Out of my Mind for Christ

“It’s amazing, in fact, what one highly charged, crazy man can do.”

-Peters & Waterman, In Search for Excellence

Here’s my problem. I actually believe our role as Christians today is just as significant as God’s servants in the Bible. Our call is no less real as that of Abraham or Moses,  Peter or Paul. Moreover, the mission God has give us at MainStreet is no less significant than the mission of Jesus and his disciples… In fact, we’re merely living out the next Act of their same mission. We’re obeying the Great Commission.

So, my problem is that I view my life, my purpose, my commitment, my time as wrapped up in this same story I read in the Bible.  I let the Biblical narrative shape my outlook on life.  I let Jesus’ hard, demanding words to his would-be disciples shape my own attitude to would-be participants of our mission.  This is a dangerous road to walk down. There is no limit to the insane things God might ask of someone willing to go “all in” for his mission and cause!  We pastors talk somewhat flippantly about “surrending to Christ” — but surrender is a serious thing. It will make you a bit strange and ruin your life  – in the best possible way.

So, what’s my problem?

The problem is that the biblical story and the American story are incompatible. American Disciples and Biblical Disciples are not the same. American Disciples treat ministry, the church, and local mission as a side-hobby in their life, something to give a few hours to each month for a season of time. Biblical Disciples like Paul, on the other hand, see themselves as “slaves of Christ.”  Slaves are stuck, there by God’s command, not by choice, and only God can release someone from their duty when he sees fit. American Disciples think Paul or Abraham or Jeremiah or Jesus are religious fanatics, a bit overly zealous, or a part of an elite class of Apostles.  Biblical Disciples, however, see these men as just another ordinary fool who’s been snatched up into God’s great Kingdom movement, and wouldn’t entertain the idea of giving less than 100%.