Dan Kimball wrote They Like Jesus but Not the Church. He interviewed dozens of people outside of the church. Kimball found that people have very powerful opinions about Jesus and the church. A guy named, Duggan, said, "If I were to go to church, I'd want it to be like a family, a healthy family where you all are looking out for each other. Church should be a place where they are glad to see you and it really feels like a community. Church sould be a place where they love you, even when you aren't doing well. Love shouldn't be conditional. I feel that most churches will only accept you and love you when you obey them and do what they say. I think Jesus would accept me and be there for me when I am doing good or bad. I think church should be loving like that."
While I am not going to let Duggan or others determine what church sould be, I do think his point about church and Jesus being more closely related is right on. Church must be the representation of Jesus in the earth. "What would Jesus do?" is the correct question. All attention and effort must be given to following the Jesus Way. Jesus stated a revolution. A revolution is a sudden, radical or complete change, especially the overthrow of a ruler and substitution of another by the governed. A revolution is a mutiny. The question for every person is, "Who is going to rule my life?"
Jesus simple said to people, "Follow me." Following Jesus means that I become completely absorbed into what is important and priority to him. I believe we are living in a time when Christ followeres are more interested in the kingdom of God than the kingdoms of this world. "Jesus is Lord," is a radical expression of understanding that The King, Jesus, rules over one's life.
Walk with me as I atempt to "take up the cross daily" and follow Jesus.
Peace,
SS
