Radical

I posted a video on my facebook page.  It is from Rick Joyner sharing his thought following the Boston booming.  I tried to pull up a NPR radio show that had Muslims complaining that whenever this happens (bombing, terrorist attack), Americans blame Muslims.  The NPR show went on to have guest share how they feel judged and “attacked” whenever something like this happens. 

Here is the point I want to make

Christians need to know the truth, be able to speak the truth in love and not be ashamed that they love God more than fear people.  When you listen to Rick or NPR or any “side” of the issue we need to be aware of “cringing”.  This “cringing” tends to occur when we feel bad for people when an issue or situation is cast on them in a negative light.  Humans have the ability to take on the feelings and burden of others and project themselves into the situation.  This is good when it is of God, but it is a tool of the enemy when we become more sensitive to others or evil, than to God.  I know there are many people who “cringe” at the thought of people hearing God and doing what He asks.  Admittedly this “god told me” has been the source of much evil too.  Satan is not ashamed to use the words of God for evil.  He tried that very tactic on Jesus during the time of temptation in the wilderness and at the cross.  That is why the “words” of God tell us to have a relationship with God.

Today many people who call themselves followers of Jesus are determining what to believe according to how well it is excepted in culture.  Most of the time they do this unaware of “how they are making decisions”.  We live in a republic so we all tend to go with the flow of public opinion.  If someone resist public opinion to much they are labeled “radical”.  “Radical” is now a word we use to condemn someone.  “Radical Republican”, “Radical gun owner”, Radical Homosexual”; are all expression meant to persuade in a negative fashion.  Few of us like rejection.  Most of us desire acceptance.  In the long run we tend to choose our rights and wrongs according to those around us and not because of a moral code.  This is also true for those who call the Bible their foundation for morality.  We still choose culturally to follow those parts of the Bible that are group or community embraces.  We may not embrace pornography but we may promote spiritual pride.  Homosexuality may be condemed while greed and selfish ambition rewarded.  So what do we do in a world where culture is determining right and wrong more and more and a moral code is less and less adhered to? 

Throughout history theologians have admitted that there is no use for the “Gospel of Jesus” if there is no admission of sin.  The Law of the Old Testament and the Grace of the New Testament occurs in history, in the correct order.  Knowing that we have rebelled against God, that we are sinners, that we have evil in our hearts and cannot get it out and that we need to get it out in order to be a “healthy human” is all revealed in the law.  If no one is evil than no one needs God.  If no one needs God than no one needs to repent or change.  Do we, I am taking to Christians now, do we feel like we need to change.    Or are we mostly willing to admit that we have issues but justify them by the condition of the world around us or by our busyness of life?  See what I am asking, investigating, is our ability to be “salt” in the earth.  If we hold to a moral code, but that code is not the Bible, but rather just selections of the Bible that our community chooses to adhere to, then are we not practicing the same moral system as the world?

How many of us watch evil people on TV and media and they are connecting to us?  How common is it now for a good cop on TV to use evil as their main tool of investigation or “fact finding”?   How many of us watch and entertain ourselves on adultery, sexual deviance,  violence or underhanded business dealings?  Do we think that being entertained by un-Godly things will not get into our hearts?  Are our emotions, our loves, our values changing according to what we enjoy being entertained by?  The media is a powerful tool, just ask most parents of teens.  Our culture is full of messages through music, video and art.  A few words from a parent or preacher can easily be drowned out with the millions of world through “never ending” media.   In time we can “cringe” at the truth and be at ease when we hear all the cultural noise.  Then in time we cringe when the truth of God is expressed and we feel bad for those whom the Gospel is colliding with.  We have rejected the love of God for what it is and now embrace a “if you love me you will give me what I want” worldview.  We find ourselves embarrassed at God who is demanding, ruling, always right, commanding and judging people and nations.  An increasing number of people only want to serve the sound bite God of love and not the God who disciplines, commands, rules. 

The relative truth now is that many who call themselves “christian” are just cultural christians.  They have not gone the pathway of Jesus with it’s self denial and obedient following of His ways.  Like Islam that has it’s "radical side, Christianity has it’s complacent side.  So how do we live our lives as “radical” Christians in a world where “radicals” are evil?  We can only do it to the degree that we love God enough to obey Him and have a authentic relationship with Him that is our security.  We can no longer seek to be secure calling ourselves Christian, we must be in Christ, in reality.  Confession, declaring and proclaiming are great.  They are also inadequate.  You can find a thousand Christians who can tell you what to confess for every one who can tell you how to abide.  It seems we have no shortage of those who can tell us what they are and so few that show it by their living.  Just check out the Barna research if you feel like I am lying.  http://www.barna.org/

I’m looking for a knee jerk reaction

I want to encourage a knee jerk reaction in all those who are followers of Jesus Christ.  That reaction is one that reacts with a “turning to the Lord” following every impact of the world.  A reaction that is ever seeking His wisdom, His patience, His ways.  A reaction that never ever seeks to do the best we can on our own.  A reaction that is not just based in God but dependent upon His moment by moment presence and our authentic abiding in Him.  I do not want to be ashamed of Jesus.  I do not desire to have the ways of God subject to cultural approval or vote.  I desire that God judge me and I do not judge God.  So when I am listening to NPR or the Preacher, I am listening for the Lord.  When I am standing in a room full of people who think I am “radical”, I feel the security of God who just sees me as “RAD” (Rodney A Drury)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radical