Rebel rebel… October 4, 2007

Last night we sat outside Starbucks and amongst other things we briefly talked about revival. I got the Wimbledon theme tune stuck in my head for some reason. Random music in my head aside, it was cool and I felt a little like a revolutionary for Christ for a moment. Which was funny, but when I think about it that should surely be how it feels to be a Christian. I remember Brent preaching at WEL a few weeks back and he was talking about the early church and how in the context of the day it was a real underground rebellion type of thing. Saying Jesus is Lord was a huge revolutionary statement, because the saying was that Caesar was lord. To claim anyone else as lord was a shocking and dangerous statement. Following Jesus is all about living for him, which is so often, if not always, against the ways of the world today. We are called to live a life different from the world, we are free to no longer have to follow the “rules” of the world but instead to seek God’s wisdom and follow His ways. Romans 12:2 says “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” This surely makes us rebels – albeit peaceful ones, rebelling through grace and love. And if we are seeking to bring about change to the world on a large scale, and bring Jesus to the masses, then surely that makes us revolutionaries? I think it is so easy to lose sight of that and of how much of an exciting and amazing thing it is to follow Christ, to have a relationship with the creator of the entire universe… I mean, what’s not exciting about that? That’s the greatest thing ever! Yet we lose sight of it. I pray that I won’t. That when I get back home to sleepy Barton Seagrave and St Botolph’s I won’t just fall back into going to church as a routine. God is amazing and incredible and with me. God is with me. God has worked and is working in me and through me. How on earth can that happen? What right do I have to such an astounding privilege? None whatsoever, yet by grace my Father has gifted me with that opportunity. How can I ever cease to praise Him for that?