Even If i Walk Alone

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

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Changing the World

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The world is full of heartbreaking challenges. There is a high probability that if you have the ability to be reading this blog, your life is at least somewhat insulated from these very same challenges. Two-thirds of the women, and 17% of all people, in the world could not read this blog if they had the technological capability to do so; they are illiterate. This is not just an educational handicap or a societal disadvantage. Illiteracy is intimately linked with poverty. So while one might ignore the issue of illiteracy and deem it to be someone else’s problem, we simply cannot ignore the call of Jesus to care for the poor. In this way the illiterate are very much “our problem”; to say it better, they are our mission.

Nearly half the world earns less than $2 (US) per day. Many own only the clothes on their back and nothing more. Many others have no shoes. Jesus admonished us to clothe the naked. As Richard Stearns notes in his excellent book, “The Hole in Our Gospel”, ones such as these are our modern day “naked”. While they may not be literally naked, they have no means to buy clothing or to provide adequate shelter for their families. They are exposed to the elements and are vulnerable to the hostilities of the world around them. They are indeed naked in a very real, if not literal, sense. These too are part of our mission.

While slavery may have been eradicated long ago in the country where you live, make no mistake in knowing that it continues to thrive around the world. Children as young as five (and younger still by some reports) are subjected to the horror that is human trafficking, forced to exchange the innocence of their youth for a life that no human should ever have to endure. Those lucky enough to escape the sex trade are often sold by their own families into lives of indentured servant hood, forced to work eighteen hour days under horrid conditions and with little food. The terms of their purchase are structured in such a way so as their families can never afford to redeem them, or “buy them back.” We know this is happening; we can never claim that we didn’t have any idea. The injustices inflicted upon the weakest and most vulnerable among us, our children, are atrocious and must be abolished. Since we are called to put an end to injustice, those in slavery are also part of our mission.

The number of single mothers in the world is growing at a staggering rate. Women seeking love at any cost, widows of war time casualties, and those who have conceived children at the abusive hands of others all have one thing in common: the need for love, stability and hope. These women often work tirelessly to provide for their children only to have all their efforts wiped out by a single illness or layoff. Many of these families are simply one misfortune away from being homeless, hungry or destitute. James said that part of true religion was to look after the widows. They, and the single mom’s among us, are our mission as well.

I could sadly go on for hours discussing the tragedies in our world that break the heart of God. This is not what He had in mind at creation. He desired a world of beauty and purity, a world where the created were intimately acquainted with their Creator. Jesus came to earth to begin the mission of restoring our world to its original state. He came to begin the process of making His kingdom a reality on earth. We are heirs to His kingdom, and heirs to His mission. We are called to feed the poor, to clothe the naked, to right the wrongs of injustice, and to care for the widows. The extent of the problems facing us is staggering; the depth of depravity we must wade into is overwhelming. There is so much heartache, where do we possibly begin?

We begin with one. Each one of us possesses the ability to change the world for one person. By many estimates there are two billion Christians in the world. Even if those estimates are half wrong, that still leaves one billion Christians on earth. If each Christian would simply change the world for one person, and then each of those now two billion Christians would in turn change the world for just one other person, we could eradicate poverty, hunger, nakedness and slavery in relatively short order. This is where the rubber hits the road; each of us must actually be willing to sacrifice and follow the lead of Jesus in order to change the world for someone else. Are you up to the task? Will you follow Christ regardless of the sacrifice? Will you love someone for the simple reason that Christ loves them? We can truly change the world one person at a time. The mission is clear, the challenge is large. The solution is known and the solution is you.

Depart From Me

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One of the most haunting passages in the Bible has to be Matthew 7:20-23, where Jesus tells a group of people to depart from Him because He never knew them. These people are claiming that they believed in Him and did great works for Him, yet Jesus doesn’t recognize them because they never did the things He told them to do. The actions Christ expects us to take are clearly outlined in His teaching on ‘The Sheep and the Goats” in Matthew 25:31-46, a passage I discussed in some length in a three part post on this passage (see parts 1, 2, 3, and 4). Jesus plainly lays out the actions He expects of those who would call Him ‘Lord’. Whether or not we choose to do these things determines if we will be welcomed into His arms or turned away as a stranger when our lives are over and we are judged by the King of the Universe. It takes faith to believe Jesus is who He claimed to be; it takes obedience to live out our faith. Both the faith and obedience elements are required for entrance into eternal life with God.

Having said this, I was told a very troubling story this week. A woman I know has recently taken a poor single mom under her wing. The relationship has been difficult at times as trust is developed and lives from two different worlds are melded together. The woman I know is part of a small group comprised of seasoned Christians from various churches. She related some of the challenges she faced in dealing with the single mom to the group, and asked that they pray for wisdom for this single mom. Instead, she received several judgmental responses. One said “Is she black?” Another responded, “She’s probably working the system.” And still another, “She’s more than likely addicted to drugs.” When the woman I know related the story above to me, I was crushed. God forgive us. Where do these attitudes come from, and how do they inhabit the heart of those who claim to be followers of Christ? More troublesome still, two of the members of that small group happen to be elders at my church. While I was grateful that neither of them were the sources of the comments above, I was disappointed that they did not speak up and defend the cause of the single mother and provide leadership and correction to the group.

While it may sound as if I am being judgmental of some in this small group, it is not my intention. Rather, my goal here is to point out how easy it is for even seasoned Christians to act in ways that are anything but what Christ told us to do. Instead of showing compassion for the single mother or even support for a fellow believer, they chose instead to pass judgment on the very one Christ commanded them to serve. We don’t need more Pharisees in our world, we need more people who will follow Jesus and do what He said to do. For too long, those of us in so-called evangelical circles have swallowed the lie that all we need to do is say the right prayer and we are guaranteed eternity in Heaven. This is not what the Bible teaches and I believe will lead to scores of disappointed and horrified “Christians” when they stand before God and are judged, indeed, by their works. Believing in Jesus gains us entrance to the throne room; obeying His commands, doing the things He told us to do, allows us to take up permanent residence there.

Are you a follower of Jesus or simply a believer? Do you do the things He told you to do or are you content with a fraudulent fire insurance policy? Believing in Jesus is not enough; as James said, even the demons believe in Him… and they shudder! (James 2:18,19). Don’t find yourself shuddering and shut out from God’s presence when it is your time to stand before Him. Instead, show compassion and mercy on everyone in need, love your neighbor, and devote your life to the service of the one you call ‘Lord’. Love God, and obediently do the work He has given to you; then you will be welcomed into His arms and never hear those awful words, “Depart from Me; I never knew you.”

How’s Your Reputation?

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What is it about honesty that scares us so much? Why does admitting we are vulnerable strike such terror in even the strongest? Looking at the life of Christ, He was never afraid to put His true self on full display. He ate dinner with those who were despised by the religious leaders of His day; He willingly touched the outcasts of society; He refused to compromise His principles even when it was obviously the easier choice. Still, He wasn’t afraid to show anger by driving the thieves out of the temple; He wasn’t afraid to show His anguish by the tears He shed; and He wasn’t afraid to show His disappointment when men chose to go their own way rather than follow Him. In short, Jesus didn’t care what people thought of His methods or personality; He simply loved them in spite of their opinions. Through it all, He was honest with everyone about who He was, and about His mission.

Why do we find this such a difficult example to follow? We worry over much smaller things in life. We concern ourselves with what we wear, the style of our hair, the kind of car we drive and the places that we frequent. We’re all about building our reputation. Jesus wasn’t afraid of a bad reputation among the elite of His day. I think He reveled in it. After all, He came to seek and to serve the “least of these”, the poor and outcast of society. His reputation was just fine with these folks. There is a great lesson here. Be concerned with the reputation you have with those you serve. The opinions of others don’t matter at all, because they are not part of your mission. Yet our fear and insecurity about being honest with others comes from our fear of losing face (or reputation) with those very people who live outside of our calling. We are called to the poor, the widows, the orphans, the single moms, the homeless and the hungry. How is your reputation with these groups of people?

Living honestly and in total transparency is a necessity if we are to reach those who are down and out in our cities, those who have lost hope. These individuals have been abused by others and by society at large. They have been spit on and ignored. They are the strangers in the ditch and we are to be their “good Samaritan”; we are to be their neighbor. After being hurt by so many, they will see through any pretense. They don’t care where you come from or what you’ve done; they do, however, care if you are honest with them. Your reputation with them is only as good as your honesty. Throw out any self doubt and simply love somebody. Fulfill your mission by being the very hands and feet of God.

We give too much attention to our reputation among the well to do, the movers and the shakers, of our world. We want to be seen with the elite and recognized by the socially relevant. But this is the antithesis of our mission. We are called to serve the have-nots, the hungry and the hurting. It’s time for a little soul searching and some self analysis. To whom are you catering with your attitudes and concerns? Care nothing for what the high and proud of this world may think of you. Consider how those in need perceive you. Let your defenses down, give of yourself to someone in need. Instead of worrying about what others may think of you, concern yourself instead with the opinions of those whom you are called to serve. Do they see you as being honest? Do they see you as being real and sincere in your love for them? What’s your reputation?

Faith Requires Work

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How hard are you working at your faith? Are you a lip-service Christian who professes to love Jesus with your speech but fail to back up that claim with any proof? The world around us is spiraling out of control and Western Christianity is not to be found. We stand mostly silent to the atrocities that are occurring on our watch. I am extremely thankful for the people and ministries that have broken out of the trance and are doing their work as the hands and feet of God. For the vast majority of Christians, however, the response is a deafening silence. We’re content to let others do the heavy lifting, convinced that somehow we just don’t feel “led” to participate in that way. I believe much of the rhetoric of “not feeling led is synonymous with “feeling fearful”.

There is no fear in Jesus; neither should there be any fear found in the body of believers who love and trust Him. Many wait to “feel led” or find their “calling” before they will surrender everything to Christ. The fact of the matter is if you choose to follow Christ, you will automatically be led to all the places He goes. By definition, if you are following then you are already being led. To follow Jesus is to be led by Him. When faced with a decision, ask yourself, “Would Jesus go there?” If the answer is ‘yes’, then you are being led there as well. It’s not a matter of whether or not you feel led, because if you are following Christ, you are always being led. It’s really a simple matter of whether or not you will choose to follow.

What about your “calling”? What if you are not yet certain what your calling even is? I have good news; you have already received your calling. As Jesus explained in Matthew 25:31-46, you are called to feed the hungry, care for the sick, clothe those in need, and to shelter the poor. This is the calling of everyone who chooses a life of following Christ. In the modern era, people have come to equate their vocation with their calling. Jesus doesn’t call you to be, for example, a doctor; He calls you to serve. If by becoming a doctor you use your skills to care for the sick, then your vocation is one that can be utilized to live out your calling. Your calling, again, is to serve; whether you render that service as a doctor, a farmer, a janitor or a CEO is irrelevant. Your vocation is simply a means of accomplishing what you are called to do. Do whatever you wish for a vocation as long as it enables you to fulfill your calling to love and serve others.

Do not wait to be led or to be called before surrendering your life completely to God. You are already both led and called. We simply must humbly submit every area of our lives to Him. Then we must follow wherever He leads, and do so without fear or question. Every day of our life must be spent in service to others. Live your life constantly seeking someone whom you might help. Sacrifice that with which you have been blessed in order to give to others. Feed the poor; clothe those in need; give a drink to those who thirst. Your faith in Jesus must never be a spectator sport; it requires work.

What does it mean to be a Christian?

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Since we talk so much about Christianity here, I thought it might be worthwhile for some to take a step back and define what being a Christian actually entails. Christianity in the traditional sense simply means one who is a follower of Christ. In modern evangelical terms (if you are new to Christianity, you’ll find we have A LOT of terms), a Christian is defined as someone who has prayed “the sinner’s prayer” and accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. My purpose is not to find fault with either definition, but rather to elaborate on them, with an emphasis on what Jesus commanded of His followers.

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