Irresistible Revolution #4

I've just got back from an evening at church, with Shane Claiborne and the Rend Collective Experiment on their Upside Down Kingdom Tour.

My mind is buzzing.

Before the evening started, I was also buzzing, with a mixed sense of excitement and nervousness.

Excitement because I've heard how awesome the Rend Collective are, and because I'm part way through one of Shane's books, he's a respected author and speaker that is renowned throughout the world for his missional heart and lifestyle... I suppose I am a little ashamed to say that I do get swept up in the awe of celebrity culture (if awe is the right word..). I can honestly say though, that this is something I'm working out with the LORD because I know that it's not really OK.

Anyway.
And nervousness because I honestly expected that Shane would come across as 'holier than thou'... Probably with some right to do so.

But he didn't. At all. He was genuinely and astonishingly humble. He was just so normal. And modest.

And very, very funny.

Dressed in his usual baggy attire, he told story upon story of experiences he'd had with the homeless in Philadelphia, with Mother Theresa in Calcutta, and numerous other stories of kids and people who he'd loved with the love of God, in the way he knew how to. Whatever that looked like at that moment in time. Just meeting needs, prefers others above himself, loving his neighbour.

But he didn't preach in a way that made the congregation feel guilty.

No, he spoke with joy and encouragement. He laughed and told jokes and the funny stories where God stepped in to a situation in quite unbelieveable and amusing ways!!

The abundant life Jesus calls us to isn't boring or dry. It's exciting, perhaps a little dangerous, on the edge, fun, joyous and FULL!

There's a lot I've been left thinking about. Hence the buzzing mind.

I took notes (always good, as I have a brain like a sieve!) so I'm just gonna put don't down some quotes from Shane's talk that stood out to me and perhaps and the days go and I get time to process them I'll write more fully about them (have put in bold ones that have particularly stood out!!):

'Christians should not be normal. They should constantly be questioning the patterns of the world.'

'The best things in life should be given away.'

No one is above reproach. And none of us are beyond redemption.'

'The closer we are to God, the less we want to throw stones at people' (my actual fave! In the light of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery. So challenged about this one, and think it's very true.)

(quoted from the Iraqi guy Shane had a convo with, in reply to Shane's comment 'I'm surprised at how many Christians there are here) 'This is where it all started. America didn't invent Christianity, you know. It only domesticated it. We're praying for the church in America.'

'It's not a question of whether or not we'll be extremists, but of what sort of extremists we'll be. I want to be Extreme for love.'

'God doesn't want to change the world with out us' (another fave... so when we're asking 'Why doesn't God do anything about all the bad things in the world, we should then be asking ourselves why we aren't doing anything about all the bad things in the world - since He's given us the mandate and His Spirit, to go do something about them!!)

And finally, in answer the the question, Where do we start? Shane answered:

- Start small.

- Have a vision for family bigger than biology.

- in Matt 25, when Jesus asks us questions about our life, the questions aren't doctrinal. They're relational and practical, did you feed the hungry, clothe the naked, tend the sick, visit the imprisoned, house the homeless? Bear that in mind!

Phew.

So much deep stuff tonight. Along with an incredible set from the Rend Collective. Talented, Worshipful, fun musicians using their gifts for God's glory and to edify the church.

Beautiful.

There has definitely some stuff been stirred up in me and God has and is pointing out a few areas for my 'starting small'...

Starting today.

(make sure you have a listen!)