Think about it. We may hear, “The White House says ….” is this a modern day miracle? Did s building miraculously grow lips and begin speaking? Of course not! We know this is refering to what the president and his policies have said.

There are lots of examples. “Washington” often represents the legislators, the individuals. “the pentegon” is another place yet it often refers to the generals and military officials. The employees at the Fort Wayne GM plant refer to their bosses at corporate headquarters by saying something like, “We will wait to hear from Detroit.”

And when [insert your name] says or does anything those around them should know that they’re representing Jesus.

Wouldn’t it be cool if our names were synonomos with “a word from God”.

Bill Johnson had to give her directions to the church (his church prays for people to get healed A LOT… they literally are the healthiest county in the nation – nobody is sick – for real). lol.

another group came to Bill Johnson and said, “We want to be a part of your mall outreach ministry.” Bill replied, “Mall outreach? What are you talking about?” They said, “You know … all those stories you’ve told about people getting healed at the mall…”

Bill Johnson replied, “oh, our church doesn’t have a mall ministry. We just have people who shop.”

Welcome to NORMAL Christianity!

I dream of the day when someone asks if they can be a part of New Hope’s Evangelism team and I’d just have to say, “Sorry, we don’t have an evangelism team, we just have Christians.”

I dream of the day when someone asks about our student ministry healing program or our school outreach program that initiates evangelism activities in schools … and I can only say, “Sorry, we don’t have those. We just have Christian teenagers. They just do all of that on their own.”

I dream of the day when a Christian can pray for someone to be healed, or pray for them to receive Christ, and when the other person asks “Are you a Pastor,” they Christian can just respond, “Nope. I’m just the run-of-the-mill Christian.”

I’m not just dreaming. I’m praying. And I believe that day is coming very soon.

Steven Curtis Chapman has a song called “Live Out Loud.” Check out these lyrics:

Imagine this, I get a phone call from Regis. He says, “Do you want to be a millionaire?” They put me on the show and I win with two lifelines to spare. Picture this: I act like nothing ever happened – I bury all my money in a coffee can. Well I’ve been given more than Regis ever gave away, I was a dead man who was called to out of my grave. I think its time for makin’ some noise.”

How true is this?! I agree with SCC, we need to LIVE LOUDLY! Christians should LIVE so loudly that everyone around them can hear, “Jesus!” HOWEVER . . .

God never intended for us to be cookie cutter Christians, He knew what he was doing when he made each of us differently. Living loudly isn’t going to look the same for all of us. Your personality will effect the style of your loud living. But one thing remains – we must live loud.

I remember a few teachers in High School that loved teaching. There were just some teachers that loved teaching so much that you could tell it wasn’t just a job to them. They genuinely loved teaching. I also remember a couple teachers that hated teaching. Especially several substitute teachers. You could tell. They never said they hated it but it couldn’t be hidden. It was obvious they hated teaching (two of the teachers I’m thinking of are no longer in the education field!). Kids can always tell how their teachers really feel about their job — they can’t hide what’s on the inside.

That’s what it means to live loudly.

Living loud doesn’t (necessarily) mean that I have to get on a soap box to share Christ. Living loudly means that my internal life is being revolutionized by Christ (I use the present tense, “being,” because its a never ending goal). Folks – this is the secret right here, but it often gets unintentionally ignored and overlooked (even by pastors and leaders) because its not observable and measurable by others. But that’s the key to living loudly – our relationship with God must be loud on the INSIDE before anything else. After that, it will come out of you through and in the style of your personality, in everyday situations.

Steven Curtis Chapman says it best, “If we’ve really been given the gift of life that will never end and if we’ve been filled with living hope we’re gonna overflow and if God’s love is burning in our hearts we’re gonna glow — There’s just no way to keep it in.” 

Scientology is practical! They provide real life solutions and answers to what we’re thinking and feeling. I think that right there is the kicker – its relevant! (I’m not saying its truth, but relevant to our everyday lives).

Christians, take a snapshot of your daily life. Imagine someone else looking at that snapshot. Would they see a life that has been and is being revolutionized by Jesus? Would they see a Jesus that is stagnant and insignificantly in your life . . . or would they see a Jesus that is passionately renovating your entire being? Would they see a Jesus that applies to today?

With that in mind, I understand why 55,000 Americans have picked Scientology over a stagnant and insignificant relationship with God. Psh – I DON’T BLAME THEM!

The key to evangelism in every situation is to show the one that is seeking for Truth that Jesus is the Truth they’re looking for. People around us are already looking for Jesus – they just don’t know it. Scientology provides answers when Christians (and their lives) remain silent. Start living louder.

“All my life I’ve been searching for something…”

Then it hit me – I’VE GOT WHAT HE’S SEARCHING FOR!

Christians, the world around us is truly searching for Jesus – they just don’t know it. They’re not interested in the Jesus that shakes his finger at anyone who sins and takes the fun out of life. They’re searching for a Jesus that is loving, just, accepting, sovereign and brings fulfillment and revolutionizes lives. Why don’t we give them what they are searching for? (Maybe you haven’t even let Jesus REVOLUTIONIZE your life???)

The key to evangelism is not standing on a soapbox declaring “The End is Near” or knocking on doors (although if that works – more power to you). The key to evangelism in every situation is to show the one that is seeking for Truth that Jesus is the Truth they’re looking for. People around us are already looking for Jesus – they just don’t know it.

I recently saw an add on my own website which read, “Which Religion is right for YOU? Click here to take the test.”

I threw up a little bit in my mouth.

When I go to McDonald’s I can order a Big Mac, a Salad, or Chicken McNuggets. It really doesn’t matter which I choose – it’s a choice from a menu. What if religions were just a choice on a menu?

“Hi, I ‘d like some Islam (with no jihad), with a side of Buddhism, some Christianity to drink, and one of those cherry Wiccas for desert.”

If that was the case we could all just go around picking and choosing whatever we felt was correct at that moment. Deciding right from wrong cannot be based on our feelings, attitudes, or pleasures. I didn’t choose Christianity because it “fits” me the best or it looked the most tasty on the Religion menu – I chose and continue to choose Christianity because its the only religion in the world that can connect me to God by creating a bridge over my spiritual separation from Him (sinful nature). No other religion in the world addresses the issue of our sinful nature like Christianity.

John 4:36-38 says “The Harvester isn’t waiting. He’s taking his pay, gathering in this grain that’s ripe for eternal life. Now the Sower [the planter] is arm in arm with the Harvester, triumphant. That’s the truth of the saying, ‘This one sows, that one harvests.’ I sent you to harvest a field you never worked. Without lifting a finger, you have walked in on a field worked long and hard by others.” (TheMessage)

Which deserves more credit- the harvester or the sower? They’re equal.

Don’t beat yourself up because your personality isn’t outgoing enough, or you “ain’t no good word-smith”, or whatever. Now, we should all be stretched outside of what’s comfortable for us — but what about the people who fervently stand in the gap and pray for the lost? What about the people who live boldly for Christ in their actions? What about those who actually pray with the lost to receive Christ? Which part is most valuable? They’re equal.

God cares about the lost. The more we know God, the more we’ll care about what He cares about. I guess what I’m trying to say is that Evangelism must start with knowing God. If we’re not close with God, we’re going to do very little for the Kingdom of God.

When God’s passion becomes your passion – you can’t help but evangelize. Maybe you’ll be the person who prays for the lost. Maybe you’ll plant a seed by living a holy life in a dark place. Maybe you’ll be the person who presents God’s plan of salvation to those around them. etc. etc. etc.

When God’s passion is in your core – evangelism will be a lot like sweat.

Tonight I was brushing my teeth and I realized that I wasn’t bothered by it anymore. Then it hit me – what if what we think is “normal” isn’t “normal” at all?

Check out this scripture in Acts 2:47, “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

DAILY.

uh . . . daily?

It was normal for people to accept Christ every single day. What’s going on in your neighborhood, in your circle of influence? If you’re like most American Christians — not much.

If we are not striving to see people come to Christ, we are living an abnormal Christianity. But most of us settle for “abnormal” because it seems normal. We’re stuck in the twilight zone.

Not anymore. I want to live a normal Christian life -passionate, evangelistic, and difficult. Anything else is abnormal.

Consider this idea with the passage in Romans 8, “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

We are God’s children! Why are we so ashamed of Him? We should be boldly declaring “My Dad is bigger than your dad” to the world around us, starting with our lives! We are here to represent God, let’s be proud of our Dad!