rather about Him, our choices become less stressful and more clear.

Once we recognize our decisions should be based on what brings Him the most glory, then we can begin moving forward with confidence. Instead of framing decisions by what is best for us in our lives, we now understand that our choices are to be made based on what most glorifies God. Suddenly the pressure is off, because we now know that whatever we choose, we will be fulfilling our purpose in life, and that is to bring glory to the God of the universe. No longer will we be entangled by our own petty desires but rather we’ll be free to be the person we were created to be. As long as we are engaged in activities that bring Glory to God, we are in His will and are contributing to His mission as Kingdom people. We need not worry about doing the good but missing the best, because we are in His will and doing His work by glorifying Him.

Each day should be a fresh exercise in discovering ways we can honor and glorify Him. As we move forward in this manner, our lives will become a beautiful reflection of everything that He is. We will shine brilliantly with His incredible love and will demonstrate His mercy to those we encounter. This is the fulfilled and abundant life that He promised to us (John 10:10). Don’t be paralyzed by the fear of not knowing what God’s will is for your life. You were created to glorify Him through the use of your unique combination of skills and passions. If you will take care of the “why” (to glorify Him), He’ll take care of the “how” (the ways you will accomplish it). You need not be worried about finding some elusive perfect plan; you’ll never discover it. Instead, be surrendered and devoted to Him in every moment of your life and watch what unfolds before you. Jesus gave you your passions so that you would glorify Him through their use. If you will simply be willing to use your talents for Him, He will multiply both your ability and effectiveness.

Don’t be afraid to take bold steps as you seek to live out your calling. Continue the mission of God in ways that only you can, with your unique personality and passions. Stay focused on glorifying God in everything that you do, and you will remain firmly in His will. Every moment of your life is an opportunity to reflect His beauty and to express His love to others. Don’t be afraid to move forward; don’t be concerned with discovering God’s will for your life. Instead, seize each and every moment and glorify Him in that instant. As you manifest the love of Jesus by serving others, you will find that you are living the abundant life fully immersed in His will. Don’t fear and don’t hesitate; this is your moment. Seize it and glorify God.

Unity Amidst Persecution

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I recently saw video of Christians in India being beaten because of their faith in Jesus Christ. With fists and sticks they were pummeled simply because they refused to deny their Savior. The buildings in which they were meeting were set on fire even as the believers were still inside. A couple of days later I received a magazine with a girl on the cover whose face had been badly disfigured when someone threw acid on her; the reason for such a heinous crime? She was a Christian. All over the world, every hour of every day, our brothers and sisters in Christ are harassed and tortured. I think that the word “persecution” has lost much of its sting as we have numbed ourselves to the atrocities occurring around our planet. These are real people, just like you and me, subjected to real torture. As I write this, I continue to debate how far I should go in describing the horrors these brave and courageous saints are experiencing. I want to be sensitive to the varied ages of those who read this blog, while at the same time not shy away from the gravity and urgency of the situation.

In a large number of countries in our world, converting to Christianity is illegal. Christians are not allowed to gather together and must meet in secret. Most of us have never experienced anything like this in our entire lives. We read the stories and are scarcely moved. The depth of our faith is of pitiful size when compared to that of these believers. Many travel long hours at night just to reach a place where they can talk with other Christians under cover of darkness. If they are caught, they will be arrested, beaten, tortured and often killed. The brutality of their attackers is unimaginable to many of us. Yet our brave brothers and sisters consider the risk acceptable for the sake of honoring their savior. They do not shy away from the pain, but rather embrace the suffering, knowing that they endure it all for the sake of Jesus. Their lives are lived within the tension of telling others about Christ and wondering if today will be the day they are killed for that same witness.

In contrast, Christians in America and throughout the West live lives of relative comfort and ease. We don’t worry about a knock on the door or being attacked on the street simply because of our faith. We are free to worship in any manner we choose. Every weekend we drive to our places of worship and gather with other Christians without fear of reprisal. Occasionally we’ll hear mention from the pulpit of those Christians in other nations who live in constant peril, and we might even take up an offering and offer a prayer for them; but there is little connection between our lives and theirs. Our biggest problems tend to be if we have enough Sunday school space for a certain age group; this becomes such a devastating issue that we determine the need to spend millions of dollars to rectify the problem. Meanwhile the Church outside, the bride of Christ, is huddling in dark forests to avoid detection; they seem not to be bothered by their lack of facilities. While we vacillate over proper parking and Christmas decorations, the Bride outside is being mutilated and slaughtered. We are blind to the plight of God’s chosen people and we are numb to their needs. We are so concerned and obsessed with our own growth that we neglect the things that are of true value to God. How can we sit idly by and let this happen?

Who will stand in the gap and cry out to God in a loud voice? Who will stand in the face of oppression and declare the justice of the Lord? If not His people, His Church, then who? We are admonished in Scripture to come together in unity as one people (Ephesians 4:1-6), but we have set a dividing line between “us and them”. We who are blessed with so much are blessed so that we might serve those who have so little. We have taken the gifts of the Master and buried them in our own land so as not to lose what we have, rather than taking those gifts and investing them in the lives of those in need. What must God think as He looks down on our lavish buildings and busywork programs and then looks out at those who are starving, beaten and killed even as they gather under a single tree for the sole purpose of worshipping Him? We are responsible for the condition of the Church, and that goes far beyond any walls we might construct. The unity of the Church must be achieved so as to prepare the Bride for Christ. Refuse to sit back any longer; engage your pastors and everyone you know. Implore them to lead in a way consistent with the Gospel and to serve the needs of the entire Church rather than just their congregation. It is time for each of us to mobilize and become the hands and feet of Jesus. Pray for our brothers and sisters who are in chains and torment for the sake of the Gospel. Give all you can to relieve their pain. Stand up and be heard, be a voice for those who cannot speak. Write to your newspapers and your congressmen. God is a God of justice and we are His people. Work for justice and do not rest. Repent with me over what we have allowed to happen on our watch. Linger here no longer, but rather in the name and power of Christ, go out into the world proclaiming His truth and His salvation. Stand in the way of ruthless men and break the chains of injustice. This is our calling and mission as followers of Christ. Stand in unity with your brothers and sisters and prepare the way of the Lord.

Leaving a Legacy in 2011

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For what will the American Church be known in 2011? A new year brings great possibilities and great opportunities. At the same time, it carries great responsibilities. We can forget about our past failures and begin anew to be the Body of Christ to a world in such desperate need. This can be the year when Christians reject traditional religious ritual and venture out as true followers of Christ. We can go to the entire world, teaching them about the love of Christ and be His hands and feet to a dying world. In the midst of darkness we can be a shining light, a people who reflect the glory of God.

Conversely, we can continue to do the things we’ve always done. We can build larger buildings to accommodate our growing church programs, or perhaps just to modernize and compete with the entertainment options of the world around us. As ministries and fellowships grow, I believe it can become easy to lose sight of our true mission. We can get so caught up in doing ministry that we forget the whole point of it. Building a fellowship of believers has nothing to do with building bigger and bigger facilities with state of the art amenities. How many people could be fed and clothed with the money we spend on facilities? How many more could be shown the love of Jesus by providing a single cup of clean water? I pray this is the year that the Western Church begins to turn its focus outward after looking inward for so many years.

I realize there are many churches doing outstanding work in reaching out to the world. The problem is that these fellowships are the exception and not the rule. It should be the other way around. Instead of accepting it as the norm, we should be cut to the bone whenever we see a church that is spending dollar after dollar in updating their buildings and facilities. The Lord has chosen to bless the Western Church with unbelievable resources in this season of history, and we must not squander that with which we have been entrusted. Are we multiplying the talents He has given us, or are we burying them within our own congregations so as to not lose what we already have?

What if this year we channeled our funds to reach out to the poor, the lost and the dying? What if instead of preaching against the scourge of AIDS we actually started providing medicine and healing to those inflicted with this disease? What if instead of preaching about how God intends us to be rich we begin to divest our wealth to give to those living in poverty? What would happen if instead of huddling together among ourselves we instead dispersed among the streets of our cities and throughout the world, going and telling others about the love of Jesus and what He means to us?

We have this opportunity to determine right now what our legacy will be over the coming year. We cannot accomplish our mission unless we first become clear about where it is we want to go. Each of us can play an important role in determining the course of the American Church this year; we all can make an impact. Turning from the empty religion of the past to a vibrant life of purpose in the future begins with you and me. For those who live in America, we can immediately begin pursuing Christ in our own lives, and sharing our journey with those in our fellowship. We can begin petitioning our pastors and elders to make 2011 a year of revival, a year of returning to living life as authentic followers of Jesus. If you don’t live in America, please pray for the Church here. Pray we will be good stewards of the blessings entrusted to us, and that we might use our abundant resources to reach the world with the love of Christ.

It’s up to us, Church. We can continue the status quo and build our impressive buildings while further isolating ourselves from those in need or we can repent and turn again to the work that is the mission of Jesus Christ. The change will not be easy, but it is necessary. Let’s not let another year pass while we sit on the sidelines, enamored with our wealth and oblivious to the world around us. Let’s build a legacy of love and zeal for the name of Jesus Christ. The work begins today.

For the Love of God, Give! Part II

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In the last post we started looking at Matthew 25:31-40 as we endeavored to determine what our lives should look like if we would truly reflect the love and mission of Christ. Today I want to finish that thought, so we can all be clear on what the life of a disciple really looks like. As we saw last time, following Jesus is all about giving of our time and resources to carry on His mission and to follow through on the commands He has given us.

While our closets swell with the amount of clothing in them, millions of people in the world have nothing to wear. They spend their days naked and without shoes, many of whom literally live in garbage dumps. These aren’t word pictures to shock you; they are simply the truth. All of us can donate clothing to area ministries that provide for those in need. Also consider giving a portion of your money to ministries who provide the same service globally. There is no excuse for someone in this world to go without clothing or shoes. How sickening to see images of children in foreign countries basically wearing rags, and then taking a walk through our local shopping mall. We have the resources, we simply lack the will. Instead of buying ourselves some new jeans or shoes, consider donating a pair instead.

In Matthew 25:36, we are commanded to take care of the sick. I confess to not handling sickness well. If someone so much as coughs in my direction I freak out a little. This is not the reaction that Jesus had. He lovingly touched those who were ill. He didn’t turn away, He embraced them. We need to be mindful of when our neighbors are sick and be a welcome help to them. Visit nursing homes and hospitals to share a few moments of your time and a kind word to those who are not only sick, but lonely as well. Give to, or go with, organizations that are providing medical care to people in other countries. Be a part of the solution. Be the Good Samaritan; do not pass them by.

The final command in the passage above tells us to visit those in prison. All over the world, Christians are persecuted, thrown into prison and left to die. They are tortured and deprived of food and sleep. Our fellow Christians are both sick and imprisoned and we should support ministries who care for these people and who seek justice on their behalf. We can either join them physically or support them monetarily. Be the hands and feet of Jesus, and care for their needs. Many of us know someone with a family member in prison. Go with that person to visit the one locked in a cell; give them your support and love. Be a mentor for someone in jail. Don’t judge them, but show compassion instead. In all ways, serve others and by doing so you will reflect the love of Christ.

There are many ways to follow the commands of Christ, both by joining forces with ministries or supporting them financially. We in the West have been blessed with significant resources and I believe it is our duty to fund those ministries who are carrying out the commands of Jesus. We don’t necessarily need another new ministry; we need to support the ones that have already established a foothold in helping those in need. May I suggest The Voice of the Martyrs, Persecution Project, World Vision and Compassion International? As you plan your giving for this year, see how many ways you can fulfill the commands of Matthew 25:31-40. Spend your money wisely in acts of service for Jesus. The Bible tells us that where we spend our money is a reflection of our heart. As we give to the service of Christ, our hearts will be transformed to look like His. As our hearts are transformed, it will overflow into our daily lives. The simplest way to live a life that looks like that of Christ is to do the things He told us to do. Give generously of your time and resources. Everything we have is His, so give it all back in service to Him. Give like there is no tomorrow. For the love of God, give!