Down the Line

06.09.08

Just dropping in on a wave is not enough. I mean, if you’re just beginning, it’s a thrilling experience and if the wave is 20+ feet you can do whatever you want. But, in normal surf, after you drop in you’ve got to go down the line to get the full experience.

Today there are many Christians emphasizing different important points to Christianity. Whether it is being non-violent or enjoying creation or justice for the weak, without the Good News of salvation it is not enough. Let me pause and say, I don’t mean organizationally but personally as a follower of Jesus. If you work for Exxon in Saudi Arabia the mission statement of the company doesn’t need to include spreading the Gospel. But, every Christian is called to not only play a role in sharing Jesus with the world but personally sharing Jesus with individuals. Now, we each have different styles; for example, some people are more confrontational while others are better at inviting someone to an evangelistic event, some open the door through service while others just have the “gift of gab” that allows them to non-offensively share with friends about Jesus. But, none of us are “off the hook” when it comes to calling people into a relationship with Jesus.

Think about this: after 100,000 years in hell a person will not say, “I’m glad those Christians built a library in my town so I could learn to read.” But, after 100,000 years with God someone might say, “I’m glad those Christians built a library in my town and continued to love me in practical ways. By building a friendship of trust where they taught me that Jesus is the only name under Heaven by which people can be saved I called out to HIM for salvation.”

Not living to make the world a better place is a pseudo Christianity. But only living to make the world a better place falls short .

Only dropping in robs you of the full experience of surfing as does living a Christianity that doesn’t include the joy of being a part of people being born again.

Who do you surf for?