Blog Archives
Radically unaffiliated
Labels.
We all have them…we all use them.
Why?
Because it’s easy to simply lather certain idealogical expectations on someone and forever be done with it. From that moment on, we approach conversation with them based on their label and not who they actually are. We may not even know everything they believe, but slap a broad brush label on them based on just a few remarks.
This becomes glaringly and conflictingly apparent during the political season, but they actually begin much earlier in life and progress as we get older…
Butt-head…meanie…bully…nerd…geek…jock…hater…socialist…flip-flopper…terrorist, elite…bourgeoisie…anti-semite…racist…homophobe…extremist…the list could stretch on for quite a while.
We generally use labels to help us categorize people, frequently so we can use it against them.
For about 15 years, I’ve wrestled quite a bit with how I can live the identity of Jesus and also be an active participant in governmental and civic life. For some, that’s actually a very simple answer, but for me, it never has been and I suspect never will be.
So…I’ve coined a phrase that I believe allows me to give my allegiance to the Kingdom of God above any other kingdom, but still be involved, aware and committed to the culture where I live.
I am radically unaffiliated.
What does that mean?
Well, at first glance it sounds wishy-washy, I admit. But, for me it’s anything but. You see, my greatest desire is for my life to have a lasting impact across as many generational, political, religious and cultural lines as possible.
So, in order to do that, I must approach each interaction carefully, remembering that while the other voice in the conversation may subscribe to even a drastically different perspective than I do, they’re still, above everything else, a person…created by, and in the image of the same God I was.
Their worth to our Savior is the same whether they’re the most ardent capitalist, a pinko commie, or the mastermind of a plot to crash planes into buildings to kill thousands. My pursuit cannot be about changing their political persuasions.
Mostly because politics is about labels…divides…differences. Some have a distinct calling to that, but I do not.
Historically, the church flourished even under the most totalitarian government rule…where it began to falter was when Christians decided it was time to take over.
In fact, I’d say that when your faith begins to align too closely with any political perspective or societal philosophy it’s time to take a step back.
Christ is transcendent, and our legacy should reflect that heart.
Early in Joshua’s days of leading the people of God in the Old Testament, he has an interesting encounter with an angel…when the angel approaches, Joshua immediately asks, “Are you friend or foe?”, to which the angel replies: “Neither…I’m actually in charge of the Lord’s army.”
Oh, snap! But why wouldn’t the angel be affiliated with God’s own handpicked people? Because there was something much more incredible happening than what Joshua could see and understand.
When Joshua asks for instructions, the angel simply says, “Take off your sandals…this is holy ground.”
In everything, there is always something much more incredible happening than what we can see and understand. Something holy…something eternal…and we’ve been invited into that reality by our Creator. We must not waste it.
What if we lived each day as if God was entrusting us with His story, instead of our own agendas?
What if we walked out our journey as though we were on holy ground instead of always on the battle ground?
Does your faith look different based on what culture you’re in? (I’ve seen people act one way with the poor in Africa, and a totally different way with the poor on the streets of their city.)
When you look around is it easier to see people or labels?
I’ve said before that I believe our primary call isn’t to keep people out of hell (or picket their event…or boycott their product), it’s to carry the broken to Jesus.
So…let’s grab our stretchers and head into the fray.
———–
Cover art by Scott Erickson
We don’t need more Christians…
We don’t need more Christians who are trying to be radical.
We don’t need more Christians who are trying to stand out.
We don’t need more Christians who are trying to be celebrities.
We don’t need more Christians who treat other Christians like celebrities.
We don’t need more Christians who don’t listen.
We don’t need more Christians who look down others.
We don’t need more Christians who think they’ve arrived.
We don’t need more Christians who fight about things that don’t matter.
We don’t need more Christians who exclude.
We don’t need more Christians who intrude.
We don’t need more Christians who make promises they can’t keep.
We don’t need more Christians who turn a blind eye.
We don’t need more Christians who are better at politics than community.
We don’t need more Christians who pretend.
We need more Christians who look like Jesus.
—————————
“When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.” // Ephesians 3:14-21
————————–
The days are short. The fight is hard. The journey is worth our lives.
————————–
This post today was a reminder for me. I hope it is for you as well.
What does it mean to look like Jesus?
Why did Jesus hang out with a Terrorist?
A while back, President Obama was accused of being friends with a terrorist, but did you know that Jesus asked one to be a disciple?
You may not know much about the Zealots, but they were a group of people who were part of an insurgency to overthrow the Roman occupation of Judea during and after the days of Jesus.
(They actually succeeded for a short time around 66AD).
They hated the Romans and traitors, and if you wanted to live it was best you weren’t associated with either group.
They were assassins. They were some of the earliest known terrorists.
And Jesus chose a terrorist as a disciple?
As part of the select group that was supposed to change the world?
How could he?
Why would he?
He also chose a traitor: Matthew the Tax Collector (my namesake…thanks mom and dad!)
If you’re keeping score at home, this means that among Christ’s original posse of 12, we have a terrorist and a traitor (vehement political enemies), a betrayer and several school flunkies.
Fantastic.
So what’s my point?
My point is this: if Jesus hadn’t done things the way He did them, you wouldn’t be reading this right now. The whole reason we have a Savior to entrust our very lives to is because Jesus did things differently.
The people were looking for a King to replace Herod…but Jesus is born in a manger and announces His birth to some shepherds (who probably gave up drinking for good after that night). And if you think the serenading angels simply appeared to the wrong people, keep in mind a group of astrologers figured out who Jesus was way before the official people of God.
The people wanted a political leader, Jesus laid down His life instead.
Mere moments before He was raised up on the cross, Jesus reveals to Pilate, “My Kingdom is not of this world.”
No one saw it coming. Everyone’s expectations and predictions were completely off.
Jesus came to set up a Kingdom where Simon’s ability to inflict terror was no longer needed, but his passion for a life-altering message was.
A Kingdom where guys who failed school could preach the story of redemption that still carries on from generation to generation.
A Kingdom where even a traitor and a betrayer were invited into community.
A Kingdom where haters, liars, cheaters, murderers, doubters, racists, whores, Capitalists, Socialists, thieves, gossips, perverts, poor, starving, alcoholics, users, cutters, and every type of people are told: “Come as you are…”
He came for the broken.
He came for me.
He came for you.
And when you and I become part of His Kingdom, the call on our lives is this:
When’s the last time you spent any significant amount of time with any of the kinds of people listed above? Truth is, you probably interact with them every day, but the trick is learning how to see them…and see them as Jesus does.
We need to stop filtering our faith by the kingdoms of this world. Why do we get so caught up in the temporal? While financial markets crash, nations are plunged into rioting, famine wiping out tens of thousands of precious lives, and governments are left floundering for answers, we are part of a Kingdom that will never crumble.
This is our hope. This is our message.
I’m convinced that if we all lived out this reality, things would begin to look drastically different.
Following Jesus is about more than having better vision. It’s about having new eyes.
——————————–
By the way – an amazing song that goes along with what I’ve talked about today is “Hookers and Robbers” by my dear friends the Charlie Hall band…
Click the image below for a link to download the song…do it!
Saying “my smokin’ hot wife” is SO typical
Don’t be typical.
Well that sounds simple enough. Problem solved, right? Fantastic. See you guys tomorrow.
No.
Fighting off the demons of typical is one of the most challenging life-hurdles any of us will ever face.
Why?
Because our societies/churches/businesses/schools work very hard to teach us how to live normally. To not rock the boat. To be a good citizen.
What actually ends up happening is some twisted version of the film, Pleasantville, where everything looked great on the outside, but was complete turmoil underneath.
If I had a dime for every time I heard guys in ministry publicly announce they have a “smokin’ hot wife”, I’d be independently wealthy. (By the way…personal preference…can we PLEASE let that meme die? Anyone?)
If I had a penny for every couple that pretended everything was ok when it really wasn’t, I’d be even wealthier.
Pretending is part of being typical.
I spoke to a group of people yesterday about my work and organization, and when I was finished a man came up and told me: “I’ve never seen a 30 year old with as much drive as you have.”
At first I was tempted to give myself a Ron Burgundy-style leaping high-five, but then it hit me: I thought I was running behind…do people really wait until later to become driven?
Is it really a rule that we must wait until it feels like we’re running out of time to finally be who we were called to be? To finally fight for that job? Take that trip? Be a great spouse? Have kids? (I’ll be doing a whole post on kids sometime…)
In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, there are a group of religious folk who look down on the character, Miss Maudie, for working so hard on her garden…to which she responds: “There are just some kind of men who – who’re so busy worrying about the next world they’ve never learned to live in this one, and you can look down the street and see the results.”
The cross of Christ isn’t freedom to be average. If we really believe in the bigness of our God, then we should all be practitioners of the impossible, not enablers of the typical.
By the way, I’m preaching to the choir…these words are as much for me as anyone else.
Have you wronged someone and need to make it right? Call them! Don’t leave it hanging over you or them any longer.
Bring your spouse and kids into the living room for a mandatory family meeting and have a dance party instead. Don’t have a family yet? Call up a bunch of friends!
When was the last time you organized a day of romance for your husband…wife…boyfriend…girlfriend?
When was the last time you did something out of your routine?
When was the last time you actually gave air-time to your dreams?
When was the last time you went downtown and hung out with some street-walkers and asked them about their lives?
Jesus came to give us LIFE! Real life…abundant life…not typical life or pretend life.
When you start to feel the weight of all that must be done, remember your strength is limited but your Creator’s is not.
Don’t be afraid…because that’s typical.
