[b]THE CHALLENGE
“There is no ecstasy unless we are willing to also experience his agony.” (Tony Campolo)
“What we do in this life echoes throughout eternity." (Gladiator)
“We are so utterly ordinary, so commonplace, while we profess to know a power that the [21st] century does not reckon with. But we are spiritual pacifists, non-militant, conscientious objectors in this battle to the death with principalities and powers in high places… We are content to sit by and leave the enemies of God unchallenged. The world cannot hate us, we are too much like its own. Oh that God would make us dangerous.” (The diary of student Jim Elliot, martyr)
Mission field / Mine field?
Everyone’s panicking about this generation.
* In the West our friends are leaving church like rats from a sinking ship.
* In America 4 out of every 5 kids currently attending church will have left before they graduate High School.
* In Europe they’ve left already.
* Our role models are pretty sad individuals on the whole - like super-models weighing 23% less than the average woman, or pop stars worshipping their own egos.
But here’s the bottom line: It’s OK! God’s with us! He’s not left us alone to get depressed and die. Right now He’s mobilizing an army. Something incredible is stirring in the generation. New sounds. New passion. Unstoppable prayer. Radical dreams. Dangerous connections. A brand new rhythm to the ancient vision.
It’s time we made it clear. It’s time we put the record straight… this generation is not a minefield full of treacherous hazards to be avoided. This generation is a mission field hungry for the gospel of Jesus.
“Well I never pray, but tonight I’m on my knees; I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me.” (The Verve - Bittersweet Symphony)
And the Gospel works as powerfully and wonderfully as ever.
“I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ because the Gospel of Christ meets every need of every human being on this planet.” (Tony Campolo)
Jesus is coming back.
Jesus is alive.