Oh Christopher – provocative title to bring in the readers eh? How cheap can you go! There is a reason for it.
Scripture suggests that there is something that appears impossible for man but is more than possible with God. Hold that thought as I take you through some context.
ESPN show a series of documentaries called 30/30 with some guest directors putting together sports stories together. On this particular effort it was looking at Mat Hoffman a BMX pioneer who pushed himself and the sport to new heights, literally. Now anyone who knows me, knows that I am about as interested in extreme sports as someone who is not interested in extreme sports. Yet these documentaries are fascinating just for the stories they tell. As I watched this one I got to thinking that here is this lunatic on this simple bicycle pushing the bike to do these different type of tricks and gaining fame for his mad pursuit of the next level. I watch this and ask myself the question – why? What is the point? Now I hear the talk about human endeavour, etc.
In the questioning I come back to the title of this here entry. Following Jesus evidently for the disciples was a risky business. Just when they thought Jesus had gone far enough either with His miracles, His teaching, His stance against the religious rulers of the day and especially the demands of discipleship He would only go and do something even more amazing and challenging like confirm His kingship by dying.
Now compare that with what passes for Christianity in some of our lives. Read a book, turn up at a meeting, sing some songs, hear a bloke talk at you about the book you were reading, get excited about stuff, forget it over the week as you get on with life’s concerns to repeat the process week after week after week.
Bit of a caricature and some mean well for their routine, but there’s a great deal of safety in that system. There is a great deal of safety in the Christian ghettos that passes for Church. There is little in the way of promoting the demands of discipleship.
Remember the bit about things being impossible for man but possible for God? I wonder if our lives of faith depend on God doing the impossible? Do we stretch ourselves to follow Jesus into the areas that are not safe but are the areas in which he expects us to share his good news and demonstrate His Kingdom? I am not referring to an extreme faith that mimics extreme sport that is for the thrills and spills, where people are mesmerised by the spectacle. I am referring to a life of faith that is as amazing for the work it does in turning our hearts to be as compassionate,merciful and wise as Christ as it is for seeing the external signs and wonders that follow those who follow Him.
This is not ‘safe Christianity’. This is faith expressing life in its fullest in pursuit of Christ. Safe Christianity sucks that new life from us and leaves us as shells and windbags with little to offer. Therein then lies the challenge.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
dmcd
Life With CD 