The most critical issue facing Christians is not abortion, pornography, the disintegration of the family, moral absolutes, MTV, drugs, racism, sexuality, or school prayer. The critical issue today is dullness. We have lost our astonishment. The Good News is no longer life changing. It is life enhancing. Jesus doesn't change people into wide-eyed radicals anymore; He changes them into into nice people. - Maggi Dawn*
I was working at a national conference & trade show recently and had a chance to catch up with some friends from around the country. It's pretty cool when I hear some of them say that they check in with my blog on a regular basis. One of them commented that I lead the most interesting life of anyone they know. That is a comment that I hear now and again.
Here's the thing. I'm not trying to life a more interesting life than any of my friends. I'm trying to live the life that Christ offers to his followers. It may be why I love Hebrews 12:1 so much.
It seems to me that Christ was into living a full life and he chose to experience the opportunities made available to him. Jesus loved to kick it up a notch and enjoy the ride. He introduced and explored the mysteries in life. Instead of reducing tension he increased it by challenging leaders and thoughts of the day. And then he invited us to come along with him. That, my friends, sounds like a pretty interesting invitation.
Last night we were eating with good friends and we were discussing the perception that non-Christ followers have about coming to follow the Son. So often I have...we all have... heard a laundry list of the things in life that would need to change before joining Christ. It seems most of "the list" involves what is needed to look like the people who attend church. That's funny, all I know is Christ invites us to come along and join him. The rest can take care of itself if and when it is time. It's that simple.
So where is the problem? Could it be the church, meaning all of us follows, are painting a pretty dull picture of what it looks like to be a Christ-follower? Are our churches designed to make us tame and gear us to follow a few simple steps for living? You know what I mean...3 steps to knowing God...5 proven principles to a happy marriage...7 habits for financial freedom.
Have our books and the sermon industry taken out the challenge and mystery? Do we want the "Christian Industry" to do the thinking for us? Do we come to church for a few simple answers instead of leaving with some questions? Does Sunday morning mean it is time to look nice and be real nice? Do this sound exciting?
Have you ever noticed that asking questions was central to the teachings of Jesus? He was quite happy to raise more questions than he answered. He did not always directly address a question. And yet, we seem to be led to think if we do not have the ready answers or steps lined up we are failing. Sigh.
Last year our girls turned us onto a group out of Tennessee called United Pursuit Band. In their song "Come Away" these lyrics were penned:
Come away with me, come away.
It's never too late, it's never too late, it's not too late for you.
I have a plan for you, I have a plan.
It's going to be wild, it's going to be great.
It's going to be full of me.
There it is. That's it. That is the call that Denine and I are following. That is the call that has pulled our Baby Girl to Kenya to love others. That is the call that I pray our son, Jordan, will someday hear.
Yes, I have a great career. I've been to many interesting places and have seen wonderful things, but I suspect I would be bone wary and it would be pretty dull at this point if I were just "following the steps" instead of expecting a great journey. I expect it to be wild. I expect to find Christ in many places along the way. I expect it to be interesting because of who I am instead of where I am.
So how about you? Are you dull? Does life look dull? Are you ready to come away? It's going to be wild.
*Special thanks to Mike Erre for pointing to the Maggi Dawn quote