The saboteur
12/31/2012
In africa we have sabotage. Some of the best efforts to help change the continent can get hijacked. There is something that steals the heart of a man.
Let me explain. To be a follower of Jesus, to know the truth, to change your whole worldview, to begin again with a clean conscience and a pure heart, after experiencing forgiveness for all of our deeds of darkness, is an incredible new beginning. A beginning only. But there are innumerable choices to follow with this new life inside of us. And Jesus keeps talking about this understanding of each of us being a “disciple.” A disciple does. A disciple does what he knows is right. If he or she falls short, they get back up, brush themselves off, and they keep on going. Because a disciple is a follower. That is how we all do it–in America, and in Africa. We follow in our relationship with Christ.
But a wily saboteur lurks here, off all places. The saboteur comes to mislead the disciple–but not arguing against the power and truth of Jesus. Rather, the saboteur tricks, deludes, and misleads. The saboteur is religion, the form of godliness, but without the power to change and bring new life. It has been said all too frequently that many parts of Africa have been evangelized–but not discipled. At worst, faith is an empty word, with no connection to a real Savior, and the troubled heart of man remains in darkness, unable to see. By religion, I mean: the idea of Jesus without the truth and substance of Jesus. The idea of a faith community without faith energizing it and sustaining it. The idea of holiness but with an untransformed heart.
Religion can be the counterfeit of relationship with Jesus. We do this and that to fulfill what we think are the requirements. We say the right thing and we feel somehow we have engaged our hearts in the KIngdom. But a disciple does. He follows. He listens. He speaks. He even anticipates. He acts–all in a way that reveals a changed life because of a personal encounter with Christ. A disciple is led by the Spirit of Jesus.
Religion compels someone out of guilt. If we don’t do this, then people will think this. If we don’t do that, then… A life motivated to do certain things all so that we will look good, feel good. Not because we are following and believing Jesus Christ.
So tonight I am going to give a smack at religion. I am going to pull out a club and beat the hooey out of religion. I am going to speak with my African friends whom I have really bonded with, and talk about the deceiver, religion. I am going to show how easy it is to pick up a language that suggests we are followers. How we can start to dialogue back and forth, and walk away unchanged. I will ask them what is a church? What does it look like? Where is it? Who is the head of a Church? I will ask them what is necessary to be a church? I want to expose the saboteur that tricks people away from a meaningful life in Jesus.
Can you imagine a man or woman who gets delivered from generations of darkness by meeting Jesus, and then goes in the wrong direction? Someone tells them that they need to go to that “church.” To be a member of that “church.” That’s it. Period. Be a member. Discipleship over. To come every Sunday, bring their tithe, and do what the pastor tells them to do. To do that instead of cultivating the special relationship that they have in Jesus? To do that instead of leaving their darkened worldview behind? To do that instead of stepping into an incredible destiny where they can bring life change to family and friends? To do that instead of feeling inspired by the Word To that instead of being anointed to pray for loved ones and neighbors? To do that instead of being provoked to speak words of life and truth to strangers? To be hijacked by a deceiver so that we just sit and watch and come back? Become spectators in “church” instead of movers and shakers in the Kingdom? That is sabotage. I am going to whack the spirit of religion around tonight because wherever the power of Jesus is, a counterfeit is sure to follow.
