2 Great Questions
Here’s another selection from the Chris Tomlin book “The Way I Was Made”:
“In the Passion Movement, our calling is simply to allign coming generations with Isaiah 26:8, which can be stated like this: ‘Yes, Lord, walking in Your truth, we wait eagerly for You, for Your name and renown and the desire of our souls.’
That confession has ‘God-centered’ all over it. Just the first two words put us in the right frame of mind-’Yes, Lord…’
I believe if we can just get a hold of the biggest possible picture of God, all the other things we care about in our lives will line up correctly. This might not sound like a great sell in today’s me-centered world. But what’s more relevant to you and me than God? (1) Has the Creator who said ‘Let there be’-and there was-now lost His voice? (2) Has the God who became flesh and blood in the person of Jesus and befriended everyday people like drunks and prostitutes and you and me now lost His touch?
No! God is still the most relevant being in the universe, and knowing Him is still the most important quest of our lives.”
What’s more relevant to us than God? Great question! Even more disturbing is why don’t we treat God as if He is relevant to our lives? Honestly, is God the #1 priority in YOUR life? Why not? The Scriptures tell us that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Therefore, God is still active in the world today, still speaks to people today, still loves people today and works on their behalf. So, do you treat God as if He is relevant in your life today?
Now, look at the second question in the quote above. Has Jesus lost His touch? If we are to be Christ to the world now, His representation, then why do we tend to cower and hide in our little country club called church? How many of us are actually hanging out with, and being Jesus to the drunks and prostitutes of today’s society? I know the argument about those people having a negative influence and being careful to not even have the appearance of sin or evil in your life. But come on now, that’s really just an excuse isn’t it? I mean, if that’s the case, then how are those people ever supposed to hear about Jesus? Why would they darken the doorstep of a church when the welcome they most likely would receive is condemnation and judgement? No, the command is not to let all those who are willing into the church. Our command is to go into all the world and make disciples. Our command is to be salt and light in the world, to infect the world with Christ!
If you are scared of being influenced negatively, then maybe your relationship with God isn’t as strong as you pretend. Stop focusing on yourself, and start focusing on the power of God in you to influence others. I challenge you to begin to branch out to those you do know that don’t know Christ. Step out and allow God’s power to really work through you, bringing an everlasting miracle of salvation in people’s lives! Go into all the world and be salt and light!