No Rock Can Take Your Role.

 by Chris Jones

Isn’t it strange that Jesus said that the rocks would cry out? The conversation takes place after Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Luke 19:37-40 tells us that the religious leaders told Jesus to rebuke his followers for proclaiming him as King, and equating him with God. Jesus’ reply suggests that, if those people kept their praise to themselves, “the stones along the road would burst into cheers.” (NLT)

When you really think about it, natural objects declaring the majesty of God isn’t a stretch of the imagination. How many times have you heard someone with no faith in Jesus Christ, talk about experiencing God through nature, that the great outdoors is their church? These are fairly common sentiments. Psalm 19:1-4 even says, “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.”

It’s important to notice that there’s no inference that the rocks would share the gospel message. There’s no suggestion that the trees would relay a personal testimony of the difference Jesus has made in their lives. The wind and the waves aren’t going to be the body of Christ, ministering love to the people around them. As believers, these are our jobs. These are the roles we play in the Kingdom of God. Among all of his creation, God uniquely designed each of us to testify to his Glory, specifically as it has been revealed through his Son, Jesus Christ, the only way to the Father.

The bad news is that we’re living in a generation in which “the rocks” just might be doing a better job than us, of declaring the splendor of our King. That doesn’t necessarily advance the Kingdom though. It’s our job to point the world to Jesus Christ. All creation resounds in praise, but no rock can take your role.

Is There An Army Rising?

 by Chris Jones

There’s a song many of us sing on Sunday mornings, called “Break Every Chain”. It’s credited to William Reagan of United Pursuit. If you’re not familiar with it, a repeated phrase in that song says, “There is power in the name of Jesus…To break every chain.” Later, this verse changes to say, “There’s an army rising up…To break every chain.” It’s a powerful statement, whether we mean what we’re saying or not.

It makes me think, do we mean what we’re saying? Do we really believe that God is raising an army to break every chain of bondage? If so, do we understand that his plan is for us to be a part of that army?

If your Sunday morning experience is anything like mine, you stand in a sanctuary full of people, where about 90% of those present are singing this confession. However, if your Sunday morning experience is anything like mine, you’re singing this along with a sanctuary full of people who allow 80% of the work in your church to be done by 20% of the people. If your Sunday morning experience is anything like mine, you’re singing this with a sanctuary full of people, where only 10%-12% are consistently making financial contributions to support the work of that local body of believers. If your Sunday morning experience is anything like mine, you may be singing this with a sanctuary full of people who, despite the desperate pleas of their pastor, don’t work to actively take the truth of God’s Word into their communities and schools and workplaces.

Is this what a rising army looks like?

If we’re honest with ourselves, we’d admit that we have a good way to go before we, the global body of believers in Christ, look anything like a unified army of warriors, advancing to break the chains of bondage. What if God’s army doesn’t rise up? Where would we be if it weren’t for those who came before us? Where could we be if more before us were faithful to the call? Where can we be this time next year, if more will answer the call?

Take this moment to allow the Holy Spirit to put in your heart, an image of that army clad in the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). How does this picture compare to or contrast with your life? It should be more than just a line of a song we sing. What is God calling you to do, as part of the army that’s rising up…to break every chain?