January 30, 2007
We Are a City on a Hill
Let what we do in here, fill the streets out there - "Madly," Charlie Hall
A few years ago, the Math+1 forum discussed the movie "The Passion of the Christ," and I made the off-handed comment that all Christians are called to be evangelical, as the word evangelical simply means "in accordance with the Christian Gospel," a.k.a. the Books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John that chronicle the life of Christ. In Acts, Luke tells us that following the resurrection, the last thing Jesus said to his disciples was that they would be given the gift of the Holy Spirit and that they were to proclaim His glory to the "ends of the Earth." It didn't occur to me that my statement would be controversial. (It rarely does!)
My comment, of course, set off a firestorm of discussion where people vehemently argued that no, no, evangelical means Bible-thumper, crazy-street-person, a Pat Robertson type. That you could be a Christian and have no interest in spreading the Good News; that you could hear the story of Christ, place your faith in Him and leave it at that. How? I asked. HOW? I really wanted to know: at that point in my life I was desperate to figure out a way to continue living my life my own way and still cling to my salvation. I was desperate to remain in myself; to remain unchanged. If someone had strong reasoning, I was ready to jump on it.
But of course, there isn't any Biblically-based reasoning for such an argument. It doesn't exist in Scripture. It does exist, however, in the latent American church; in the lifestyle and mindset of the cultural Christian. It's a problem of definition, I guess, what makes one a Christian. Today's post on blog.worship.com discusses this very issue, and I immediately e-mailed the link to almost everyone in my address book.
The root problem might be described as a failure to define 'Christian' and Christianity in terms that bring into sharper contrast regenerate and unregenerate life, in terms that stress spiritual conversion, faith, grace, love and hope over and against moralism, patriotism, and spiritual relativism.
Distinctive Christianity in a Nominal Christian Culture, Part 1: Definitions
The author, Thabiti Anyabwile, goes on to describe many notions - or myths - that muddy definitions. Ideas such as the one where people believe you are a Christian at birth because your parents are Christians; or that baptizing is something that makes you a Christian; or it's just about walking the aisle to the alter and repeating a script; or the idea that because you're an American, or a Southerner or from a small town, you're a Christian.
Fruitful Christian ministry must supplant these notions with Gospel truth. Faithful Gospel labor must work against these currents to present a joyful, abiding-in-Christ, free, grace-filled, spiritually-minded, heaven-directed, Jesus following, God-loving, observant Christian witness.
It's an issue I've discussed here before and it's been on my heart for months now: a desire to combat the lies in the American church. The latent energy that persists. The MYTHS that persist in our culture because a silent minority live up to the lies or because people are afraid to speak Truth for fear of alienating themselves or being unliked or being seen as Other.
A few weeks ago Andy Stanley asked us what we were praying for big in 2007. When he asked that question, I was overwhelmed. I often feel overwhelmed by the world, by my role in it, but I believe that's because God is working to narrow my focus; to hone a vision for my life so that I will not be distracted by the many, many Big Things out there that aren't for ME to fight.
We are all part of the body, and as such, we all have different roles. Some of us are hands, some feet, some knees and elbows and fingertips. Sometimes I feel like I'm all over the place, trying to do the work of eight different body parts at once; my Big Prayer for 2007 is simply that He continues to focus me in, so that I can fight and serve and struggle and shine light until my last breath escapes my body.
And I have to believe that this blog is one of the gifts he has given me; this knowledge, this ability to transcribe my heart thoughts so that you, who are feeling them too, will know that we are all in this together. That we can change the world because He has already won. Stand Up. Be Light. Speak Truth.
Matthew 5:14-16 - You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Nether do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (NIV)
Posted by hannah at 05:05 PM
