I mean, seriously. Do we really believe all this stuff about a God so big that he really cares about us? Isn’t that illogical. If he really did exist in the way that the Bible says he does, why in the world would he ever want to be involved in the triviality that composes my life?
Funny thing is, we really want to believe that it is true. It’s almost like we’ve been hardwired in some way to think crazy thoughts like that. But something just doesn’t jive. As Francis Chan states it, “we all know something is wrong.”
What if… what if it is true?
I mean really true. Not true like many people who claim to believe it, go to church and struggle not to cuss. Not true like the hypocritical TV evangelists who pump the gospel like Billy Mays used to pump OxyClean. Not true like the lie that if you believe in this so-called “God” that you’ll live happily. Not true like the closed door policy of so many churches…
You Christians look after a document containing enough dynamite to blow all civilization to pieces, turn the world upside down, and bring peace to a batle-torn planet. But you treat it as though it is nothing more than a piece of good literature.
–Mohandas Gandhi
If Jesus were on earth you’d find him in a gay bar in San Francisco. He’d be with people suffering from AIDS. These are the new lepers. If you want to find out where Jesus would be hanging out, it’ll always be with the lepers.
There was no attempt at being politically correct and “playing nicely.” They ran with scissors in hand, they jumped off roofs, they killed giants. They knew what was necessary and they rose to the task, even at the risk of their own lives.
We should not be running from… darkness. If indeed we really are the light of the world, we should be running toward the darkness with the understanding that we cannot be overcome by darkness. We should take the light and jam it down the throat of darkness… We were born to be warriors, born again to be chasing the darkness away… we must remember who we are and ride out and meet the enemy. This is who we really are, what we were always meant to be.” (Neil Cole, Organic Church)
That is who we, the followers of Jesus, are supposed to be. Not a cowardly group hiding in our church fortress with it’s stained-glass windows.
Yes, you will be considered “fanatical” and “whacky,” but you’ll also ride with the One with flowing white hair and eyes of fire…
I believe that the enemy divides all people into two categories: those he can ignore and those he has to fight. I want to be one of those that he has to fight. —Releasing Your Church’s Potential
“The thirty” were not adverse to taking on lopsided odds.
In fact, those heroics were what made them famous. The exploits they each created fed the fearlessness of the others; they seemingly thrived on attacking the impossible. They were literally “giant-killers.”
But such fierceness isn’t without retribution. Simply reading of their endeavors, you get a sense that they didn’t have much down time; they were continuously being called to duty and continuously being hit by the enemy.
I tend to camp out in a passage for several days at a time. The longer I stay in it, the more alive it becomes.
I’ve been rolling around for almost two weeks in 2 Samuel 23 (and it’s parallel counterpart in 1 Chronicles 11), as I noted the other day. I’ve always been a history buff, so this stuff just naturally holds my attention. The dynamic at work with “the three” and “the thirty” is especially riveting. I suppose these would be the equivalent of the Special Forces or Seals today. They were the “baddest” of the ‘bad,” the backbone of the Israelite army.
The obvious, surface, spiritual lessons are numerous. Perhaps, however, the most overlooked, is the necessity for such a group, multiple groups actually, in the church today. The bold, fearless, dedicated warrior who would go behind enemy lines, disrupt supply lines, communications and normalcy, and instill fear in the main troops is desperately needed in the Kingdom. Jesus put out an appeal for just such enlistees.
However, he also noted that they were to charge the gates of Hell:
Have you ever thought of a gate as an offensive weapon? I mean, is it necessary to get a license to carry a loaded gate; do thugs hold victims captive “at gate point;” do fences have signs on them stating “Beware of Gate?” Gates aren’t a threat, they are defensive, not offensive. Jesus was saying that we are to attack, not defend.
Hasn’t the church been held at gate point longer than necessary?
The church needs “the thirty;” without this dynamic, it simply becomes a fortress being besieged. It doesn’t matter how well you play defense, it you never put the offensive unit on the field the likelihood of scoring is minimal. Why would you want to turn the field over to your adversary’s offensive unit for the whole game?
A narrative that has always riveted my attention has been that of “the thirty” in Samuel and Chronicles.
Thirty-seven men, the mightiest of the mighty, in David’s army who were the heart and soul of the power of Israel. Each one more fierce and brave than the other; each one worth more than their proverbial weight in gold. Giant-killers, leaders, courageous and faithful to David even if it meant their deaths.
The thirty.
Where is the thirty today? Doesn’t the army of the Almighty need warriors who are willing to to the impossible? Don Quixotic in vision but empowered to accomplish the unattainable through the power of the Spirit; supernaturally wise and knowing, able to see, engage and destroy the Enemy’s initiatives. Leaders who, though uncertain, step forward because they are called.
How do you go about making such an impact on young adults and young couples that Jesus gets a hearing?
Yes, I know of the power of the gospel. Yes, I know that it is the Spirit who opens the door. But, no, I can’t understand why we give all the “good stuff” to the enemy and let him have all the high ground.
Ubaúna, Brazil is in the heart of a 150 square mile region that has over 1,500,000 inhabitants, the great majority of which are under 30 years old. We intend to take the high ground in the name of Jesus in a manner that will get our target audience’s attention… music.
Megafone is a Christian rock band in the style of Chris Tomlin, Steve Fee and even David Crowder. Drawing both inspiration and even accolades from these same artists, Megafone is bursting on to the Brazilian Christian rock scene.
And they are partnering with us to attack the interior of northeastern Brazil in August.
Flying almost 3,000 miles, then taking at 5 hour ride and immediately setting up to begin playing, Megafone is going to do more in 48 hours than most bands do in a month.
I can’t wait to give you the report of what happens!
Ubaúna, Brazil is in the heart of a 150 square mile region that has over 1,500,000 inhabitants, the great majority of which are under 30 years old. We intend to take the high ground in the name of Jesus in a manner that will get our target audience’s attention… music.
