Truth in Advertising

Frank

In the aftermath of James MacDonald’s recent Elephant Room, the focus has been on T. D. Jakes and whether he affirmed the Trinity rejecting his Oneness background, about whether Mark Driscoll pushed him hard enough, and that no one challenged him on the Prosperity Gospel. There were other sessions, or “conversations” however that are worth following up on that had nothing to do with the latest Internet-driven evangelical celebrity fracas.
One in particular caught my eye. “With a Little Help From My Friends” The session is described as follows:

Is there a future for denominations? Will networks simply replace them, or will they reinvent themselves? What can denominations offer that networks of churches cannot? Describe the health of world missions and missionaries as you see them serving around the globe. Is the model of sending missionaries through a mission agency still effective? Or is church planting through healthy churches the way to go? Is there a lack of accountability plaguing most missionaries? How can that be changed? How does para-church help or hinder the local church in world missions?

Of course there hasn’t been any controversy over this topic, so other than some random quotes I picked up on Twitter, I haven’t heard anything more about it. And that’s a shame, because this is a very relevant topic for our churches today.

Attendance in traditional denominations has been on the steady decline for a number of years (decades in some cases). Church planting networks, like Acts 29, are all the rage as are missional networks like Verge. In the meantime, American Christianity (TM) continues to follow the trends of megachurches, where a church is known more by the books the pastor sells than the doctrine they actually teach.

But is this anything new? In the 60s/70s the fear was campus ministries and other parachurch organizations were going to replace denominational churches. The campus ministry movement didn’t replace denominations, but instead forced them to evolve.

I’m personally interested in this topic as my own church, sprung out of a traditional denomination transformed by the campus ministry movement, recently shed its denominational structure in place of a “co-op” where churches maintain their autonomy, but there is coordination with respect to conferences, publications, and world missions. Sounds a lot like a network, doesn’t it? But is that the right model?

When I first came across Acts 29 I was intrigued by what they were doing. But it took a lot of digging to find out anything specific about their doctrine. At best I found out it was started by Driscoll, which led me to Mars Hill to dig into what they believe. Yet another case of a megachurch being known more for its pastor than its doctrine.

Consider the standard online “statement of faith” pulled from a local church:

  • The Bible came into existence through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and is God’s complete revelation to man. It is inerrant and has supreme authority in all matters of Faith and conduct.
  • There is one living and true God, eternally existing in three Persons, The Father and The Son and The Holy Spirit. These three are identical in nature, equal in power and glory, have precisely the same attributes and perfections, yet execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of providence and redemption. Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 12:14
  • God, the Father, is an infinite personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, justice, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He hears and answers prayers and that He saves all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
  • The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who became man without ceasing to be God. He accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross, and our redemption is made certain through His bodily resurrection from the dead.
  • The Holy Spirit came from the Father and the Son and convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit indwells every Christian, seals them until the day of redemption, and is our present Helper, Teacher, and Guide.
  • Man was created in the image and likeness of God but through sin became alienated from God, acquired a sin nature, and came under the judicial sentence of death.
  • Salvation is the gift of God offered to man by grace and received by faith in Jesus Christ as both Savior and Lord. Genuine faith will manifest itself in works pleasing to God.

But does that tell you anything? Would it describe your church? Chances are, it would describe any traditional church. Yet it doesn’t tell me whether they are Charismatic or cessationist, follow Calvin or Zwingli, are Reformed or Restoration.

You’re probably asking what does that have to do with the question above regarding denominations and networks? Personally, I think denominations are stuck in traditions- doctrinally and culturally, and are destined to die unless major changes occur. But… at least you know what you’re going to get. When I drive by a First Baptist Church, I know what that is. When I drive by a church called Spring of Life Church, I have no earthly idea.

But is the only value in a denomination truth in advertising? What do you think?

The Power to Change the World

Frank

Imagine you’re God for a moment. (Maybe that’s easier for some of you than for others) Imagine all the hurt, all the suffering you see among the eight billion people inhabiting your creation. Imagine hearing all of their prayers, all of their cries, and all of their curses. Imagine having all the power to eliminate pain and anguish while appearing to do nothing about it.

If you’ve seen the movie Bruce Almighty, you can get a hint of this overwhelming responsibility. If you’re following along in the book, Kisses from Katie, you can get that sense seeing the Third World through the eyes of Katie Davis as she adjusts to her life in Uganda.

It would be tempting in her shoes to try and fix everything. The poverty. The orphans. The lack of education. The disease, especially HIV. Given her First World resources living in the Third World she could have the power to do it. But it would be too overwhelming to fix everything. So instead, Katie chooses simply to love. You can see the seeds being planted for her future family here. She recognizes that she can’t fix every problem and help every child, but she can teach and love as many children as come to her. Education leads to a better life. Love leads to a sense of family. Together those two “small” ingredients have the power to change that country.

Does God sit idly by as His creation suffers? Some would argue so. Of course, his creation is designed with some built-in rules regarding free-will, but surely He could do something, right? No, he doesn’t snap his fingers to eradicate all disease. But he does move in the hearts of people like Katie, or like you and me reading about her story, to give or to serve.

It is important to keep that perspective in mind when reading this book, and I pray Katie holds this perspective as she continues in her ministry. She, or you, or I, is not alone. God moves in the hearts of the rich and the poor. Some give up everything they have to move to the other side of the world. Others build successful business that they use to fund efforts that help faces they may never see. God moves in hearts to serve in the Third World as well as to serve in the urban ghetto. God moves in hearts to adopt starving children from Africa as well as to adopt fatherless African American children. When God is moving in the hearts of his people, there is no limit- geographic, economic, political, or racial- that cannot be overcome.

No, God is not idle. And Katie is not alone.

This blog is part of a book club reading Kisses from Katie. Jason Stasyszen and Sarah Salter are leading the discussion. Head over to their blogs for more.

By the Power of the Holy Spirit

Frank

I almost cried when I heard the news. I don’t know him, and this wasn’t a case of celebrity worship where I would be so moved. But I was near tears because I knew exactly how he was feeling and what he was going through. My heart sank as I feared for what may happen next.

“I feel like I was fine not to have anybody,” Josh Hamilton, baseball superstar and recovering addict, told a local radio station three weeks before he fell off the wagon. Then after a night out that I know lasted longer than the hours ticked off the clock he told reporters, “Understand, I’m going to do everything I can and take all the steps necessary…”

The problem with what he said, and my fear for him (which began when I read his book, Beyond Belief), is that there’s a lot of “I” in his apology. Although that’s just a public statement, God only knows what exactly he prays for or what he shares with others to be held accountable. But I know through my own recovery and ongoing support through a recovery ministry, that “I” get in the way of true healing.

One encouraging quote out of all this mess, “I cannot take a break from my recovery. My recovery is Christ.” So he has that going for him. His faith is no secret to those who have followed his story. He is an encouraging speaker, frequently appearing for youth groups, churches, and especially recovery groups. In his book, he speaks of how he came to know Christ so he is no stranger to the Holy Spirit. Yes, the past few years he has been sober much more than he has not, but I wonder how much he is relying on the power of the Holy Spirit on a daily basis to help him with his recovery versus relying on himself.

Chapter six of Kyle Idleman’s book, Not a Fan, “self empowered or spirit filled?” focuses on the Holy Spirit. He’s right in that the subject makes many a Christian uncomfortable. He describes the third member of the Trinity like Cousin Eddie that no one knows exactly what to do with. He’s the drunk uncle (but it’s only nine in the morning!) that no one understands. And if it wasn’t for my own experience in recovery, I would have responded the same way.

I remember going to my first meeting, then as a mentor/discipler for another addict (oblivious to my own need). The meeting opened up with prayer and someone prayed for the Holy Spirit. Huh? I grew up Catholic so I have prayed for Mary, for Saints, and of course for Jesus to walk with me. But to pray for the Holy Spirit? I was afraid we’d step out of that meeting speaking in tongues and with the hair on top of our heads singed. (Not really, but I wasn’t sure what was going to happen next)

It wasn’t until later when we were discussing a meeting that did not go at all as we planned. “Sometimes we just have to get out of the way and let the Holy Spirit work.” And it clicked. Honestly, this epiphany transformed my relationship with God. Yes I’d pray to Him for things as if he was the cosmic Santa Claus. And I’d pray “in Jesus’ name”. But I began to pray for God to move me out of the way and let the Holy Spirit work in my life. I began to relate to the Holy Spirit as a force of motion, which we need to move anywhere in our spiritual life, especially overcoming addiction.

Going back to my subtle reference to the book of the Acts of the Apostles above, I’ve read several commentaries that suggest this book of the Bible should actually be called the Acts of the Holy Spirit. I couldn’t agree more. The early church could not have moved without the Counselor guiding them.

Idleman describes in his book how fans of Jesus get burned out because they rely on their own power. I still struggle with this, to be honest. I need to learn to rely on the Holy Spirit in the “non-spiritual” (work, family, as if those things shouldn’t be spiritual to begin with) Followers of Jesus know to rely on the Holy Spirit to give them strength. I could go on and on with scripture references to back this up, but I’ll save that for another day. Instead, I will simply speak from experience. Simply put, I owe my own sobriety to the Holy Spirit.

Kyle closes the chapter with a list of what friends on Facebook have seen the Holy Spirit do in their lives. If the Holy Spirit is the weird cousin in your spirituality that you just don’t know what to do with, consider that the Holy Spirit has enabled others to:

  • finally forgive my dad
  • lose 150 pounds and stop smoking
  • forgive my ex-husband for his infidelity
  • adopt two boys from Ethiopia
  • overcome a drug addiction
  • overcome a gambling addiction
  • overcome a sex addiction
  • overcome a shopping addiction
  • overcome an eating disorder
  • be four years sober
  • raise my special needs child, even as a single mom
  • save my marriage
  • conceive after being told it would never happen
  • return my child home after three years of silence
  • find peace when my husband passed away and I thought my life was over
  • remarry my ex-husband after a long, nasty divorce (pg 98)

I pray for the Holy Spirit to move in Josh Hamilton’s life and to empower his sobriety. What do you need the power of the Holy Spirit in your life? Please share so we can pray together.

This post continues my series blogging through the book, Not A Fan by Kyle Idleman. I encourage you to follow along by clicking on the Not A Fan label to the right. And I urge you to pick up a copy of this book for yourself.

Flashback Friday: Super Perspective

Frank

This is a repost from last year, right before the Super Bowl with some updated numbers. I don’t mean to be a fun-hater, and I’ll be partying just like the rest of you, but it’s important to keep things in their proper perspective.

Keep in mind that half of the world lives on less than $2.50 a day.

One 2012 update, from this Fox Sports slideshow

  • 1.25 billion hot wings will be consumed. Those would come from 312.5 million chickens that would feed, that’s right, 1.25 billion people.

2011 numbers:

  • A 30 second commercial during the Super Bowl will cost $3,000,000.
  • A ticket on the 50-yard line, lower level, costs almost $16,000
  • 106.5 million people watched the Super Bowl last year on CBS.
  • 8 million pounds of popcorn will be consumed, 28 million pounds of chips, 53.5 million pounds of avocados for guacamole requiring a total of 222,792 football fields worth of farmland to grow.
  • 325.5 million gallons of beer will be drank which would fill 493 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Meanwhile:

  • $3,000,000 would provide hospice care for those dying of HIV/AIDS over four years in Uganda, or vaccinate 3 million children for measles across Africa, or provide mosquito nets, better access to medications, and free HIV/AIDS testing in Rwanda. (That’s only three ads right there)
  • 75% of the world makes less than the cost of that football ticket… in ten years. (according to the Global Rich List)
  • Up to 10,000 adult and underage girls are expected to be sex-trafficked to Dallas-Fort Worth [Indianapolis this year]
  • 223,000 acres of corn would feed 25,000 people for a year (according to rough calculations from this site).
  • 325.5 million gallons would give enough potable water to 616 million people for a day, or enough for 1.7 million people for a year. (This is only a dent, though, as 1 billion people are without drinkable water)

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” (1 John 2:15-17)

The Elephant in the Room

Frank

I apologize for the lack of content this week, I’m away on business travel and my hotel doesn’t have wifi. Also please forgive my typos as I’m thumbing this in on my phone.

Regardless I want to put something up to follow up on yesterday’s Elephant Room ‘conference’ hosted by James MacDonald (http://www.theelephantroom.com/). I didn’t watch from one of the satellite locations, but I tried to keep up on twitter.

For background, the Elephant Room is a forum for pastors and ministers from different traditions, methodologies, and even core doctrines to sit around a table and “talk it out”. The intention is to display Christian love without all the bickering and name-calling that now, thanks to twitter, we hear about far too often.

I just want to list off some of the tweeted quotes. With a limit of 140 characters, I wasn’t able to catch the context of these quoted, but found then worth sharing nonetheless. I encourage you to share your impressions based on the quoted and even better, if you watched the conference I’d love to hear your thoughts.

First some context, and again I didn’t catch the context of these statistics, but they are worth having fresh in your mind as you read on. “3500 people leave the church every day and don’t join another. 6000 churches close their doors each year. Only 2% of churches are growing through conversion (as opposed to growth via children growing up and professing their faith)”

-Mark Driscoll: we’re not trying to be Calvinists, we’re trying to be evangelists (but what if we disagree on the nature of the gospel that is the core of our evangelism?)

-James MacDonald: the whole gospel
to the whole world with our whiole heart

-Steven Furtick: Presenting the gospel creatively is not watering it down

-Results don’t define theology (I didn’t catch who said this and I’d love to hear the context because there has to be more to this quote)

-They will know you are my disciples by your love -MacDonald (which is all well and good, but why did you kick out @PirateChristian and @EBenzBlog and threaten to call the police on them?)

-T. D. Jakes: I’m not going to force my theology into my denomination. (there was a whole session on the relevance of denominations with the rise of church networks. I really want to see a replay of that.)

-Let a mans fruitfulness, his confession speak for him -MacDonald

-Constant destructive rhetoric is hurting the church -MacDonald (maybe, but I’d argue the preaching of cheap grace, the emphasis on being seeker-sensitive, and the lack of the call to discipleship hurts the church far more)

-We don’t say something privately but we’ll speak up publicly and lob grenades -Furtick

-Wayne Cordiero: You can teach what you know bit ultimately you wll reproduce who you are (perhaps my favorite quote from the day)

-Jack Graham: The way to get the walls down is to take the roof off and let God in (I really like this one too)

-Structure can decrease as maturity increases -Cordiero (hmmm, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this)

-Real boldness is to stand with somebody even if it costs you something-Furtick

-I want to see young pastors passion to reach others exceed their passion to review books -Driscoll (or to write best-sellers also)

Like I said, I’m limited by what I found on twitter. The Elephant Room was a trending topic yesterday and is still buzzing this morning. I’m hoping to find some wifi later and see if there are replays anywhere. In the meantime, discuss away.

When’s the Swimsuit Competition?

Frank

Another day another debate. Another week another primary…

Is it too early to say I’m already burned out by this election cycle? Once upon a time, politics used to get my juices flowing. In the early days of this blog, I posted more about how our faith should intersect with our politics than just about any other subject. But now I read the headlines, follow the news, watch all the attack and advocacy ads and I’m left to say simply, “meh.”

Maybe it’s because none of the candidates particularly excite me. Or maybe it’s because there’s no hot-button issue to focus my attention on. But neither of those are true, I just don’t get as wound up over politics anymore.

Maybe I’ve become disillusioned and jaded. Cynical might be a better word. I admit that in watching these primaries and observing how the media treats the election cycle I’m expecting the swimsuit competition any time now.

Because isn’t that what this really is, a popularity contest to see who “looks the part”? I’m reminded of the story of Samuel anointing David:

“When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD.'” But the LORD rejected him.

“Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, ‘The LORD has not chosen this one either.’ Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, ‘Nor has the LORD chosen this one.’ Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, ‘The LORD has not chosen these.’” (1 Samuel 16:6,8-10)

If you know the story, you know I’m leaving out a key verse. I’ll get to that in a moment. But put yourself in Samuel’s shoes. He’s looking at each of Jesse’s older, stronger, more kingly sons expecting at least one of them to be God’s anointed. He was looking for the one who “looked the part”. Yet instead God chose young “ruddy” David who wasn’t even invited to this party and was left to tend sheep.

Why him and not his brothers? God answers, “Do not consider his appearance or his height… The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (v 7)

In politics, just like anything else, first impressions are made by how one looks and what one says. But God doesn’t look at any of those things. He looks at the heart. Imagine how different presidential elections would be if we judged the candidates based on their hearts? (Of course this assumes there could be some way to know.)

I trust the sovereignty of God in the selection of our political leaders. But I don’t trust people stained by the Fall to make a wise choice based on anything other than appearance. And because of that, I just can’t get excited about this election year.

How about you, are you a political junkie? How does your faith influence your politics? Do you find yourself judging more on appearance, or more on heart?

Hate Religion but Love Jesus?

Frank

When I first saw this YouTube video via a link on Facebook, it was less than a day old and had a little over 100,000 views. As I write this, it has been viewed 6.5 million times. I guess he struck a chord.

His point isn’t anything new and falls in line with the current anti-organized religion trend that is sweeping through Christianity right now. It hits on some of the themes of Michael Spencer’s Mere Churchianity (of which I did a chapter-by-chapter discussion). The package is clean, hip, and resonating. But is he right?

Right after I saw it on Facebook, I wanted to “share” it to my friends too. But I wanted to see what this guy was all about first so I went to his YouTube channel. And his other videos just didn’t sit right with me.

So I’m curious what you, my readers, think of this video. Is he right? Do you agree?

Personally, I think God is anti-religion too. I think He makes that clear in the Old Testament prophets. But then the Word of God also tells us that “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27) So I think it’s dangerous to offer up a blanket statement that “I reject religion” when the Bible tells us that there is a religion that God himself accepts.

An interesting comment on the YouTube page for this video: “Anyone else see the irony of people arguing whether he’s right about religion being different than Jesus and shouting at each other that the other opinion is wrong? I think his point has just been proven.”

So what do you think:do you hate religion, but love Jesus, or are you striving for the one True Religion that God finds faultless?

Tebow-liever?

Frank

I’ve really tried to hold off on posting about Tim Tebow. Yes, I included him in my Not a Fan series, and I titled a post after him when he was still in college, but I have tried hard not to feed the hype. Part of it is because I’m just not that big of a fan. I’m no Monday-morning quarterback critiquing his mechanics, nor am I rooting for him to fail. I just don’t think his faith, his throwing motion, and the way he conducts himself off the field is that big of a deal. And I think he’d agree. Yet I am a Denver Bronco fan so I hope he succeeds. And I did draft him for my fantasy football team this year, because I had a hunch he would be starting by mid-season… at fullback. Ok, I was half-right.

But instead of honest debate over the outcome of next week’s playoff game or analysis of Pittsburgh’s decision to stuff the box in overtime, we hear non-stop about his time with a girl suffering from granulomatosis, how Katy Perry’s Evangelical parents want to hook their “heartbroken” daughter up with him- even to the point of inviting him to their church, and of course the Internet explosion when Evangelicals realized that he threw for 316 yards last week. OMG (gosh, for the record) Tebow threw for 316 yards. 3 16, as in John 3:16, get it? OMGOMGOMGOMG!!!!!!

Simply put, we are running the risk of turning Tim Tebow into an idol. (a must-read IMHO)

But isn’t it interesting he threw for 316 yards last week? That phenomenon lead to Google searches of John 3:16 to skyrocket, just as they did when he wore the scripture in eyeblack during his BCS title game a couple of years ago. But does it mean anything? Does it mean God’s hand is miraculously holding up the lame ducks Tim Tebow throws 50 yards downfield? Does it mean God is rooting for Tebow to succeed? (And before you point out his three game losing streak, let me point out that Jesus rose from the dead after three days. I’m not sayin’, just sayin’)

I think it just means God has a sense of humor.

First up, the infamous Saturday Night Live skit, which I think is hilarious:

Then this spoof on Hitler’s reaction to Tebow’s win (ironically the first time I saw this re-subtitled was after a Steeler win, and proof that every Internet argument eventually ends with someone invoking Hitler.)

Like I said, I think God has a sense of humor and Tebow 316 is proof of that. Also consider that he completed ten passes out of twenty one, or 10/21. Let’s look into what seems to be Tim Tebow’s favorite Gospel, John: “But others said, ‘These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?‘” (John 10:21) Or to paraphrase, “These are not the wins of a bad quarterback, can a bad quarterback pass for over 300 yards against the league’s best defense?”

So what does this all mean? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! No go in peace to watch football objectively, loving and serving the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Do I Know You?

Frank

On one of my recent business trips I was returning from Washington, DC and waiting in line on the jetway when I started small talk with the person next to me. He was a big guy and looked pretty young. We were talking about the weather in LA when I asked him what he was going out there for. “Oh, I’m going to go work out, work on my game” he replied. Since he looked so young, and it was that time of year, I figured it might have been a workout for a school. “Nah,” he laughed, “I’m in the NBA, I play for the Washington Wizards.” Now feeling foolish I try and backpeddle, “Oh, I don’t watch too much of the pros. I’m more a college hoops fan.” And realizing I was digging myself further into a hole, I changed subject to the NBA lockout which was still going on at the time. Then the line started to move, we got on board, wished each other well, and took our seats; his in first class of course. But before we parted ways I noticed his bags were monogramed with JW. So once in my seat I quickly did a Google search of JW Washington Wizards before the flight attendant could stop me and throw me in a cell with Alec Baldwin.

Now there are a couple of things wrong with the story above. First, my description of “young”. Ok, so this “kid” was 20 at the time. But my excuse of being a college hoops fan didn’t help my cause. Because JW for the Washington Wizards was none other than John Wall, first overall draft pick in the 2010 NBA draft, and arguably the best player in college basketball that year. And it’s not like he played for some obscure school either; he played for the Kentucky Wildcats, one of college basketball’s elite powerhouses. So of course I did a facepalm there in my seat and vowed if I saw him as we were getting off the plane, I would apologize and try and get my story straight.

You see, the problem was I was standing right next to one of the best basketball players in the world and I didn’t know it. But if he had told me his name I could have spouted off stats, key plays, and otherwise acted like I knew what I was talking about. I knew about John Wall, but I didn’t know John Wall.

Does that describe your relationship with Jesus? Do you know a lot about Jesus without actually knowing Him? That is the topic of chapter 3 of Kyle Idleman’s book Not a Fan, “knowledge about him or intimacy with him?” Kyle uses the example of the Pharisee in Luke 7 who invites Jesus over for dinner, yet doesn’t even acknowledge him as a guest. The irony, Kyle points out, is that this man has spent his life studying the scriptures and likely had all the messianic prophecies memorized, but he couldn’t recognize the Messiah sitting right in front of him. I am reminded of this verse:

“You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” (John 5:39-40)

Further, Kyle suggests that our church culture actually encourages knowledge without intimacy. Consider:

We love having Bible studies, many of which include some kind of workbook. We go through a Bible curriculum that often has homework. Sermons are often accompanied by an outline where members can take notes and fill in the blanks. Many preachers refer to their sermons as a lesson or a lecture. If you grew up in the church, then you probably went to Sunday school, where you had a teacher. In the summer you may have gone to Vacation Bible School. Maybe you even competed in Bible Bowl competitions, all of which are won or lost depending on how much biblical knowledge you’ve accumulated and how fast you can raise your hand or hit a button. (pg 44)

The other night at Midweek we had a trivia competition. I love these, but mostly because I usually do really well. It is so bad (and yes, I said bad) that if we picked teams, I know a lot of people would pick to be on mine (which is completely different than kickball, but I digress). There are a handful of us at church who are usually the last ones standing and that night was no exception. In the end it came down to two of us, and I walked away victorious because I was able to figure out a trick math question. Of course, Jesus doesn’t care about any of that. And that scares me.

I confess I know a lot about Jesus and I know a lot about the Bible. But I have to honestly assess myself and ask how intimately I really know Jesus. One of my greatest fears is to reach the end of my life and hear Jesus say, “I never knew you, away from me you evildoer!” (Matthew 7:23) Most of us would rather hear Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21, 23) Yet doesn’t Jesus tell his disciples “I no longer call you servants… instead I have called you friends…” (John 15:15) Isn’t that the level of intimacy we want to have with Jesus and He with us? Can you honestly describe your relationship with Jesus that way?

Evildoer. Servant. Or friend. What will Jesus call you? Or will he call you “just a fan”?

This post continues my series blogging through the book, Not A Fan by Kyle Idleman. I encourage you to follow along by clicking on the Not A Fan label to the right. And I urge you to pick up a copy of this book for yourself.