Revelation 3:15-18 (New International Version, ©2010)
15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
This past Sunday I went to the Winter Jam Concert up in Cleveland. I thoroughly enjoyed the music and had a good time with the youth group I took there. However all was not fun and games. I saw some things that really encouraged me and others that really broke my heart. ill start with the bad and end on the good.
One thing that I noticed was the contrast between some of the bands. There were quite a few bands that used advanced lighting pyrotechnics and other theatrical elements that I know cost a fortune. All this to make their show better and to draw more people i am assuming. While I think Christians should be the best at what they do and excel at what they do in their given field I am not sure this is the best way to do it. They could better use that money to help half the world that lives on $2 a day or the poor in our own country. How will the world see that these musicians are any different then their counterparts if the live the same lavish rock star lifestyles minus the sex and drugs? If you want an example of what a christian band should look like check out the band Willet. They use their influence to change the world.In fact they often give up their own personal comforts for the cause of Christ. I don't know if "reaching the culture" like these bands are trying to is wrong but its not what I see when I look in the bible. God blesses us to bless others, not so we can horde it for ourselves. look at what happened to the rich young ruler in Luke 18. We in America are that rich young ruler. I know this for a fact because last year I made under $10,000 and that put me in the top 12% of the worlds wealth. So on to the next thing.
One of the main causes of this event is sponsoring orphans through Holt International. There were roughly 11,000 people in attendance. If we call ourselves followers of Christ i would know we are called to look after orphans and be Christ to them. James 1:27 says: Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. It doesn't get much clearer then that.So how many orphans do you think got sponsored at $30 per month? guess again because I am sure you got it wrong. 237. That's it. I understand that the economy is not going well (by our American standards)but really. Maybe half the people there legitimately couldn't afford it. But that still leaves over 5,000 people who could. It's not a question of weather you are called to or not because you are.The Bible clearly says so. Even if you are hard pressed for money think about this. how many people have smart phones? how much does it cost for the internet package? You got that right about 30 bucks. So essentially we are choosing our comfort over a child we are called to care for. this just breaks my heart for my people. this is my church who our claiming to follow Christ but denying him with their actions.
You know what scares me? This Matthew 10:33 “But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven." And take a look at the verse at the top of my post, Rev 3:15-18. I don't know about you but I don't want to get spit out of my fathers mouth. So lets be the Church that we see described in Acts. lets be people who not only say we follow Christ but actually do it. This means looking at the Bible and seeing how it says to live. This is a hard pill to swallow and there are things in the Bible that I read that I wish weren't true. But we either need to follow all of the Bible or none of it. Maybe things we were taught growing up in Church isn't always the truth. If it's only true in the American church but not the church all over the world and not the church we see portrayed in the bible then is it really truth? So seek after Jesus and come to really know him.He may just ask you to give up everything to him.
Mark 8:34-35 (New International Version, ©2010)
The Way of the Cross
34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.
Now on to the encouragement. Last year tony Nolan was the speaker and he was again this year. Last year he seemed to be the kind of speaker who tried to make Christianity sound cool and hip. After all we have to be culturally relevant right? Well you know what? As I read through the bible and look at Christians in other nations I see there is nothing cool about being a Christian. It gets you persecuted or killed and you have to suffer through all kinds of trials.
For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him Philippians 1:29
But this is not the message that is often presented today but I know in my heart that it is the truth. So last year I judged him and it wasn't until this August when I finally got around to listening to his free CD with his story that he gave out. Well my heart changed then and I realized that he was legit and I was convicted to stop judging people like him and just love them. Then i come back this year and see a guy who it is so evident that the spirit is dwelling within him. His passion and sole focus is to share the Gospel and nothing but that, not trying to make it "cool" but just sharing the gospel and trusting in the power of that. That is all we need today in Churches. People will come of they see that's transforming power of God in lives and when we start living like Christ. I was really encouraged by Tony Nolan and I praise God for people like him who seem to get it. Nothing is worth more then knowing Jesus and thats why we must share the Gospel at all cost.
18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age
Matthew 28:18-20
This is directed to all Christ followers. It is our calling. It's time it becomes my sole purpose in life. Whatever it takes, whatever I must give up as the rich young ruler. I must take up my cross and deny myself daily. Will you join me my brothers and sisters?
