Living the Adventure of Jesus
Posted: Saturday, November 24, 2007 by My Waverley
Heart of a Boy
By Sean C
19 Nov 07
Ok, so last month I took my son to an event called “Boo at the Zoo”, where a team of volunteers turns our local zoo into a humongous Halloween-themed world of wonder for kids. There are light and laser exhibits, kids’ rides, guys juggling fire, haunted trails, and other cool stuff. Here is how it works: you go through the main gates of the zoo, and follow a very long, clearly marked, but at times dimly lit, trail (guys make sure you bring your SureFire flashlights on this trip). If you think you might get lost, just follow the thousand or so people ahead of you, or allow yourself to be pushed/guided by the thousand or so people behind you.
My story actually begins about half-way through the 3 hour long adventure. We were walking down a dimly lit path that gently wound through one of the little forests in the zoo. Ahead of me were my son, his friends from school and about 20 or so little boys dressed up as ninjas, ancient warriors, and Darth Vaders. As we walked, we came upon what appeared to be a grisly scene: To one side of the path, there were huge 20 foot high spider webs strung out in the trees, and in one web it looked like a skeleton of a man was dangling from it! From hidden loudspeakers, ominous voices with the occasional scream thrown in, cried out to run and avoid this place of big spiders. On the ground was an actress dressed as a black widow spider and she was in the process of rolling a fellow actor, who was her latest “victim”, on the ground in a sinister web. The black widow looked up from her prey and locked eyes on the boys. “My next meal she hissed…” and she advanced towards the boys. Instantly, little hands were filled with ninja swords, katanas, claymores, pirate cutlasses, short swords, lightsabres, spears, and battle axes. As one force, the boys took two steps forward towards the monster and let loose their battle cries. For one moment in time, they were no longer little boys, but armed and dangerous men, fierce warriors - soldiers stepping out into the unknown: a band of warrior brothers to be reckoned with. I don’t think the actress was expecting this reaction and the look on her face showed it, so she retreated to the safety of the trees. As quick as they appeared, the weapons went back to their sheaths and other hiding places and the warriors became boys again – laughing, shouting, pushing and shoving.
When I was a boy, I attended church on Sunday and I still managed to remember some of what I saw – it’s the same thing I saw in my teenage years in church, and it’s what I see in church today as an older man: I have seen, and I still see men coming to church, shaking a few hands, filing into the main auditorium, lip sync a few hymns or worship songs, read through the bulletin about 20 times, check their watches about 100 times, and try not to fall asleep. If you ever wanted to see the dead come back to life, you should look around your church as soon as you hear those closing words: “…..now go in peace...” (or something like that) The men bolt for the door because there is stuff to do on Sunday afternoon: Have to watch the game, tinker in the garage, mow the lawn, take a nap, or whatever.
Men, I’m going to say something that is not going to be very popular, but I don’t think this is what God intended men to do with their lives. God intended men to get out there and get their hands dirty and bring Jesus to people. The last couple of years I have heard things like: “people like singing hymns because it is comfortable for them…”, “people need to adapt to changes in the church slowly otherwise they won’t feel safe….”, or the ever popular “you’ll make people uncomfortable if you start going on about the spiritual battles around us …” Men, I’m going to let you in on a little secret – there was nothing safe or comfortable about the early church! In Acts, we read about a man named Stephen who was filled with the Holy Spirit and proclaimed the gospel to the local religious leaders, who responded by having Stephen dragged out to the edge of town and murdered. In the same book, we read about a religious leader named Saul who personally waged war against the early Christians and had them dragged from their homes, wrapped in chains, and thrown in jail. Many of the disciples and apostles had warrants out for their arrest, they were flogged and beaten, thrown in jail, and some were executed – but they wouldn’t stop shining His Light into the world! Jesus and his disciples spent a lot of time outdoors traveling and braved all kinds of bad weather. Jesus showed us how to be merciful and kind, but he showed us how to stand up, stop being passive, and fight oppression and tyranny: In simple words, he also showed us when and how to kick a little A.
Oh no! I’m hearing shocked voices out there…”Jesus didn’t fight anyone! He was kind and gentle and a really nice guy!” If that is true, I’m guessing he gently went up to the money changers and other crooked businessmen, and asked them nicely to please pack up their stalls and leave the temple. When he was challenged by the Pharisees when he healed the woman on the Sabbath, I guess He told them “Well, let’s say we agree to disagree, why don’t I take us all over to Tims for a double-double to show there are no hard feelings?” All of the bibles I have been reading say that Jesus was tough on the religious leaders of the day and was not apologetic or worried about hurting their feelings. The training the disciples went through at the hands of the Master was tough as well. They didn’t travel around in fancy SUVs or stay in a comfortable B&B, or eat fancy meals from fancy plates and drink from fancy teacups with little fingers extended. Some of his lessons were tough! Peter got dunked in the water during a storm when he walked a few steps on the water and said to himself “Wow look at me walking on the water, I don’t believe it!” The disciples were terrified they would die in a storm until Jesus ended the faith lesson by calming the seas, and Peter (it took quite a while for him to get with the program) was humbled and humiliated when he denied he was with Christ.
Jesus, his disciples, the apostles, the prophets, were all the real deal and lived what I have heard called “The Adventure of Jesus”. They put it all on the line, got off their chairs and went out into the world in the name of the Almighty God and spread his Holy Message. I think what we need to do as men is to stop thinking like a stuffy old grown-up who is only concerned with going to work, building a career, paying the bills, reading the paper, and watching television and find that heart of a boy that was lost so long ago– the heart of adventure, that heart that made you invincible and ready to fight a thousand men to the death. Men I believe the time has come for us to stop telling each other about Jesus, and start living The Adventure of Jesus. We have to stop existing has human beings and transform into “human doings”. Get up from that fancy pew or soft cushiony chair and start by getting engaged in the church. Get some guys together and go help someone in your church who can’t get around very well. Join a prayer group and if there isn’t one start one! Looking to join a band of spiritual warrior brothers? – Then go to a PromiseKeepers conference. Men, an avalanche can start with the movement of a very small amount of snow down a hill, a raging forest fire that consumes hundreds of acres of woodlands can start from a tiny spark, and the direction of the largest ships in the world is controlled by a small piece of steel called a rudder. I challenge you all to go out in the world today and bring Jesus to someone through a kind word, a kind action, or through modeling Jesus through your own personal example. I challenge you to find that heart of a boy that you buried so many years ago under all that junk we call “maturity” and be bold and adventurous again. Get out there, put on the full armour of God, and get in the battle for the hearts of men! I guarantee you personal hardships, fatigue, and funny looks. I guarantee people in your own church will complain and say you are too religious, too much on fire, or just too much to take (all behind your back of course). I can assure you that God will be with you every step of the way, he will guide you, and when you really get going, you are going to hear him talk to you, and that will only be the start of your adventure of a lifetime!
May God bless you, and give you the courage and conviction to stand up, and step out of your comfort zone. I pray He lets you find the heart of a boy and start living again, but this time, living an adventure for Him!
Amen. |
