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“History again and again reveals to us that we are less likely to do good when we perceive ourselves a part of a larger crowd than if we make the choice standing alone. When we are in a crowd, we are more prone toward acts of evil or at least compliance to evil. For some reason the civilized can rationalize apathy and feel themselves absolved from personal responsibility. Good needs to be done, but someone else will take care of it.”
Boy, isn’t that the truth. You could do a little research and find this simple truth in social psychology, in the church, or in America in general.
As Jesus ended his time with the disciples he gave them a very simple command: “go and make disciples” (Matthew 28:18-20). What will it take for you to take personal responsibility for making disciples where you are?
Can you imagine if half of the people in your Crusade movement or local church suddenly decided that they were personally going to obey this command? What would this look like? I imagine it would mean that people would have to stop going to potlucks because they are instead having their neighbors over for lunch on Sunday. I think it would mean that people would worry a whole lot less about programs and instead start worrying about people whom they have relationships with who don’t have a relationship with God.
You see, when we start to think about reaching every student at _____ College I believe we’re starting to think like Jesus. I believe that Jesus has a heart for every tribe, tongue, nation, and people. But, here’s a newsflash: you aren’t going to reach every student at your college with a meeting.
“But we’ll get a better band.”
Nope, they’re not coming…not all of them at least.
“But we’ll try harder.”
Nope, they’re not coming…not all of them at least.
“Maybe we’ll facebook everyone at our school…”
Listen, if they didn’t come to a meeting to see God in the flesh they’re sure aren’t going to come to your meeting. Jesus said he came to seek and to save the lost…who’s doing the movement in that statement?
Students will be reached when you and a couple of your friends get together and make a commitment to God and each other to live in the Spirit and make disciples of those whom he puts in your path…and then start moving. This might mean that you’re spending time in your suite-mates room talking about the divorce that his parents are going through instead of spending time at band practice.
What will it take for you to step out of the majority; out of the anonymity of the crowd and into your unique calling to bring light to dark places on campus? What will it take?
1 comment:
Ha Ha! That's so funny...I've seen the American President about 20 times! I love the end when Shepherd steps to the podium and delivers the goods. It's like he's been in the ring for a few rounds and now he's just decided to start throwing punches - how's that for a spiritual analogy for you?
Another movie that's along these lines is Lord of the Rings...I'm not sure if this part was in the theatrical movie, but it's in the extended edition for sure:
The hobits have just gotten word that the trees won't be going to battle with them when events change and the trees begin to 'wake up'. Gandalf says, "something is happening that hasn't happened since the elder years: they trees will awake and discover they are strong".
This is a great analogy for what i hope is happening within the church - people who have grown up in the church and are saturated with Biblical knowledge will awaken to the fact that they have a part to play in advancing the Kingdom. They will discover their strength and use it in context of the mission that Jesus gave.
In the movie, the trees come to life and destroy the enemy as they retreat.
I would bet that there are enough people who call themselves Christians at Wayne State College that if they all decided tomorrow that they were going to (in the power of the Spirit) put the gospel within arms-reach of every student on campus the mission would be accomplished. The problem comes in the fact that 1)people aren't leading spirit-filled lives and 2)they lose the mission amongst other concerns that crowd in on them (i.e. does everyone like me right now, how does the band sound, what kind of new video equipment would make our weekly meeting better...)
-Ethan
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