Erwin McManus in Chasing Daylight describes second-dimension faith as a place you must go to experience the fullness of God in your life. It's a journey we are called to where things become more uncertain before they become clear, where our need for faith in God increases with every step rather than diminishes. This journey requires absolute certainty in the goodness of God while at the same time we relinquish our demand to know the details.
To me, this is the line between an adolescent Christian and a mature Christian. A baby Christian is either new in their faith, or haven't yet developed their relationship with Christ to enter into a place of repentance and obedience. Once someone turns away from the things in their life they know are not pleasing to God, and obeys Him, the enter into the adolescent phase. This is where first-dimension faith lives. This phase is years long and sometimes a life-long place for most believers. But to enter the second-dimension faith means living on the risky side. You lean more on God than your own understanding. You walk away from the logical with the Spirit leads you into radical territory. You don't worry about what other people think, say, or do because you are following the Spirit, not your flesh. God is faithful to carry you through what He has called you to do. This is the mark of a mature believer.
So, where are you? If God called you to do something radical, would you? God bless!
Showing posts with label Radical Faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Radical Faith. Show all posts
Friday, May 9, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Food for Thought
I've had a recurring thought run through my head for the last three weeks since we attended Awaken 2008. Erwin McManus was talking about reaching the lost. He said, "I would rather piss off 1000 Christians in order to lead one person to Christ." I keep thinking about this brave comment. Having a broad perspective of the kingdom of God, and knowing that we are all called to go into the world and make disciples, (Matt. 28:19-20)I must say I have to agree with this statement.
Now, I'm not saying we should try to upset 1000 Christians, since we are all called to live peacefully with others, but if you had to choose between upsetting 1000 Christians, who are already going to heaven, and saving one person from an eternity in hell, which would you choose?
Are you such a people pleaser that you would choose the former choice? What if you were that one person? Wouldn't you rather someone stick their neck out for you, risk their reputation, so that you could live eternally in paradise?
Some of you might think this is radical faith. I hope this is the norm of attitudes. It's time we stop living safe in our cozy Christian worlds and step out to minister to the broken, the dirty, the unlovely, the diseased, and the poor.
If you watched ABC's Extreme Home Makeover last night, you saw a man who moved his family to a neighborhood called The War Zone. Gunshots every night were common place. Since they've been there, crime has decreased by 50%. They give away 3000 pounds of food a day. They give people a place to stay and and hand up. This family has a true heart for the lost. It was a great 2 hour episode. I recommend watching it to stir your heart.
So, the question today is, would you piss off 1000 Christians in order to lead one person to Christ?
Now, I'm not saying we should try to upset 1000 Christians, since we are all called to live peacefully with others, but if you had to choose between upsetting 1000 Christians, who are already going to heaven, and saving one person from an eternity in hell, which would you choose?
Are you such a people pleaser that you would choose the former choice? What if you were that one person? Wouldn't you rather someone stick their neck out for you, risk their reputation, so that you could live eternally in paradise?
Some of you might think this is radical faith. I hope this is the norm of attitudes. It's time we stop living safe in our cozy Christian worlds and step out to minister to the broken, the dirty, the unlovely, the diseased, and the poor.
If you watched ABC's Extreme Home Makeover last night, you saw a man who moved his family to a neighborhood called The War Zone. Gunshots every night were common place. Since they've been there, crime has decreased by 50%. They give away 3000 pounds of food a day. They give people a place to stay and and hand up. This family has a true heart for the lost. It was a great 2 hour episode. I recommend watching it to stir your heart.
So, the question today is, would you piss off 1000 Christians in order to lead one person to Christ?
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