The American Church is half awake and almost dead. Jesus Christ is Lord and those of us who believe such owe Him our lives. In particular, we owe Him the risk of embarrassment we run by telling those around us that He is Lord. For American Christians, the following passage is truly poignant.
Mark 10:17-23
17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”
You could imagine if Christ were to speak thus to a modern American Christian that we might say something along the lines of “Teacher, I have gone to Church and tithed from my youth.” I won’t pretend to know how Jesus would address us in response. But, I can imagine he might challenge us to go speak his Name boldly to our coworkers, or our friends. And we might go away sorrowful because we are ashamed to speak his Name. We are yet to dream.
Allow me to Feed your head with common sense. Christ has brought you from death unto life. He has paid for you to have the Holy Spirit living inside of you. He has given you the ability to live without sin, without addiction, without fear. He has given you only one task: to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). Until the dawn and the end of time we should be climbing up the walls with Him. Could we try to reinvent?
I don’t know what it will take for my sisters and brothers to wake up. But as for me, I will serve the Lord. I will keep writing these articles even if they are never read because this is what it takes for me to stay convicted, focused, and dedicated. I will live fully awake and fully alive. Leaving my bed of complacency and standing against the forces of comfort and hedonism. Will you grab the torch with me?
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