While serving as a professor at the University of Washington, sociologist Rodney Stark wrote his influential book, The Rise of Christianity, to answer the riddle of Christianity’s explosive growth during the first 3 centuries. How did this upstart faith, originating in a dusty corner of Palestine, expand to a globe-changing movement within a matter of years? Essentially, Stark’s answer was that Christians lived their faith in tangible ways. For instance, they treated women better than the broader culture; and when several waves of plague and epidemics ravaged the Roman Empire, it was primarily Christians who stayed, tending to the sick.
This is the very heart of the gospel: Faith as an embodied life, faith that takes on skin and bones, faith—not merely discussed and affirmed—but lived in the way of Jesus. The center of Christianity is not big ideas (though we have many) or overarching systems of belief (and we have these too). The center of our faith is a person, Jesus Christ, who brought God to us. Jesus is God in human skin.
And now, in a remarkable turn, we who claim Jesus as Lord are sent into our world, carrying Jesus with us. We are invited to bring God near to every friend and stranger. We, quite literally, are “the body of Christ.” And no believer in Christ is excluded from this identity as Jesus’ body; “each of [us] is a part” (1 Cor. 12:27).
God continues to work in His world to bring justice, to offer mercy, to love the forgotten. And He uses those who form the body of Christ, those He has transformed into new people (Romans 12:2). As Dietrich Bonhoeffer reminded us, “the body of Christ has penetrated into the heart of the world in the form of the church.”
More:
• 1 Corinthians 12
• Ephesians 3:1-6
Next:
Where in the world do you see the need for Jesus to act? How might Jesus be asking you to be His voice or hands or feet in that place?
chad on July 7, 2010 at 4:21 am
Thank you very much for this today! Our missions team is now 11 days away from leaving for Africa. I feel blessed to be able to go out into the world and preach the Gospel of Jesus to people that have never heard before. It is a step of faith. The former me would have never even thought of doing something like this. I recently ran into an old friend and when I told him where I was going he remembered when he couldn’t even get me on a plane to go to florida! Pray for our team as we minister in Malawi, Africa. Pray for God’s wisdom and Jesus’ love to shine through us. Pray for our safety. Thank you.
peg on July 7, 2010 at 7:20 am
I will be praying for you Chad and your team. To do a mighty work for The Lord over there.
I went to Kenya a while back and what a trip. I will never forget it. While we helped the people we went to minister to, they really ministered to us.
I also didn’t like to fly, but with God nothing is impossible. lol….have fun too. 🙂 peg
cspevacek on July 7, 2010 at 5:22 am
Chad that is an awesome step of faith. Several years ago God nudged my husband and I to start helping with the homeless in our city. From that we eventually started a furniture ministry, givng decent used furniture and hope to families who have nothing. We now go out on mission trips to help in devistated areas and help with clean up and rebuilding. I didnt realize until todays message how we were sharing Jesus message, and maybe we will take a step of faith one day and travel, like you Chad globally to help. God Bless You!
winn collier on July 7, 2010 at 6:47 am
Malawi and furniture – two ways the gospel is being embodied. I’m encouraged by your stories, and prayers for both of you.
I talked about these ideas a good bit more on my blog recently (blog.winncollier.com). Check out the “why the church?” posts, if you are interested.
hello on July 7, 2010 at 9:15 am
I know God is always there for us, to seek Him and depend on Him. I believe everythig is just a process for everyone.So be strong and firm when you are in hard times. I have read in one christian articles stated that we are all born to this troublesome world to learn to solve problems while our Father is preparing His room for us. Amen.
mike wittmer on July 7, 2010 at 1:25 pm
Thanks for this good word, Winn. Julian the Apostate found that he couldn’t return the Roman Empire to paganism in the middle of the 4th century because of this embodied Christianity. The Christians were feeding the pagan poor, so what chance did he have?
winn collier on July 7, 2010 at 2:09 pm
Mike, thanks for added the Julian note, good stuff.
Riri, grace in your forgiveness