Use Words

Saint Francis of Assisi said "Preach the Gospel at all times. And when necessary, use words."

It's a cute saying. And it's true. Actions do speak louder than words. We can have all the right words but if our own actions don't line up with what we are saying we're just wasting our breath.

Francis' saying, however, is becoming an overused Christian cliche. The problem with Christian cliches is that they are scriptural sounding phrases that end up trumping scripture and are all too often slapped on the wrong situations or are just flat out wrong. Like anybody's words, when taken out of context they can do more damage than good. 

Francis wasn't saying to never open our mouths when sharing the Gospel with people. He said "when necessary, use words." Jesus used words. A lot of words. Words inspired by the Holy Spirit. And it was Good News to the hearer. 

I'm telling you, if you want to share your faith, if you want to share the Gospel with people, you will have to use words. Just as Jesus said "when you fast" and not "if you fast," He's implying you will fast. In Francis' case, "when necessary use words" means it's necessary; you are going to have to open your mouth.

"In fact, it says, 'The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.' And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, 'Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.' Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For 'Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.' But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, 'How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!' But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, 'LORD, who has believed our message?' So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ." (Romans 10:8-17 NLT)

There are other times when your voice is needed: 

AGAINST INJUSTICE

“Speak up for the people who have no voice, for the rights of all the down-and-outers. Speak out for justice! Stand up for the poor and destitute!” (Proverbs 31:8-9 MSG)

FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS SAKE

"Your job is to speak out on the things that make for solid doctrine. Guide older men into lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance. Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don’t want anyone looking down on God’s Message because of their behavior. Also, guide the young men to live disciplined lives." (Titus 2:1-7 MSG)

And how can anyone hear anything of this unless it is spoken to them? Use words. It's necessary.

American Jesus

When thinking of Jesus, one has to consciously look at Him outside their own culture. It shouldn't be too hard because Jesus was, afterall, Jewish. But we seem to default to our worldview and hold that lense up to our Savior, snap a picture, and then show it to others. "This is Jesus." I take a look at the Jesus in the Gospels and compare Him to Americanized Jesus and it becomes very clear that they are not the same man. 

Jesus of the Gospels healed the sick, turned over the money changers tables in the temple, played with children, told the self-righteous they were a brood of vipers--all in the name of love. Jewish Jesus was relentless in compassion while unwavering in truth. The same Jesus who said "Ye without sin, cast the first stone," (John 8:7) was the same Jesus who said to His devoted follower "get behind me, Satan" (Matthew 16:23). He was Truth in Love Incarnant, the Rock of Offense (Romans 9:33) and the Lamb of God who takes away the world's sin (John 1:29) all wrapped up in one man. 

American Jesus is a stark contrast. He fits very snugly into our cultural view of tolerance. We have formed a Jesus of half truths so He's easier to swallow. American Jesus' is widely received, makes us feel good, and is more fun to share with people. American Jesus does not offend anyone and shows love by doing good and accepting others. American Jesus is put up and shut up. And so should we, because we are His followers, afterall. 

Jesus wasn't American, so we need to quit painting Him in this skewed light. If our friends get saved by a false Jesus we share with them, what good is that? As uncomfortable as it might make you feel, the Jewish Jesus of the Gospels who was crucified because He was hated is who we are called to be like, not the laid back, unconfrontational, popular Jesus of our culture. Jesus wasn't well received every single place He went and some people tore their clothes in anguish when He spoke because He upset their lazy, legalistic, auto-pilot, religious attempts on being "in" with Him. He didn't put up with exclusivity. He wasn't political or culturally sensitive. And He came to bring a sword. 

If we are going to follow the Jesus of the Gospels and not who our culture says He is, it means we are going to have to be ok with being mistreated like Him, being mocked like Him. We should count it joy to get to experience what our Savior went through because we are chasing the greatest calling--to be like Him. 

To be like Him, we are going to have to get real with people if we say we love them. We are going to have to stand out as we take a stand against evil and injustice. We're going to have to look intolerant to the rest of our culture because we don't have a warped view of love in an idea of grace that equals acceptance without repentance. Jesus' love wasn't one-sided, all mush and no push. Because He loved, He challenged the stagnant. Because He loved, He didn't remain neutral. Because He loved, He acted. Because He loved, He corrected. Because He loved, He spoke up.

Jesus said, “When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don’t quit. Don’t cave in. It is all well worth it in the end." (Matthew 10:21-22 MSG)

When I'm pondering this walk of faith and I'm tempted to let up on the passion a bit, the Holy Spirit quickens me that time is short and He means business. Any representation of Christ that comes down the pike claiming to be more socially acceptable--run for your life. Jesus wasn't a crowd pleaser, so don't expect to fit in.

The American Jesus might win more converts, but converts to what? If we are inviting people to join us the invitation should include "come and die." Jesus was never concerned about how many votes He would get; He was most concerned about the heart. Let's open our eyes and not be deceived by the enemy's tactics on getting us to water-down Jesus--our Savior, Who never did that Himself.

A Cup Of Water

"You can be sure that whoever gives even a drink of cold water to one of the least of these my followers because he is my follower, will certainly receive a reward.” (Matthew 10:42 GNT)

What is a cup of cold water worth? The significance might seem minuscule. It's just water. And it's only one cup, it's not like you dug a well or something. They are just going to get thirsty again. What's the point?

To the thirsty, a cup of water is life. To the dirty it's renewal. To the destitute it's hope. To the overlooked it's love. 

What we take for granted everyday because we can simply run the tap or turn the cap is most precious to others who have to walk miles upon miles for a bucket full of runoff that isn't barely worth the trek. 

Do not sneer at cup of water--literally or metaphorically--you or anyone else gives in the name of the Lord.

"While Jesus was eating, a woman came in with an alabaster jar full of a very expensive perfume made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on Jesus' head. Some of the people there became angry and said to one another, 'What was the use of wasting the perfume? It could have been sold for more than three hundred silver coins and the money given to the poor!' And they criticized her harshly." (Mark 14:3-5 GNT)

It may make more sense on paper for this woman to have honored Jesus in a "bigger" way with her gift by selling it and giving the money to the poor. Do you think the Lord would have still have been pleased and glorified if she had decided to do that instead? Of course He would have! Both scenarios can glorify the Lord. 

"But Jesus said, 'Leave her alone! Why are you bothering her? She has done a fine and beautiful thing for me...She did what she could...'" (Mark 14:6, 8 GNT). 

The point that Jesus was making to the onlookers is this: "Get your critical eye off your sister who's serving Me." The pharisaic heart will always fault-find, always knit-pick under the guise of being super-spiritual and in-the-right when they are harboring hatred, jealousy, and self-righteousness. Being critical over something done in the name of God fails to understand that the service or act is done unto the Lord, so His opinion trumps all others in the matter and He's not looking to us for a nod of approval.

The devil has set a bear-trap for a child of God to fall into the death jaws of comparison. The lie that sinks one into that trap is thinking we are somehow serving the Lord better than so-and-so or such-and-such. We end up arrogantly standing before Him sneering at other offerings being brought. We feel justified in our opinionated evaluations of others and might use scripture to back it up but in actuality we have joined chorus with the Accuser: "That's not good enough," "You're not making a difference," "What's the point?" And with pride in our heart--pride, the very thing that cast the devil from the Heavenlies and God's presence--we have become blinded to the true tactic of the enemy, which is division. Jesus said “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand" (Matthew 12:25 NIV). 

It is truly beautiful when we each uniquely honor the Lord with the gifts and callings He has given us! We should be celebrating the the acts of love--no matter how small or big we think it is--that our brothers sisters do in His name. We should not be tearing apart any service unto Him because it's not what we would've done. A cup of water might not be a big deal to you but unto the Lord it is a most precious gift that pleases the Father. We are to be a unified front against the enemy, not joining his ranks and doing his dirty work from the inside, comparing and criticizing when we should be honoring and lifting one another up. Let's keep our eyes on our Audience of One Who loves us dearly. We are one Bride, His beloved.

Repeat these basic essentials over and over to God’s people. Warn them before God against pious nitpicking, which chips away at the faith. It just wears everyone out. Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple. Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk. Words are not mere words, you know. If they’re not backed by a godly life, they accumulate as poison in the soul. Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God. (2 Timothy 2:14-16 MSG)