Sometimes I hate being a Christian. When you think about it in so many ways we’re weird ducks. Seriously, we say we follow a God we cannot say and we’ve never audibly heard … well at least that is my experience. Then on top of that we try our best to live by this virtue we call faith which constantly gets us in trouble it seems. I think that to the outside world being a Christian makes about as much sense as being a polygamist like we’re watching on TV in Texas.
So much about following Christ is so counter-intuitive to contemporary culture and modern-day rationalism. It’s like we do all kinds of crazy things claiming “God led us.” I mean … brilliant men and women with PhD “throwing it all away” to move to a harsh climate and culture to translate the Bible into new languages. Or what about people and friends I know purposely moving into violent poor inner-city neighborhoods with the notion that God is wanting them to bring change and healing? There are other radicals that feel so compelled that God is leading that they’re willing to pack up and relocate to places like Tucson without a job and all they know is “God said to move and plant a church …” Isn’t this totally silly and absurd? Maybe not …
Tonight I handed the keys to a rental house to Vance Woods in a dirt parking lot along Tangerine road and I-10. He, his wife Julie, and their four kiddos (and 2 pets) just made the long and arduous trip from Spokane, Washington to Tucson because they couldn’t get away from the notion that God is leading them here to plant churches among Hispanics. While the world may look at them oddly there is something incredibly beautiful and breathtaking about their amazing faith. They were all smiles when I met up with them and I could sense that they had such a peace about this whole adventure that they were almost giddy. Amazing faith indeed.
I applaud the Woods family and every other church planter who has stepped out to take hold of this thing we call faith to follow God into the trenches of church planting. It is days like these that keep me humble and even pleading to God on their behalf. While there are so many things we do that are counter-intuitive in the end it changes things … and the world. It’s like firefighters … while the rest of the world is running from the flames we’re running into the heart of it. I firmly believe that where all hell is breaking loose that’s where the church is or needs to be. Blessings Woods family for your amazing faith.
