How to Bring Church to People Through Living Passionately for God
It was a crisp, clear, 75-degree day in the desert mountains of San Diego. One could not ask for a better day or more gorgeous scenery – not that I could take notice. As I looked down at my motorcycle, engine roaring as it propelled me through the canyons. The speedometer read 70 miles per hour. I looked up, and a nice turn welcomed me into its’ vices. The recommended speed sign read 35 miles per hour. “Perfect speed, don’t think,” I told myself as my stomach turned into a knot, every fiber of my being telling me to slow down. “If you allow fear to dictate your actions, you die.” I leaned the motorcycle into the turn, and at that moment, I was living passionately and felt freer than I ever have.
Some would call it crazy. I call it living passionately.
I was aware of the risk, the potential for bodily harm, but it was a calculated risk. A risk which says, “I am aware of the danger, but I choose to live my life passionately, going all out for that which I love.” When this philosophy is applied to motorcycles or adventures, people understand it.
Why don’t we apply it to God?
When did being a Christian transform from being the great and dangerous adventures of the apostle Paul into the sedentary and dreadful existence of the modern emasculated male? When did serving Jesus become going to church on Sunday, small group on Wednesday, and never stepping out in faith!?Thinking more into this concept, I began to realize that the cultural standards of Christianity are all wrong. Culture says that Christians are tame, soft-spoken people with a long list of “don’t do’s.” This completely misses the mark. In Matthew 18:18-20, Jesus commissions us:
“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Y’all see anything in there about going to church on Sunday mornings?
While Church is absolutely vital for building communities of believers, it’s not the point. Jesus doesn’t tell us to bring people to church, but He tells us to bring the church to people. He says that He is with us always, to the end of the age. He tells us to travel and reach new people groups. It is the greatest adventure we can have.
Paul later goes on to say this:“I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren.” - 2 Corinthians 11:26
Why does the apostle Paul say this?
I thought being a Christian was about going to church, singing hymns, being nice to people, and then just being a nice person? Wrong. Being a Christian is about being passionate and on fire for God. It is about taking calculated risks and adventures to reach people. It got Paul stoned, imprisoned, tortured and eventually executed. By the grace of God, we don’t face that kind of persecution, but the truth is that I don’t think many people would face that kind of trial for God.
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Here is my challenge to you, my reader: You may not share my passion for motorcycles, and that’s perfectly fine (but kind of weird, motorcycles are awesome) – but how can you challenge yourself? How can you boldly step out for God? How can you take a leap of faith, a risk, to serve God’s kingdom? I guarantee your faith will deepen in Him. Take one step. Talk to a stranger. Sign up for a mission's trip. Commit yourself to an outreach in an unsafe area of town.Bring church to people. Live passionately for God.