“What do you see God doing around the World?” I asked leaning eagerly over my Coke in a cosy little pub in Guildford yesterday. My question was addressed to the lovely Martin Scott who responded, unexpectedly, with a question of his own “Do you actually believe in the transforming power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?”
I sat there thinking, “Duh, of course I do. I’m a Christian”, but as he spoke about Brazilians and what it had to teach Europe and North America, their faith growing as 40% of cities are being born again, I realised that no, I don’t fully believe in the power of the Gospel. If I did I’d live differently, I’d live with their expectation.
Don’t get me wrong, I follow Jesus, daily I look along the narrow path we’ve chosen and see where His feet are taking me. At times in my life I’ve had a greater understanding of the Gospel and at those times that belief has made me sticky. Something about my conviction, the choices I make, the way I am with people, my boldness through faith means I get to be part of God’s plans and see people take steps towards Him. I’m not sticky all the time though.
Life here is easy. There is need in suburbia but it’s hidden, it’s spiritual, emotional not so obvious or urgent. Life in England, Europe, is very comfortable our problems are dwarfed by those in other contexts. If England became a land that outlawed our faith I think you would see the most amazing uprising of the Church realising God’s potential and power in this nation because someone is trying to take it away. Can we grasp this truth before it gets that extreme?
Jesus has defeated sin, death, sickness and evil, He struck the terminal blow two thousand years ago and we are living in the bloody skirmishes, the sucker punches thrown by a dieing tyrant. His days are numbered and he knows it. His ultimate weapon, separation from our creator or death is defeated. In fact for me to live is Christ and to die is gain! When I die there will be no victory for Satan he may try to enumerate my many failings (I could help him with most, I’m frightfully aware of my own ineptitude) but Jesus will step in, He will speak for me, and my punishment will become His, my stripes will appear on His back and He will smile, wipe the tear that’s rolling down my cheek and say welcome home honey.
I know this is true. I’ve approached my faith intellectually and for me it takes more faith to believe we’re all here by chance than by the work of a divine and loving person. I’ve seen miracles, people healed on the streets of Ibiza, a young man raised from the dead and beaming with the Holy Spirit, my Father alive and living for God when others would have had him dead (thank you God). But most convincingly when I turn to Jesus in prayer I feel His peace, I hear His whispering voice, and I read His words and know they are true and so very very good. If I am wrong, well I’m proud of the way I’m living following the righteous God. If I’m right, I can’t wait to feel Him brush my cheek.
So if I believe it up top, how actively am I seeking to sow it down below? My head knowledge of the transforming good news of Jesus is reasonable but there’s a signal failure somewhere because my goals are still dominated by what 21st Century culture deems good. Those transient impossibly materialistic benchmarks that aren’t necessarily evil are constantly battling to take the Lord’s place in priority. The more I think about truly living sticky, living each day believing in the power of the Gospel for my neighbour with the baby, for my Capoeira teacher and for the busker on North Street then I need to understand humility.
Humility, not exactly a word often associated with power and transformation but I think it’s the key not only to my personal discipleship but to sincere belief in the omnipotence of Jesus Christ. To know exactly who I am in relation to Father God, the Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit. If I put God in His rightful place and let all else fall around in proper perspective not only would the capitalist concerns of my society, or any other society pale in comparison to the Kingdom of God, but also the opportunities and possibilities of where that Kingdom could break through would seem endless.
I long to be like Peter and have the boldness give every person on the street the absolute best thing I have to give them… Jesus. I need a little realignment; I need to be saved, each day to know the gratitude, the grace and power of His blood.
Our Father, in Heaven,
Praise be to Your name,
Your Kingdom come,
Your will be done
On Earth as it is in Heaven…