Wake Up!

If you listen closely you can hear it. Granted, it’s hard to hear because of all the other noise, but it is there. Do you hear it? It’s the sound of a lost world crying out. It’s the collective voice of millions who are looking for something more…something bigger and better. Something that lasts. They may not know it, but there is an answer to their problems; there is relief from their plight. There is a Savior. He’s bigger than any hero Hollywood creates and what He offers is eternal, steadfast, and pure.

The problem is that they are separated from Him, and sadly many don’t even know He’s there. They may know His name, but they don’t know He is real. To so many He is no more than another Santa Clause figure or a symbolic rabbit’s foot. “Oh well”, we say. “They can choose to believe in Him or not. They know the truth….”. Do they really? Is that really our attitude and response? Sadly, I’m afraid that often it is.

At other times we have decided that what this lost world needs is man-influenced traditions and corrupted doctrines. So often our answer is, “Let’s get ‘em to church! They need to be in the pews! That’ll do the trick.” Reality check time: It’s NOT doing the trick! Our methods are failing yet we continue to use them. Why do we require others to be just like us before we will reach out to them? Jesus was a master at being relevant and meeting people where they are. Can the same be said of the church today?

The answer is so simple we have overlooked it: They need JESUS! That’s where it starts! Why do we insist on cramming tradition and doctrine down someone’s throat without ever teaching them about Jesus? Maybe we assume they know about Him and they understand who He was and they appreciate the sacrifice He made for us. But I don’t buy it. I’m not even sure the majority of people who claim to be Christians really know and appreciate Jesus.

Maybe that’s the crux of the problem. For Jesus to be real to the world, He must be real to those who follow Him. Is it possible that to so many Christians Jesus has simply become just another tradition or good luck-charm? I sincerely hope I am wrong.

I believe that the fate of the lost rests upon our decision to reach them. It’s not OK to say, “That’s someone else’s job…someone else’s responsibility.” We need to not only hear the cry that is overwhelmingly there, but we need to respond. Do you hear that? If so, then what are you doing about it?

Thoughts?

Looking for a good movie this weekend? Then check out Thr3e. It’s a new movie based on the best-selling novel by Ted Dekker. This past week has been awesome for me because I have had the opportunity to talk to Ted Dekker twice on the phone and see the movie twice (see previous post).

As Christians it is so important that we support faith-based films. We go to the movies all the time and throw our money at junk and don’t think twice about it. Why not support something that is entertaining and shares spiritual truth? Makes a little more sense, right? Hello..it better!

Thr3e is not what most would consider a “Christian film”, but rather it is a movie/story created by Christians that is relevant to our culture. There are no “come to Jesus” speeches or moments in this film, but the overall message is powerful and will hopefully encourage people to think about their spiritual lives. It is a psychological thriller that will definitely keep you guessing until the end, and it is a perfect example of how a good movie can be made without all the junk that Hollywood thinks we want to see.

The success of this film in the box office could really open some doors for more faith-based films to find a way into our culture. Jesus was always finding ways to be relevant to the world around Him, especially through his lifestyle and his parables. We should be about the same business! Go out and support Thr3e this weekend and help further this cause so we can attempt to reach the world on a whole new level. Click here to find out where it is showing.