When I say the word "epidemic", what images or thoughts come to your mind? There are, perhaps, many different things that you might think of. I would think the most common notion that might come to mind would be something having to do with a highly contagious disease of some sort. And if you checked out the dictionary, this would be the first definition that came up. But "epidemic" has a wider meaning that is more helpful to us here. Other definitions talk about a rapid spreading, growth, or development - the operative words being first "rapid" which characterizes the action and then "spreading" and its synonyms which denote what action is taking place. An example of an epidemic we may all remember is what happened in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Generally, we saw first an epidemic of fear as we all wondered what had happened and what was going to happen. Not too long after that we saw an even greater epidemic of patriotism as Americans decided what their response would be to this attack on our nation. We see this latter epidemic evidenced by not only the sale of American flags but, even more importantly, how politics, culture, and even sports seemed to pause and acknowledge that something more significant was happening. Partisan politics were put aside, MTV put all their sexual and frivolous programming on hold, and sports took the weekend off.
With a clearer understanding of what an epidemic is in a more general sense, I can use a lighter example to elaborate further. Moving to Blacksburg, VA in the fall 1996, I was already a fan of football from years of growing up in Redskin country. But in Blacksburg, I learned the difference between a passing interest in football and a passion for Hokie football. Home games would turn this simple, southwest Virginian college town into a rabid, screaming, raging throng of humanity bent on Hokie world domination. Roads shut down and every green piece of grass becomes a parking lot. And as Metallica begins to blare out of the stadium speakers, 60,000 people in unison start jumping up and down and begin a chant of screaming and yelling sustained for the next three hours nonstop. If you are a football fan, this is absolute paradise, but the point is it doesn't matter if were a fan or not. You can't help but get caught up in the excitement flowing around you.
So now with that image in your head, let me finally ask you a question - have you ever met a Christian that was so excited about God that it made you want to know more about him? In my experience I've met plenty of Christians that genuinely love God with all their heart, but most of this love is manifest in a solemn obedience that could be characterized as "happy" but rarely rises to the level of "excited". A couple of weeks ago I called this the "dim life".
So does this mean that God is boring or the people that follow him? I'd tend toward the latter. Even a casual reading of Genesis or John will show that God is a wild man and that following him (read Acts) is anything but boring. Jesus came to demonstrate to us a quality of life that shines with an excitement that catches peoples' attention and draws them to God. Jesus put it this way when he talked about our lives:
You are the light of the world--like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. - Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)
After years and years, Christians still are under the impression that we can bagger or legislate this world into coming to Christ - we hoped that would work because that's the easy way! For all of our well formed arguments and clever slogans, it is the passionate practice of the Gospel, and that alone, that will inspire an epidemic of excitement about Christ to sweep across our world. Because most times it's not their questions that they find are unanswerable but the answers that they find unacceptable. But finding something hard to believe does not by that virtue alone make it inherently untrue. Ultimately, it must and will be our practice that they find irresistible.
For one can only debate the concept of light until the sunrise - so shine!
1 comment :
Indeed, I shall comment! This idea of being excited about being part of God's family is one of the things people lack. I've noticed a few, and would like to find a faith that huge to call it excitement. It's kinda hard to put it into perspective when you think day in and day out these people see the world as a chance to do something sweet for God, or to have God do something sweet through them. I have a tendency to want it, but not quite enough to call it excitement. But maybe it's just because I'm tired right now from work. Being tired (or some other similar feeling) is an easy way to let Satan do his rat bastard work. And he'll freakin' do it, so you better be steadfast, and being excited about God seems to be one of the best defenses a person can have.
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