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I've read Barna's "Revolution". Today, he wrote about how these revolutionaries stand out from the crowd.
Am I a revolutionary? I don't think so. But I feel God is calling our whole family to become so. Bummer. That means, I'm going to have to live by faith and actually do something sacrificial with my life. But I like stressing out over building bigger churches and better services...no I don't. I don't mind the stress and the work, but there's something more - Missional, faith-living, integrating faith and daily life.
According to Barna, these are the characteristics of a Revolutionary:
“Revolutionaries” were classified on the basis of meeting 11 specific criteria.
1. They have a clear sense of the meaning and purpose of their life;
2. Describe their relationship with and faith in God as the top priority in their life;
3. Consider themselves to be "Christian";
4. Read the Bible regularly;
5. Pray regularly;
6. Deem their faith to be very important in their life;
7. Contend that the main objective in their life is to love God with all their heart, mind, strength and soul;
8. Describe God as the "all-knowing, all-powerful being who created the universe and still rules it today";
9. Have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is important in their life today;
10. Believe that when they die they will go to heaven only because they have confessed their sins and accepted Jesus Christ as their savior;
11. And say that their faith in Christ has "greatly transformed" their life."
Who are these people? Are they Pentecostals? Lutheran? Baptists? Nahhh...do they live in huts and beneath bridges? Are they Europeans, White? Are they Latinos and African Americans? Do they raise support and live out of vans and visit people's homes? Do they have a savings account and life insurance? Do they financially support their families in Nicaragua? Do they live in third world countries?
Who are these people?
I think last night I met two revolutionaries. They used to do what I do, worship arts at a comfy church in Northern California. They're White, suburbian, GenX yuppies, in their early 30's, married three years, no children. They look very 'un-revolutionary'. When I first met them I thought, "Where is the mini-van?"
But they left their comfy church a few years ago, and now they live in a bus with 18 orphan children singing in churches raising awareness and support for the "Forgotten Children" of Northern Uganda. They're a part of "Children of the World" and "World Help." CRAZY!! Last night they performed at a church in Bellflower and my wife and I and our three children and sister in law, went to see them. Very moving stuff.
Am I supposed to take our three little ones and my wife on a bus and direct children's choirs for "World Help"? I don't think so. But it sure hits close to home. Worship Arts, big church, left for this missional, revolutionary life. CRAZY!!
Lord, you know my gifts, you know my wife and our children. Guide us Lord, help us to partner with the leader you have for us that will challenge us to live this missional life you've called us to.
Yes, I know I can do that in my neighborhood, and we are. But I'm talking about a career path for ther next 20 years of our lives. The local church is always on my mind, it's my base, worship, the Body, relationships and growth. But there's something more in me, something missional, global.
What would that look like for us?
1. Worship Pastor at a local church, where 50% of my time is spent creating worship environments and equipping leaders
2. The other 50% of my time would be spent in missional activities. Partnering with an evangelist and equipping leaders and building the Body world wide. I would start with my own in Nicaragua and then to wherever God leads - Russia, India, Philippines.
I want to serve togetehr with my wife and children, to see my wife use her gifts of teaching and mentoring women and for our children to see their parent's faith lived out in real struggles, but with real joys.
So are you a Revolutionary? My guess is most would say yes, in our work, church, daily activities, church staff, homes. Most would say EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD BE A REVOLUTIONARY. Yes, I know, but I'm not living this kind of lifestyle, even though I'm in seminary, work at a church and read my Bible every day. There must be more than this. If I'm honest with myself, I'm not living the life of a Revolutionary. There's something more to my faith than what I'm currently doing. And I have a feeling it means surrendering more of myself to Jesus and His Kingdom.
Have a great day.
Into the future,
davidT
