Wednesday, September 30, 2009

IS ANYTHING WORTH MORE THAN YOUR SOUL?

What an interesting question: 'Is anything worth more than your soul?' I would venture to guess that there's nothing worth more than your soul, however, in today's culture we are often too busy to even consider asking such a thought-provoking question.
I've been bothered by this question because I know the answer. But in youth group when I get the 'knee-jerk' response of 'no' because it's such an easy question I am not satisfied. What's worse is that I know they're content with their answer.
Yesterday I went to the Dare2Share Youth Leader's Luncheon at Wilderness Lodge and Greg Stier (founder of D2S) asked a simple question: 'What if Jesus used Twitter?' He took it a step further by asking: 'What would Jesus 'tweet' about your church if He came to visit?' And then he shocked us all by asking: 'What would Jesus 'tweet' if He came to youth group'?
I have an idea as to what He might 'tweet' about concerning today's church: 'They're still lost and there's no reason for it'. Or maybe it's something closer to this: 'They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me' (Isaiah 29:13). Now, if He were to stop by youth group he might 'tweet': 'They are neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm...how sad' (Rev. 3:16). And I like what Francis Chan wrote in Crazy Love, specifically in 'PROFILE OF THE LUKEWARM': 'Lukewarm People tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict. They desire to fit in both at church and outside of church; they care more about what people think of their actions (like church attendance and giving) than what God thinks of their hearts and lives'.
Is this you? Perhaps it's time to take your relationship further and deeper. You don't have to quote lots of scripture or know all of Jesus' miracles, you just need to be willing to go deeper and not be content with the 'ho-hum'/busy way of life.
While I could go on and on about today's culture and how too many have bought into it 'hook-line-and-sinker'...I won't. I'd rather leave you with this verse to look up and the question first asked: Matthew 16:24-26

6 comments:

pitcher12k said...

I'm gonna go against the flow and say yes. So HAH!
I have a reason though: God is so much more valuable than us. Well He is so much-more-a-lot-of-things than us, but you know what I mean? So it would make sense to do what? give our soul to Who is worth more than anything we could ever hope to acheive? Yet, at the same time, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father."(John 14:12-13) so you could argue that if we truly have faith, we will do greater things than Jesus did/is doing....which seems a little odd, but those are not my words either.
I think a next logical question about Jesus 'tweet'ing about the church could be, How do we change that? Or can we at all? Is it our job to do that? Or is it our job to love?

Way to make a post about hard-to-answer quesitons!

Jeff said...

It's been said that we should be the change we want to see and that it all beings with us. Recently, while driving South Street I saw a picture of the Dali Lamma and a caption that said, 'He doesn't wish for peach, he works for it'.
So if we wish to see more Jesus and God centeredness in church, worship, or His people...I think it starts with us getting their attention and them catching the fire that burns within.

Holly said...

Wow...where to begin...talk about a really thought provoking blog. I think it is easier for us, and by us I mean adults, to see the whole picture. Unlike us, youth don't see what we see as far as who God is and what He can do. They don't see what is 'right' in following Christ instead of following the 'world'. I wish it were that easy to tell them once not to worship their worldly possesions, but it's not. But like you said Jeff, we need to be the change, and the change we shall strive to be! :) Gotta run, wish I had time to write more, but only if lunch would allow it! :)

pitcher12k said...

Holly, while I do agree with you to an extent, I think you should be cautious about judging too quickly. Now, you may have had this in mind but just did not have enough time to type it, but physical age/maturity does not determine spiritual maturity or the 'deepness' of your relationship with God. If God has gifted someone who is young with great faith, then I think that is something to be respected. That young person does not have the experience that adults such as yourselves do have. You have seen God come through for you. You have been through troubles and trials and grown from them. And that is why you deserve our respect, for sure! But don't count us out just yet ;)

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