Even If i Walk Alone

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

purpose

On Stage

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In one of William Shakespeare’s famous passages, he declared that all the world was a stage and that we as individuals are the players on that stage. Within that thought I find both an incredible truth and an incredible danger as it applies to we who count ourselves as followers of Christ.

The incredible truth we can take away is that we are on stage, all the time. People are forever watching us. Those curious about Christianity watch in a sort of curious wonder, trying to determine if Christianity might be what they’ve been looking for. Those more cynical folks who turn their noses up at the mere mention of Jesus watch us constantly in hopes of pointing out our every flaw or misstep. Regardless of why people watch our lives, the fact remains that they do indeed watch. This is a tremendous responsibility. There are no days off, no moments to catch our breath; we are on stage, on camera, on the spot, 24/7. There is no doubt this is an exhausting fact, but this is how Jesus lived and so too those of us who aspire to follow in His footsteps. At any given moment, our actions are impacting someone, either for the good or for the bad. Life is not a play, it is brutal reality; there is no rehearsal. Many seem to look at Sunday as the day of the show, and then take the rest of the week off.

The incredible danger in the passage of Shakespeare is that we as Christians take our role as “players” on the stage too literally. We have a role to live, not a role to play. As Christians, authenticity is an absolute must for our lives. Those who would go through life preening and posing for an audience not only are destined to fall themselves, but may bring countless souls down with them. Simply acting out Christianity without truly living its principles, does more damage than if we would simply act like the abhorrent, sinful losers that we are. Jesus had harsh words for the Pharisees of his day, and I believe those words should still ring loudly in our ears.

Considering yourself to be on stage may be a new concept to some, terrifying to others. Despite what you may believe or even want to believe, people are watching you, all the time. How will we respond, how will we prepare for this greatest role in history? Will we simply trudge through life without joy, showing only moments of brilliance? Or will we shine each day with the incredible love of Christ bursting from within? To be like Jesus we must be ever loving, ever compassionate, ever willing to help our neighbor. Don’t let the bright lights of the stage intimidate you; shine right back with the limitless love of Christ.

Career Crisis for Christ?

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I’ve been pretty frustrated with my J.O.B. (it seems like such a dirty word that I feel the need for additional emphasis) for quite some time now. I have a great job that pays well, and hey, let’s face it, in this economy it’s wonderful to still be employed. But there is something vaguely immoral about giving the most productive ten hours of my day to a corporation that does absolutely nothing to further the message of Jesus Christ to our world. As Christians, we have one mission in life: to be the love of Christ to all those around us that they might come to know Him.

I have long heard the pat answers of “just serving God wherever you are” and “perhaps God put you in that J.O.B. for a specific purpose, to witness to those around you”. Well, okay, but isn’t that the exact purpose that God has given to the life of every Christian? No matter where we are we are to be demonstrating and reflecting the love of God to all those around us. It is a lifelong, continuous mission, one that is independent of where we live or where we work. It seems to me more likely that these pat answers come from our Western Christianity growing far too comfortable with the Western ideology for far too long. We now see a J.O.B. as our Christian responsibility, as a sign of how God is blessing us. This is an utterly foreign concept of what I read in the Bible. The followers of Christ worked as they needed to support themselves as they went about telling others about Christ and demonstrating His love. There was no concept of a comfortable career, a nice nest egg for retirement, no concentration on how nicely they could furnish their homes or if they were driving the latest eco-conscious chariot!

I do not mean to imply that Christians should shirk all responsibility and that all jobs are evil. I do intend to point out that most of us, self included, spend the vast majority of our time doing things that have little or no Kingdom value. Each of us was created with a unique combination of gifts and passions, but how many of us are fully utilizing those same gifts? How many of us are fully engaged in our passions? We have become a fat and lazy people, consumed with what society tells us we need to do and have. I for one am rethinking the whole deal; what impact might I have on the world for Christ if I was fully engaged in something I was passionate about, fully utilizing the gifts God has imparted to me and giving the most productive hours of each day to such an endeavor? How might my life be different? How might yours? More importantly, think of the Kingdom impact we would have on our neighborhoods and our world.

Father, I know the path you have placed before me. I thank you for the passions and gifts you have placed within me. May I set aside the things of this world and focus solely on Your kingdom and on loving those around me. Strengthen me for the road ahead. Thank You for Your love and for this life You have given me; may I use it all for Thee.