ROUGHLY 2000 YEARS AGO a Man came down from Heaven and started a revolution. This movement would go on to shape the world, to build hospitals and colleges, to create inventions and art and beauty, and to equip leaders to start revolutions themselves. This power, when used correctly, has shaped the world for the better, and when used poorly or not at all, has lead to devastating consequences. Of course, we know that Man as Jesus and the Church is the product of his revolution. In the early days, the Church was once called “The Way” most likely quoting from Jesus who is the way, the truth, and the life. Men and Women risked their lives to spread forth a message of love, of passion, of freedom. They conquered enemies, they battled forces both physical and spiritual, and they loved with abandon. And when faced with imprisonment, with exile, and in a lot of cases, with death, they marched forever onward despite the hazards. I wonder what Jesus would call his Church today? Would he call us The Way? Or would he be heartbroken? Would he find a church that is affecting the world, or would he find his bride, his people, complacent and trying to fit in? Oh sure, we go to church on Sunday, we say all the prayers in the right order, we know the song lyrics, and we might even dust off the bible every once in a while. But when was the last time you shared radical love? Or something even more simple When was the last time you even invited your neighbor over for dinner? It’s not hard to see the evidence of a failing church. All we need to do is look around. We have become passive in our faith and in our mission. We have, for lack of a better word, become average. Our faith is no longer something we embrace, something we grow, something we share. It is now a burden, a heavy load we lug around like a boulder chained to our ankle.
Here’s some staggering statistics, The Average American: 1. Watches 33 hours of TV a week. 2. Reads just 4 books per year. 3. Spends about 2 hours on social media per day. 4. Is 17 pounds overweight. 5. Has less than $1,000 in savings.
Does this sound like you? If so, how are you supposed to shine your light if it looks like everyone else’s? How is God supposed to work through you if you are barely capable of supporting yourself? The short answer is: He can’t. We are the salt of the earth, not Him. We are the light of the world, not Him. Of course, he is the giver of that light, that salt, but we are the ones to go and spread it. When Jesus sacrificed his life for us, he gave us freedom from sin and from Satan, but he also gave us equal responsibility. We are told to GO, not to sit around in the comfort of our air conditioned pews. Men, we are not called to be average because God is not average. We are made in the image and likeness of God. Like the heroes in the bible, we are called to be Mighty Men of Valor. We are called to be spiritual warriors, fit for battle both mentally and physically. We are called to be leaders of our families and our communities. We are called to push ourselves to be the best men that God created us to be. If we want to see our world change, we must be willing to change too. We must be willing sacrifice, to work hard, to not give in, to not be afraid of getting dirty or pulling late nights and early mornings. We called to emulate Jesus, a carpenter, a son, a mentor, a friend, a leader, and ultimately, a revolutionary. As Christians, that is part of our DNA whether you like it or not. God is calling us to battle, and has been for a long time. The question is, will you answer?