The
Problem:
What
does it mean to live differently? That is the question I have for you. In a world
where everyone strives together towards being “unique” resulting in one large
mess of not really all that unique, how do we as Christians stand out as being
different? Do we stand on the rooftops proclaiming the coming day of judgment?
Do we hold the message we have inside us and merely exude Christ through our
actions? Or does it maybe go a little bit deeper than that? I will spend the
first part of this article explaining the problem we have as believers in this
modern, ever-changing society, and, God willing, we will then work towards a
solution to this problem.
Westboro Baptist Church. Heard of
it? Well if you haven’t than you probably know someone who has. Maybe it will
jog your memory if I mention the fact that this church has taken the most
radical steps towards confronting homosexuality in the United States in the
past few years. They employ various tactics, but the one they are the most
famous for is their classic picket sign holding conventions around town. These
signs say things that I would rather not repeat in this setting, but quite
honestly it is sad. To give you an idea I will simply say that they have the
guts to say God hates people who claim a homosexual lifestyle.
Now contrast that with any number of
churches that take the completely opposite approach in their battle against the
sin of our society. Rather than confront the social vices, they stay inside their
church and quietly warm their pews whilst simply soaking in several sermons
each week. No real action is taken, prayer being the exception. Now I do not
want to downplay prayer. I also do not want to put down these churches that
tend towards a more passive approach towards the issues of our country today.
So there you have it. Two radically
different church settings that are very much present in today’s United States.
So which way is the right way? Aggressive? Passive? Both? Neither? I believe
the answer lies not within the church per say, but rather in the individual
minds of each believer in each church throughout this world. Notice that I said
world this time. Reason being that the body of Christ is global, and the issues
we experience here in the United States are not altogether unique.
The
Solution:
Alright so now it is time to dive
headfirst into our solution. I am going to do this by simply giving you my
opinion on this matter and surrounding it with Scripture. The overall basis for
my solution is probably already understood seeing as it is the title of this
article. Life lived with a Resurrection mentality. What may not be understood,
however, is just how powerful this type of a mentality can be. The following
section of this article will explain three ways in which a Resurrection
mentality should transform the mind of a believer.
The first thing that I believe that
should result from having a Resurrection mentality is an opening of our eyes.
We need to realize that we are living in a world suffering from the effects of
sin and death. We are surrounded by people that have the potential to live
lives worthy of Christ’s call but are so lost in the darkness this world
embraces that they see no way out. A song called “Give me your eyes” by Brandon
Heath properly captures this spirit when he says, “Give me your eyes for just
one second, give me your eyes so I can see. Everything that I keep missing,
give me your love for humanity.”
Jesus Christ lived in a day in age
where sin was every bit as prevalent as it is in 2012. The Creator of the
universe was surrounded by a disease that was not in fact part of His original
creation, and yet instead of openly judging those around Him, He loved them
instead. John 7:53-8:11 contains one of the best examples of this type of love
as it tells the story of a woman caught in adultery. Upon the scribes and
Pharisees testing Jesus by throwing the law in his face (the law called for the
woman’s death) Jesus seemingly calmly replied, “Let him who is without sin be
the first to throw a stone at her” (8:7b ESV). The Jewish leaders sink away
from Jesus upon hearing this and Jesus and the woman are left alone. Even in
their privacy Jesus does not judge the woman, but instead says, “Neither do I
condemn you, go and from now on sin no more” (8:11b ESV).
In application I do not believe the
actions that churches such as Westboro incorporate are in any way biblical.
Jesus did not call us to hate sinners! He called us to hate the sin and love
the sinner in a way that will show them the love our Savior freely gives! If we
are living with a Resurrection mentality than this is something that will come naturally
as we will see the people of this world in the same way Jesus did. As lost sheep. “And I have other sheep
that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my
voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father
loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again” (John
10:16-17 ESV).
The second thing that should come as
a result of Resurrection mentality is a sense of urgency. When Jesus Christ
gave his disciples the commission in chapter 28 of Matthew he did not say to go
and preach the Gospel when it was convenient, but rather he said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit…” (Matthew 28:18 ESV). He said go! As in take action now! There is
a world of lost sheep helplessly lost without their shepherd and it is our job
to be the light that guides them back!
In application I believe that the
believers that choose the passive approach are also a bit off when it comes to
their evangelistic strategy. It is easy to sit back and be comfortable with
life. I understand that because I often find myself in that same mindset. What
we need, however, is to act like the transformed beings that we are. “Do not be
conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that
by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable
and perfect” (Romans 12:2 ESV).
The
Conclusion:
The
Resurrection means everything to me. It is the very foundation on which my
faith is built, and without it my faith is futile. There is simply nothing more
to it than that. So by that logic it is my responsibility to live with a
Resurrection mentality. It is my job to open my eyes to the hurt that this
world has been exposed to as a result of sin, and to kindle a fire in my heart
consumes every last bit of apathy towards the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is
time to step out in complete and total obedience and realize that I am far from
alone in this quest.
“It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the
Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy
Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all
Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:7).
