How are we living?

Are we living like Christ is the answer?

Are we living like we believe God has saved this world and is working everyday to further His Kingdom, to spread His redemption, to bring more people to know His salvation and see His vision?

Do we believe that - and are we living like we believe that?

Or are we living like we trust our current political parties, institutions, finances, and other worldly comforts as the answer?

Because they're not. Our government, our freedom to express ourselves, work, politics, relationships, our money - they are all tools God has blessed us with to do the work of His Kingdom. And we have the opportunity to make an incredible impact in this world through all He has given us. But He has given these things to us in order that we may join with Him in furthering His vision in this world. It didn't end on the cross. No, that was the beginning. He rose from the dead and invites us to walk with him. He is the answer.

And through His Spirit in us, we are His hands and feet - in HIM, we are the world's answer. Do we believe that?

Are we as the Church living like we believe we are Christ's ambassadors, the answer to the brokenness in our culture, the poverty, the pain, the sin? Because we are.

We are not called to just accept things as they are, and pick the lesser of two evil political parties, live less worldly than our neighbors, be a little more kind to our co-workers or the homeless man on the street. No, we are called to MORE and to show the world that there is something Better.

We are called to choose CHRIST, to believe that He is the answer and that all we have and all the institutions around us are meant to be used as tools to further His Gospel purposes. There is so much more to God's plan than we can ever imagine, and we are called to believe and be EXCITED.

We are called to tell the world the answer. We are called to show the world a new way.

Ask God how He is calling you to be a part of His vision. Because we are ALL called to be a part. We are all called to believe for more and ask for more and live like there is MORE to God's purpose for our lives than choosing the "ok" options in this world.

So pray, ask God to show you how clearly what He has maybe been whispering to your heart for awhile. Ask Him to show you how to live as salt and light, joining with the rest of the Church to be an example of a new way, a better option.

For me, God has been growing my passion to unite the Church in my city around this vision of being the answer. Of living differently and uniting our passions and gifts together in a more strategic way, so that we can show the love of Christ to our city more powerfully and more effectively further Christ's redemptive purposes in this world.

So I'm praying about what it looks like to take the next step and believe that we as the Church are called to be MORE. Will you join?

Be Outraged

Amen. God asks us to be righteously angry about injustice, as He is. We are ALL called to be outraged by sin, by injustice, by things that are not the way God intended them. And we are ALL called to further God's justice in this world, in some way. Through the Gospel of Christ, we are called to care about every single person, to love others as ourselves, to seek the welfare of those around us. We are called to be outraged by injustice against our brothers and sisters, and then act as God asks each of us to act, letting our righteous anger turn to hope in His power to do more than we could ever ask or imagine.






https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=697402493605333&set=a.255575047788082.76072.166174666728121&type=1&theater

Son of God

I wanted to post a quick link to the website for the Son of God movie that will be coming out in February. I know some people might be hesitant about this movie and how Christ will be represented, but knowing the kind of people who are working on this movie, I have confidence that it will be done very well. I'm pumped to see it and I think you should be too - check it out:

http://www.sonofgodmovie.com