In many places, Christianity is about buildings, programs, fellowship events, and social cliques. We do have fun. We enjoy our time. And those are good things. But American Christianity was recently challenged by David Platte* through the following analogy in a Secret Church simulcast done on April 22, 2011:
“Imagine I told you that on my way here I got a flat tire. In the process of getting out and changing the tire, I strayed into the middle of the road where I got hit by an 18-wheeler semi. Then I got up off of the road, finished changing the tire, and came to teach. If I really told you that story, you would think it impossible! You don’t just ‘get up’ from being hit by a semi. Being hit by a semi changes you. You don’t look the same after getting hit by a semi than you did before you got hit. So it is when God changes you.”
So here’s the question. How different do you look from the world? Are you able to look just like the world while truly believing in God? Is that even possible? Doesn’t a relationship with God change who you are? If you – or I – can say that we think, act, and do just the same as before we knew Christ, do we really know Him? If getting hit by a semi will irrevocably alter how you appear to the world, should not a true interaction with the living God change you even more?
*David Platte is the author of the book Radical, and occasionally teaches through 6 hour intensive courses called “Secret Church.” These classes are available to all, so they aren’t secret in that they are private. They are secret because they seek to go behind the curtain of Christianity and talk about the depth of faith, not the surface that we often think is depth. They are also “secret” in that it reminds us that there are many people around the world who do have to meet in church secretly for fear of losing their job, family, freedom, or even their life. The analogy quoted here is from his April 22, 2011 simulcast.
In other places of the world Christianity is about wondering when the next time you will be chased out of your home, dragged out into the street, and beaten – perhaps even killed. During David Platte’s simulcast we were able to drop in on a previously recorded Skype conversation with a pastor and his brother in India, which I will summarize as best as I can remember:
“One day, we were worshipping and we began to hear a mob outside coming toward us. They were shouting ‘Kill the Christians. Kill the Christians.’ So we fled into the forest fearing for our lives. By the grace of God he provided leaves for us to eat and water for us to drink. By His grace we were saved. Only 3 in my village died. These persecutions are happening because the church in India is growing. As more people convert to Christianity in India, our persecution grows. Please pray for us that our church will continue to grow.”
Do you see what the pastor in India is saying? The more people convert to Christianity, the stronger the persecution comes. But what does he ask for in prayer except that the church would grow! There is a changed person. There is a person who is different from the world. To make the analogy, there is a man that we can actually believe that he got hit by God’s “spiritual semi.” According to the rules of the world, he should want the end of persecution. Therefore, he should want to stop proclaiming the Gospel. But he is changed; he does not want what the world tells him he should want. He wants what God wants, the proclamation of the Gospel and people believing in the message even at the potential cost of his own life. He looks different. He sounds different. It is believable that he is a changed person and that God has changed him. He is not of this world, but of God’s kingdom. And I am humbled by his testimony.
Do I look different? Do I look as though I got hit by God’s “spiritual semi?” Or do I look like I saw the semi, understood what it was supposed to do, and then stepped out of the way just to make sure I didn’t really get hit and get radically changed? What about you? If people look at you, do they see something totally different than the world’s idea of who you should be? Do they see someone that God has irrevocably changed?
If you are challenged by these questions and actually want to do something about them, keep reading:
How well can you explain to yourself and another person …
· How do I become a Christian?
· How do I know that I am a Christian?
· How can God simultaneously love creation with all of His heart yet hate the prevalence of sin?
· Why is the death of Jesus necessary to satisfy the character of God to a people that deserves condemnation?
· What is the full work of the Holy Spirit is in our life?
· How can we say that all of humanity is blind, depraved, disordered, defiled, broken, and lovers of evil?
· How can we say with confidence that without God humankind is perishing?
· Why is a superficial religion pointless with respect to salvation?
· What do we mean when we talk about spiritual regeneration, and how do we see it and know it?
· Why does God give us a new nature rather than improve our current nature?
· Why must we convert fully and completely from the ways of this world to the ways of God rather than combine the things that we like in this world with the things that we like about God’s ways?
· What does it mean to have a Savior and a Lord?
· Why is the law a good thing for us?
· Why do we need Jesus Christ for salvation instead of the law?
· What does the Apostle Paul mean when he says we are justified?
· What is the difference between justification and sanctification?
· How are we justified before God? How are we sanctified before God? Why must these be different?
· How do both our immorality and our morality actually condemn us?
· What is the real reason for doing the things that God desires?
· What does it mean to say and believe that our faith is imputed – and why is that significant?
· How can I be assured of my salvation?
· What does it mean to be in a relationship with God?
· What does it mean to be in union with Christ, and why is that important?
· What do we mean when we say Christ is with us?
· Why does God speak of His work in us as transformational?
· What does it mean to be crucified with Christ?
· Why is community important to our sanctification?
· Why do we see the Gospel as more than something to be believed – it is something to be obeyed?
· When are “good works” important?
· Is it possible to publically profess that which we do not personally possess?
· How does God preserve us?
· How does God enable us to persevere in this world?
The reality is that many of us – perhaps even most! – cannot understand the depth of what the questions are asking, much less even attempt to give a meaningful answer. There’s a problem there. If we cannot understand the questions and give legitimate answers, how can we expect our faith to make any sense at all to others? How can we expect our relationship with God to be infectious?
I’m looking to change that. I’ve been inspired by David Platte and a few others looking to radically alter our perception who can actually talk meaningfully about faith. I’m looking for people who want to commit to changing their ability to answer these questions. I’m looking for people who aren’t afraid to admit that maybe our current understanding of “church” isn’t cutting it anymore. The last thing this world needs is more people who can’t speak about God and faith at personal depth. It is time we change that here in Wilkesboro, in North Carolina, and in our country.
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