Real Action

We are God's chosen people, according to 1st Peter 2:9 "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

As I addressed in a previous post, many people make time for God on Sundays, but rarely sing his praises in everyday life. But God calls us to be His people, declaring His Word to the world. At the end of Matthew, there is what we call the Great Commission. Matthew 28:19 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," He is telling his disciples, which includes us, to take our whole lives and dedicate it to declaring His glory. He wants us to give up everything. Wouldn't you say that's radical?

Yet I'm surprised how many people make it to Sunday worship, yet just accept the fact that they have comfortable lives. Jesus didn't call us to be comfortable, He called us to be messengers. That's not always a comfortable job. In fact it rarely is. There are thousands of people suffering, even here in America. We sit around, go to our 9 to 5 jobs during the week, sitting comfortable on a nice salary, or just stressing on how to make ends meet. Shouldn't we be devoting our lives to following the teaching of the man we call THE teacher?

We should be out on the streets, helping the less fortunate, giving our every resource to help them. Everything we need has already been given to us, and God will eternally provide for us. We need to show other His love, His gift of everlasting life. I say if more people did that, the world would be so much better. If we truly made every effort to do as Jesus taught us, and rely only on Him for strength and providence, then He will see us through. He already gave us the most precious gift of all. His only Son.

What would you give?

Real Worship

"Church" is an interesting place in today's society. A lot of self proclaimed Christians live their lives how they want to, and forget about God everyday of the week expect for Sunday. They worship by singing with everyone else in the worship service, listen to the sermon, take notes, and pray with everyone else, but during the week have no regard for what the Bible says, or the fact that God wants us to follow him all the time. But, as you probably guessed, this is not radical and real Jesus living. 

God deserves our worship. All the time. He is the Creator of all. Revelation 4:11

Most of us think of worship as singing hymns at church. But there are so many ways to worship. Other than just singing words that sing praise, we can read his word, meditate on the scriptures, fellowship and encourage others, and of course, pray continually. 

But worshiping isn't only for certain times. We can worship God everyday, in everything we do. When we hang out with friends, watch a basketball game, drive, and how we vote. We can worship him with our attitudes, how we show love to others,and how we approach our various hobbies. Of course, we should always look to the Bible for guidance in how to act in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. As mentioned above, we can worship God at all times, but we need to make sure we set aside special time for God to know what he wants for our lives. 

Psalms 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
 

Real Love

Our world is filled with conflict. Everywhere you look. Wars, dictators, protests, politics, businesses, scientists, atheists and Christians, friends, enemies, denominations. People are constantly arguing over everything you can think of. Why? Why do we do it?

Well, it's just the way we are. We tend to be hostile with those we disagree with. We hold our opinions and belief in high regard. This is not a bad thing; if we didn't, then they wouldn't matter. But they do matter. Our whole society is based of either one opinion or another. But we take this praise of our own beliefs to an extreme level. We are all selfish, and all want to be right, and will do much more than we probably should to prove it. This easily turns into anger and outright hatred for those opposing us.

Many people, at least in the Christian sphere, try to disguise their anger by claiming they are "Zealous" for the Lord. This happens in such places as the Westboro Baptist Church, where there is an outright perversion of the Word. But even in mainstream "American Christianity" some elements have crept in. We are so quick to judge people. We immediately think we know who a person is, how they act, and what is in their heart just by looking, or having a small interaction with them. We use this judgment to guide how we act toward certain people. We even comment on how we think they are to other people. Is this what Jesus taught?

No! He taught exactly the opposite. He said love your neighbor as yourself, and also to love your enemies and pray for them continually. He wants us to drop all differences and love people. No matter how they have wronged you before, no matter how annoying, how immodest, or rude, or selfish, or disobedient, or argumentative, love them. I guarantee that if you showed a little more love to that person constantly bugging you, gossiping about you, offending you, whatever, that they will, Christian or not, see that something is different in you. That is what happens when do really live like Jesus. People notice. They say "what do they have that I don't? How can they keep such a positive attitude when I am a jerk?". Even if they don't, never give up. The seeds have been planted, and even if you aren't around to see the harvest, God is. Like my Dad always says. Don't let anyone's actions affect how you act. We have this tendency to lash back, but instead we need to restrain, pray, and love these people. Just think. Those people you are judging are probably the ones who need God's love the most.

Don't get me wrong. Be zealous for the Lord. Spread his word without hesitation, even if some people do get offended along the way. But do it in the most loving way possible. Even Jesus was angry, but not in sin. Follow Jesus' example and remember....

Love is the better way.

Real and Radical

I've noticed something in this world. Everything is traditional. Our society is so based on norms. Politicians make the same cookie-cutter promises, being no more imaginative than the next. Teens all try and fit into their respective circles. Even the ones who are "outcast" are fit into stereotypes that are hard to get out of. Youth groups play the same cheesy awkward games, sing the same worship songs from The Fish, and have a generic message about peer pressure and temptations.


I am a Christian, as you can probably tell. I'm not saying that traditions in themselves are bad. But the church has forgotten one crucial thing. Jesus was a radical. He went against all social norms to set himself apart. He didn't make a mockery of those he didn't agree with. He instead befriended and surrounded himself the outcasts of the world, with the prostitutes, thieves, and lepers. He didn't tell people to leave him because they were unworthy, he invited everyone to come by his side. He loved those who would never love him. He never showed hatred toward a person. He was saddened to see others struggle. He sacrificed everything he had just to lift the burden off of our shoulders. How many people in the church can say they do that? How many can say they love those around them, no matter race, sexuality, gender, status or condition? How many can say they would give everything to save the man next to him? How many can say they can put others before themselves no matter the cost? Jesus called us to live the most radical lifestyle, even if we were looked down upon. You think the establishment liked Jesus? If they did, they wouldn't have crucified him. Is our job to follow the traditions given to us by centuries of American Christians? Or should we follow the man who is at the center of it all?


There are very few places where you can find Real Jesus Living. I am lucky to have been able to work at one of these places. A summer camp, where High School and College students volunteer their whole summers to preach the Gospel to children. This is a place where status, race, gender, lifestyles don't play a part in acceptance. This is a place where Jesus' love is shown to any and all. But even outside influences barge their way in. Argument arise, gossip starts, and trouble come along. This happens no matter where you are. The only thing we can do is devote our whole person to live like Jesus. I think that James said it best in Chapter 1, verses 2 and 3. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." James encourages us to live like Jesus, no matter the cost, because we know that Jesus endured far worse, and he will reward us for our perseverance and reliance on him.


That, my friends, is Real Jesus Living.