Body of Belief

While waiting with a few other leaders within the non-profit world to speak to a board for funding from a local foundation, I found myself stunned. A lady who arrived a little late sat down beside me and indicated having been to the Charleston Outreach website. "You are a faith-based organization, right?" I told her we were. She then asked, "Tell me more about what exactly you do."

Now, understand, this is a lady who walked in the door in a very engaging way. Lots of questions, strongly communicating that she had investigated all of her "competitors." That part was funny to me. No doubt I had a smirk on my face at some point. My explanation of our work included the words "helping churches work together to respond to basic human need." She laughed out loud to those words. Needless to say, I was uncomfortable. It did not end there.

"You are kidding me, right? You really have to help churches work together for human need. Aren't they supposed to be teaching the rest of the world how to do that?" She had no argument on my part. Then, she said words that choked me. "That's why I am not a Christian." She then stuttered around and left it at that.

I immediately thought of Jesus' prayer as recorded in John 17. Verse 23 says, "May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me...." It has become my passion. Collaboration is logical to me. Isolation is stupid, unless you have a disease no one else wants!!

We are to be the Body of belief - Jesus Body expressed amidst the world's broken.

An Attractive Life

There is an attractional ministry that the church/followers of Jesus should have. It is not a "come and see" event for people. It is not a "coming attraction" that happens from time-to-time or season-to-season. The attraction of the life of a Jesus follower is just that, the presence of life. More specifically, it is the Giver of life. Isaiah 55:5 says:

• Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you know not you will hasten to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for He has endowed you with splendor.

Spoken then of the nation of Israel, now spoken to a "holy nation" of Jesus followers:

• But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. I Peter 2:9

What becomes attractive is a life of purpose, clarity, peace, joy, purity of conscience, loveliness, graciousness, others above self, etc. However, as was mentioned in Isaiah, the attraction and intrigue comes not from you and me, but God having endowed us with His presence. His presence makes the above realities possible. Such a life leads to an onlookers head-tilted gaze.

A person in darkness is groping, disconcerted, disoriented, fearful, aimless, longing for ability to see and understand the world they are walking in, etc. When you find yourself in pitch black darkness, the faintest of light becomes attractive. You are drawn to it. It's what you long for. So should our lives be as a city set on a dark hill. Intrigue about such a city stirs the onlooker: "What goes on there? How is that place different from my place? What will I find there? What will the people be like?"

Then, when the onlooker gets up close, does the splendor of that "city" become more evident? Or, does the vision of splendor deteriorate to a "just pass through" instead of a "stop, stay investigate and enjoy" response? If they stop and stay, will they find refreshing and guidance for their journey?

I want for my life to be an attractive life. I want for people to be intrigued. I want for people to be refreshed. How about you?