Luke Parrott

The Christian Life is a Race to the Bottom

If the American Dream involves climbing the ladder of success and running the rat race, then the Kingdom of God is a climb down the ladder and a race to the bottom of the barrel.

Let Jesus explain this a bit more.

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

"...Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things (what you eat, drink, or wear) will be given to you as well." (parentheses mine)

Jesus is beginning to close out his infamous "Sermon on the Mount".  He has flipped everything upside down as he addresses how to change a broken world and make it right.  The blessed ones are the poor, the humble, the merciful, the persecuted.  He addresses replacing anger with forgiveness, replacing lust and divorce with respect and honor, replacing lies with truth, replacing retaliation with love.  He urges us to give to the needy, to pray for his kingdom to come, to fast in secret.  Not to store up wealth and possessions.

And by this time, the follower should be quite uncomfortable.  (If you're really listening to what he is implying.)

You begin to get the sense that Jesus is turning everything on it's head.  Flipping everything upside down.  To put it quite frankly, you begin to think that Jesus wants to ruin your life.

He does.

His way is not the way of the American Dream. 

His way is not the way of the world. 

His way is not what you would plan.

His way is wayward...in our eyes.

Jesus picks up on this enough to know that something needs to be said about the direction you are headed when you choose to follow him.  Yes, it seems backwards.  Yes, it is counter intuitive.  But if you choose to travel his way, you need to know something.  He will take care of you.  You need not worry.  The one who looks after the birds of the air and lilies in a field can certainly take care of you!

I wonder if you honestly believe that to be true.

Because you will have to if you choose to follow Jesus.  His path is a climb down the ladder.  His race moves to the bottom, not the top.  Something here has to give.  You can not climb the ladder and race your way to the top if you're with Jesus. 

The American Dream collides with the Kingdom of God.  Which way will you choose to go? 

Up or Down?

Just know that if you choose to climb down, he's going to take care of you.  He won't shatter your dreams in the process.  He will actually bring them to completion--in a way you never dreamed possible.

The Christian Life is a race to the bottom.

Hold My Hand

Sometimes I get in a drought with my reading of the Bible.  I usually try to meet with the Lord every morning for about 20 minutes or more.  I read, pray, journal notes on scripture. 

I like to mix it up.  Not get stuck in a rut.  Too much repetition turns my faith stale.  Sometimes a morning walk is better for me and Jesus then reading his Word.  Other times I need to just dig deep into truth.  Sometimes fellowship with another believer is the encouragement God wants to use to speak to me.  It's always different.

I'm at a stale point right now.  I don't know what I want to read/study.  I need something to hold my hand for a little while.  Often I will use a book to help lead me into scripture.  Sometimes a "bible study guide" type book works. But rarely.  Those often find me only gleaning from scripture what the author wants me to see.  I prefer self discovery.  And the Holy Spirit doing his own thing in me.

I know my christian life isn't all about "quiet times".  Jesus didn't endorse it.  But he did know how to sneak away and be with his Father.  It's not about checking it off the list.  When I like a girl, I don't just check her off the list.  I just want to be with her each day.  Same thing with Jesus.

There's nothing 'holy' about the guy who hasn't missed a quiet time in 3 years.  That worries me.  His faith could easily be too intellectual or legalistic.  We need to be consistent but also organic. 

Let your faith move, grow, change, blossom today.  Don't stick to the norm.  Know you will go stale at times.  Then it's time to have someone hold your hand.  That's where I am today.

I'm Willing to Follow Jesus Up to a Point

Yesterday, I went over to Denver Seminary to hear Tony Campolo speak.  His words certainly did not tickle my ears.  Which is usually the case when you hear someone speak about Jesus. 

He spoke about the difference between power and authority.  How often we can assume a position of power and lose all authority with people.  How Jesus spoke with authority which was way more influential than the Pharisees who had the power (Matthew 7:29).

He spoke of how the Jesus follower does not pursue power but servitude.  He does not ask 'How can I be #1?", but "How can I become the least?"

He spoke of how easily we are seduced by the idea of power.  We seek positions.  We climb the ladder.  We beef up our resumes.  We try to get that higher education.  It adds to our credentials.  We try to build authority through power.  But Jesus built authority through love.  Through sacrifice.

Too many of us are willing to follow Jesus only up to a point.  We love what Jesus says to a point.  But very few of us are willing to go beyond that point.

It's what I am chewing on today.  Where have I come up short?

Tony spoke about Jesus.  And he spoke to me.  Click on this link below and download the talk.  Throw it on your ipod and listen to it in your car this week.  It will help you further understand what it means to be a follower of Jesus...And it won't tickle your ears.

Tony Campolo's Sermon, Power and Authority