Her green plastic watering can
For her fake chinese rubber plant
In fake plastic earth.
That she bought from a rubber man
In a town full of rubber plants
–Radiohead Fake Plastic Trees
Roughly 80% of Americans claim to be Christians. Woo-to-the-hoo. I look around, and I don’t see it. Granted, I don’t expect to see Paradise. Not so long as sin reigns in this world. But I would hope it would look better.
So what’s the problem? You could point at many things: sin, lukewarm churches, cheap grace, a watered down gospel, politics, and I’m sure you could think of more. But this video, I think, does a great job summing it up. (Thanks Luke for sharing this Sunday!)
There’s much of this to which I can relate, and as I watched it last this last Sunday I could help but feel challenged. And what came to mind was The Fellowship of the Unashamed. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard it and just as long since I’ve felt it.
I am a part of the fellowship of the Unashamed.
I have the Holy Spirit Power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.
My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won’t give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I’ve preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until He returns, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes.
And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My colors will be clear for “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes..” (Romans 1:16)
This is often attributed to Dr. Bob Moorehead, though I’ve also heard it attributed to “an African missionary who recited this right before he was martyred.” This also may not be the correct version. In a sad demonstration of the division in the Church, some versions leave out “Holy Spirit Power” and others leave out “I am a disciple of Jesus Christ”. Ironic that some versions of The Fellowship of the Unashamed are ashamed to call themselves disciples of Jesus. Maybe their Jesus is plastic.