Wednesday 9 May 2007

Starving Jesus - Part 1


I've been reading this very challenging book recently. It's called Starving Jesus and is written by Craig Gross and J.R. Mahon (both of xxxchurch.com fame).


The book addresses many issues that New Community Church has been focusing on addressing since January when all the recent changes were brought in, and I have found it very useful:


The two authors start by saying that there is a conversation that is heard, whispered by many christians, all around the world. The conversation generally starts with questions like:


"Where is the love?", "Why are we stuck in the pews?", "Why is Sunday the only time we see christians?" and "Why is everyone such a hypocrite?"


Every now and again someone stands up and says "Church sucks, let's get out of here and make a real difference." They are usually silenced or ostracised by the masses of comfortable christians surrounding them. I am trying not to be one of those comfortable Christians, happy to go to church on Sunday, and then forget about Him for the rest of the week. I have been getting better at this. I find that most weeks I manage to talk to God most days, and that makes such a big difference to the way I see others, but I am by no means perfect (as most of you are well aware!) and sometimes I find I have a week where I become my main focus. I can only promise I'm working on this...


Anyhow, The book goes on to say that, as a whole, christians run from sin. We are not at ease talking about sex, drugs, alcohol. We don't like to admit that there is cheating, lying and stealing going on all around us. And because we won't talk about it, most of us don't do anything about it.


I have had conversations with people about all the different people I deal with in my work as a police officer. I meet rapists, drug dealers, prostitutes and robbers. I meet drug addicts and alcoholics, and I'd like to think that, although I am seen by them as the enemy, I try to treat them like Jesus would (although still doing my job, which may well involve arresting them...), but tat is not the point. When I speak to people about them, so often I hear people say "All they need is Jesus." I've never seen them out on the streets...


Are we having too many Bible Studies? Are we having too many Worship Services? Are we too busy telling each other how much we love each other and not taking that love out the building?


1 John 3v18-19 says: "Dear children, let us stop just saying we love each other, let us really show it by our actions. It is by our actions that we know we are living in the truth..."


My actions show I am not always living in the truth. At home I am often selfish. I often watch television and let my wife run around clearing up, using the excuse "I go out to work, she doesn't" I know I'm wrong every time I say it. I often play guitar in the bathroom when the children are in the bath, just so I can say I helped bath them, when actually, Becky is the one who washes them, gets them in and out, dries them and then gets them ready for bed. I am trying to change my ways.


The authors of the book say that we, as christians, should do "anything short of sin" to take Jesus to the world. This means that maybe we should be leaving the building behind, leaving the Bible studies, leaving the music and stepping out where no one has been before. Jesus did everything but sin to show his Love.


He served Humanity by giving His life and all He asks is for us to do the same for Him. Are you honouring His actions? All He wants is for us to grab the people around us and serve them, in any way possible.


Are working for Him or for our own ends? We don't need to be super spiritual to serve Him. We don't need a theological degree or a leader's role to serve Him. We are all the same in His eyes. We ALL fall short of His glory. His glory. Not ours.


On that point, so often we work so hard to show everyone what good christians we are, how together we are, instead of admitting our brokenness and sin to one another and then getting on with salvation!


Paul always encourages me on this point. Paul, ie Saint Paul, admits openly to his fellow christians in Roman 7 vv14-20 that he is a sinful man. "I sold into slavery, with sin as my master" he says. "I really want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead I do the very thing I hate." He goes on to say "No matter which way I turn, I can't make myself do right"


Imagine that kind of honesty in church? Imagine the church leaders standing up in front of the church and openly admitting that they have a problem with greed, pornography, alcohol or lust. Think how much freer we would be to serve others if we didn't have to work so hard to keep up the veneer of the perfect christian.


We are here to serve. We are here to be His body. Let's not forget that.


It reminds me of a song by Casting Crowns. The chorus says:


"But if we are the body

why aren't his arms reaching?

why aren't his hands healing?

why aren't his words teaching?

and if we are the body

why aren't his feet going?

why is his love not showing them there is a way?"

I know it's been a bit rambly, but hopefully, I've managed to explain roughly what the book's first chapter has helped me think about.
You can download the whole of the first chapter of the book at www.starvingjesus.com if you would like to read more...
See you all soon.

4 comments:

Mark Robins said...

Excellent words, Alex :-)

Becky Boxall said...

Awww. I love you! ;)

revolution said...

how did you get your hands on the book? i thought it hadn't been released yet?

REVOLUTION

Alex Boxall said...

I can't remember if I bought the book from xxxchurch.com or from starvingjesus.com... I'm still looking forward to the DVD though. I don't think that's been released yet...