Being challenged....by Mark Foreman

Sooo, I stumbled across this while looking for autobiographies to read as a part of my course and its really challenged me so I thought I'd share it!

(For more information on Mark Foreman log onto www.northcoastcalvary.org)



It's Risky To Be A Believer


Believers are in a difficult situation. The Jesus-given assignment to be salt and light in culture creates a serious dilemma for the believer. On the one hand, we are to follow Jesus down the path of internal transformation, becoming new people. On the other hand, we are to follow him down the path of outward transformation, bringing the message and the life of the kingdom into the world.

But because this world is broken, following him into the world may put us at risk. We may be misunderstood by believers, persecuted by others or exposed to temptations to compromise. This then places the internal work at risk. There is the real possibility of being tempted to return to the godless life that we left, in an attempt to help others. While we are behind enemy lines, believers are always at risk.

Certainly, recovering addicts need to stay away from the places of temptation until they can become strong in their new life. Alcoholics should stay away from liquor stores, bank robbers from banks, pot heads from their old friends and perhaps habitual liars from talking at all. But is it possible to escape the risk of being corrupted by the world while following Jesus "into all the world?"

Believers are not alone in their risk. Doctors and nurses risk catching the patient's disease. Narcotic officers are tempted to participate in the very trafficking they are trying to stop. Government officials are tempted to sellout their integrity for bribes while serving their country to legislate justice. All are susceptible to the very thing they want to transform. But luckily for us, a divine leader has gone before us.

This was the very risk the Son of God took when he came to this earth. By becoming one of us, he risked catching our contagious sinful behavior: "He was tempted at all points just as we are" (Hebrews 4:15). He not only died for our sin, he was also at risk to actually sin himself. Temptation is not temptation unless there is the real possibility of actually yielding to it. We sometimes like to think of Jesus as one who was impervious to actually sinning. This is not true. He was just as we are, just as susceptible, just as vulnerable, but without sin.

The risk is real. But we can't retreat. Retreating would be to withdraw from the very world God loves. Besides, the idea of withdrawing from society is a temptation itself. This is an ironic temptation. In the name of being righteous, some stop following Jesus into society.

And the more we have to risk, the stronger this temptation becomes. Put simply, it's the temptation to play it safe, to not risk it all by continuing to follow Jesus into untransformed places. The temptation is to protect my time, reputation, spouse, children, career, income and retirement for the "sake of the Gospel."

Further, to actually use God and the concept of righteousness as an excuse to not radically follow Christ into the dark corners of life. To back off from the world, while quoting Scripture about purity and safety, to support our lack of involvement.

The Pharisees had their excuses. Jesus' cavalier behavior with tax collectors, prostitutes and sinners threatened them. They had too much to lose to follow Jesus to Golgotha. They must have internally asked, "What would my friends in the Sanhedrin say? People might misunderstand." So leaders like Nicodemus met with Jesus secretly at night to avoid the gossip and ridicule.

It's easy for the protection of "what is ours" to become one of our highest values of life and to build scriptures around our protectionism and separatism. There is always a verse out of context to support anyone's thinking. Meanwhile, Wholly Jesus unswervingly moves forward, getting his hands dirty and asking us to do the same.