Upon entering the world of Christian life, a lot of us soon find out it's something that must be walked out and lived out. We must find all the boundaries and limits and theology and what to do and where we fit in. Granted some enter through the same door and assume a sitting or sleeping position, but for most of us we seek more, especially if we know there is more than what we have. I recently read a statement made by Gordon Cosby, who said, "If men and women today began by the thousands experiencing the depths of Jesus Christ in a transforming way, there would simply be no place for their expression of experience to fit into the present-day straitjackets of Christianity". Protestant or Catholic, neither one is structured to contain a mass of devoted people who long for spiritual depth. We are structured towards infancy.

It may take years for us to reach a place where we can see the big picture that God has in mind, and once we see it we can understand that what we know about God is inclusive and not exclusive. Some have made comfortable nests in the church structure, content with nominal Christian activity, devotion and form. While others stretch there vision only to find there is no place for that vision because of the narrow lines drawn by the fellowship they attend. The answer to life in the local church has always been evangelism, reaching out to the community and beyond. But this becomes an end in itself if we are not provoking thought, vision, innovation mixed with burning passion into the ones we are reaching. I love the solid foundational and structured church, but it must be a diving board for creativity and artistic ideals that lead to radical change within, and, reaching the ones who are almost untouchable by traditional ecclesiastic offerings.

Do not be lulled to sleep by leaders who are themselves asleep, as Jesus warned, if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into the ditch. Do not despise leadership, bless it, but hear God and hold on to those who themselves are hearing God. Let him lead you to green pastures and fresh waters expressed by a continual transformation of glory into the image of Christ. Prophets come from the deserts and rock our world and rarely come from the temple. We have molds and patterns that have been taught and handed down to us from modern materialistic world views, instead of powerful, devoted, life giving persons who's life is burning with God so much that he or she sets a flame all those around. The intent and purpose of this letter is to provoke you out of the calm of an average Christian experience into the flame of God's love. You and I have not come to an end by receiving Jesus, but to the beginning.

What we have seen and felt and known to this point in our Christian experience are only the outer layers of God's light, as we approach closer to him hidden scars and pains will come to the surface and we will be healed. Then, in turn, as we are healed, by his power, and the light of his presence, we will be whole and only whole people can lead others to wholeness. Whose fool are you? Are you a fool for Christ, willing to risk your life for his life? Will we settle for security and ease? Every Christian should ask these questions and more. Are you here just to admire Jesus, or to follow him, to move beyond a servant to a friend? Ask God to remove the barriers in your life, that you may be inventive and creative with his gifts in your life. Go into the world using new building materials that have not been approved by tradition. Reach the ones that your church has never had a chance to reach. Don't try to be normal, that's a word the world uses for conformity. You have the book, the Bible, so grasp the prophetic element it contains and run.

Danny W. Setzer

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