Anyone
Seen My Zeal?
Fanaticism? It is now defined by kamikazi airline hijackers plowing
into the World Trade Center towers. Photos of Osama bin Laden’s
minions may one day show up in the dictionary to define “zealot.”
Palestinians line up to blow themselves up. This Islamic culture of
suicidal death is stunning. Yet leaders cultivate it like stem cells
in a petri dish.
Starting with boys in kindergarten, leaders sell the image of a glorious
life in paradise with female virgins for willing martyrs. Using songs,
posters and lectures, charismatic recruiters target boys with an intense
interest in Islam. They fan that flame into hate-driven zeal. They
foster camaraderie and group dynamics until the youth are saying,
“Let’s all die this way.”
In South Korea, 20 men cut off one finger each (the “pinkie")
in protest of the Japanese prime minister’s visit to Yasukuni
Shrine. That shrine memorializes 2.5 million war dead, including those
who carried out World War II atrocities. The 20 pinkies were sent
to the Japanese embassy to protest the visit and the lack of apology
or reparations for those atrocities.
Anyone seen “no-name” Christians blowing themselves up recently?
Anyone seen believers cutting off pinkies and mailing them in protest?
Where are such passion, zeal, devotion and fervor among Christians?
Not that I am calling for suicides or mutilations. No! But these stories
make me wonder: Where is the deeply engrained eagerness to burn out
for Christ?
The soul of the church universal is etched by the passion of radical
individuals. Three in our Free Methodist family tree are the Apostle
Paul, John Wesley and Benjamin T. Roberts. For example, Paul acted
like a modern-day Muslim fundamentalist, continuing in spite of beatings,
imprisonment and shipwreck.
Wesley radically relinquished marriage to the one woman he truly loved
(Grace Murray) so he would not compromise God’s call. He traveled
250,000 miles by horseback and carriage during almost 50 years of
sacrificial ministry to the British Isles.
Roberts sacrificed security and status to oppose compromises in his
church. He was expelled. Leading a fledgling group, he experienced
financial hardship and emotional pain. Finally, some of his most passionately
held ideas and values were rejected by the very group he helped launch.
How many among us are like Paul, Wesley and Roberts? Are there enough,
given the call of Jesus for each to leave all and take up the cross?
Doesn’t the Bible say something about a “narrow road”
for all earnest believers?
The decline of sacrificial service correlates directly to the rise
of complacency. We have to deliberately counteract this complacency.
Romans 12:11 says, “Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit,
serve the Lord” (NRSV). Following are four “protective realities”
against which we must consciously work to keep zeal alive.
A hunger for security and safety is first. Early in our walk with
Christ, we take risks and stare danger in the eye sharing the gospel
and loving people. Later in Christ, we have “stuff” to safeguard:
jobs, pensions, houses, spouses and children. It is easier to be safe.
Second is the desire for comfort. Early in our relationship with Christ,
we extend ourselves in work, accepting deprivation and emotional and
even physical pain. Later in Christ, we notice others not working
as hard as we. We consider slacking off so we too might be comfortable.
Following Jesus sometimes requires a stiff price, and paying the price
may get tiresome.
A third protective reality is common sense. Early in Christ, we take
risks, doing what others term foolish. Later, the deadening effect
of temperate people draws us back into the ordinary. We get tired
of being the only kook on the block. We decide that riding whitewater
isn’t worth it.
A final protective reality is control and order. Early in Christ,
we love being gracious. We laugh and get goose bumps, as Jesus is
set free through our risk taking. We bless anything that moves and
has the aroma of the Spirit on it. Later, we sense that fewer risks,
more order and more control make life easier. So we choose order over
Spirit-led adventure.
So what is needed? A few Christians detonating themselves in front
of Congress or a mass pinkie severing? No! We need believers in each
congregation deciding to get back on the cutting edge of risky faith.
We need “outside the box” choices that put lost people first.
We need radical decisions to change jobs in obedience to God. We need
actions that the world or complacent Christians would term foolish
or stupid. We need less common sense and a lot more sacred sense.
Such fanatical action is contagious. It puts others under conviction
about their lackadaisical attitudes. Radical, self-sacrificial serving
is the antidote to the loss of fervor or zeal. Biblically defined
service cannot exist without personal sacrifices. Choose to sacrifice
again. See what the Spirit begins to do! |
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If you want to know what is on the heart and mind of Bishop Krober,
this is the place. You'll find Heartland Area updates as well as
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perspective on life in the Church and
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