#2 what in the world are we doing?

Disclaimer: This is an attempt to jot down broad thoughts from the Passion 2011 conference. This by no means contains complete arguments for any one of these points. Those can be found in the Bible and from resources found at the 268 Store.

Over 22,000 people gathered in Atlanta

First thought from Passion 2011:

What in the world are we doing? Many things are on my mind while I sit here in my hotel room at the Passion conference, but nothing more than that one simple question. It doesn't have a simple answer.

I just heard David Platt (author of Radical) speak and it was like a shot to the chest. Boom. Shock. Pain. Sorrow. You're dead. He was challenging those in the audience to know who Jesus really is. Do you? Do you know the Jesus you follow? Or are you following after a song, a culture, a creation of your own mind and will? These are the thoughts one has as one sits with two other friends and sorrowfully removes the pieces of the bullet from one's chest after hearing the Radical challenge.

If you work or serve in ministry, this should perk up your ears. Take some time to read through the New Testament stories of the life and ministry of Jesus. Tell me if you ever read about Jesus leading/incorporating/promoting the following in his leadership of the crowds:

• Trying to have the most rockin music, coolest duds, slickest hairdo, and prettiest building in order to make it easy for the target demographic to exalt God more heartily
• Being sensitive to those who would pick and choose what to give up in order to follow Jesus
• Rewarding random attendees with gifts because they simply showed up to hear him speak
• Entertaining the crowds with games, jokes, pop music, and brand names in order that they might like the message or leader
• Printing his disciples' faces on the news bulletins and walls of the temple
• Developing programs that promote a sub-logo or sub-brand more than the Gospel that somehow also rival and compete with other churches, as if they are not all one Church anyway

I did not find anything like that.

We do read about Jesus doing these things:

• Healing the sick
• Comforting the weak and needy
• Rebuking the wrong
• Teaching everyone...from rulers to fishermen
• Defining "Christian"
• Changing lives
• Being humble to the point of death...even death on a cross

Read this book
(and the Bible!)

Aren't we supposed to strive to be as much like Jesus as possible? What kind of church have we created? What kind of change can we implement as the body of Christ today? Jesus is at the center. These statements make me sorrowful for any time I have done anything to put attention on myself…in life, at my job, as a volunteer, etc. If you are a leader: What kind of pedestal are you on, and what have you done to get there? I'll bet being like Jesus didn't put you on a pedestal. Tim Smith (Senior Executive Pastor at Pinelake Church) reminded us this week who it is that constantly tries to rob the spotlight from God. It's Satan. Check him out: Isaiah 14:13-14 What does that say of us when we relish in the spotlight? Are we being Christlike, or Satanlike? Deep thoughts, and interesting parallels.


Second thought from Passion 2011:

How many American churchgoers cry out for the will of God saying "what do you want me to do? I'll do whatever you want me to do, just tell me" and sit around waiting for a big sign--a figurative billboard--to tell them "do this now"? As passionate and real as this desire is, we can get too busy multitasking and thinking about the next thing on our to-do list to stop and ponder what God is telling us.

I think he might be saying: DO. SOMETHING. NOW. Do you hear him?

There are worlds of people out there who are dying to hear the name of Jesus. Physically and eternally, they are dying. There are positions open, needs galore; yet we sit here in our beautiful homes and say to God "what is your plan for my life?" If you are sitting, waiting, praying, and hoping, you may just need to crack open your Bible and read what Jesus says in Acts 1:8. Do what Jesus did, in JESUS' name. Want to jump in now from the comfort of your desk/couch/coffee house? Check out these causes from the Passion website.

Finally, our lives should make sense in light of who we are as Christ followers. Francis Chan shared this on Sunday night. It goes back to that definition of what a Christian is. One like Christ. A Christ follower. An imitator of Jesus. What makes the most sense for us to do in light of the fact that we live in the blink of an eye? Is it to keep our treasured faith wrapped up tight so that no one sees the hope that we have? No. Think about what makes the most sense to you as you pursue Christ in your life…a life that goes by as a vapor.

For more Passion recap, check out the 268 Generation blog when you get a chance.