a l i v e & a w a k e

A few years back, I encountered 3 hitchhikers heading to Ottawa from Peterborough. Although wary of picking them up, I felt compelled to do it.

Inside the car, they were personable enough, and quickly informed me that they were trying to make it to the G-8 summit happening that weekend. During our conversation it was clear they were bent on "making a difference" in the world: particularly through anarchist methodology. Anarchy is a movement whose purpose is to deconstruct oppressive systems and institutions (like governments) to allow people the freedom to live lives of mutual benefit. Apparently, these 3 were leaders of various sects of the movement and one had been an influencial author.

I applauded their enthusiasm and zeal to see something change, and wished them well on their mission of figurative "apple-bashing". This phrase caused some confusion. I was able to explain that "apple-bashing" is a way of dealing with things you don't like in the same way a person would try to stop an apple tree from producing apples. Instead of dealing with the real problem (the roots), they were determined to take a "bat" to the apples (the fruit). I also warned them that their job was going to be tiring, frustrating and probably futile.

They were not impressed at all. After some heated words and a few raised voices, they asked what I would do differently. I was able to explain to them the principle of Inside-Out change, the kind of change I knew worked well. All ears, I shared the gospel and how God's way of dealing with things that aren't right is to deal at the root level (a person's heart) to affect the fruit level (their actions).

In the New Testament we encounter others who, like the anarchists, were bent on seeing the world become a better place by imposing a large and extensive set of traditions, rituals and laws. The result? A whole lot of lawbreakers who had to live everyday with the guilt of not being able to shape up. Jesus had very little nice things to say to this group of religious people.

As we encounter people everyday, we probably meet those who could use some "adjustments". As Christians, one of the temptations is to try to alter their behaviours without asking what the real issues are. Someone who is smoking up is probably facing a lot of undercurrent issues that either led them to start the habit, or is motivating them to continue it. The Good News of Jesus is that He can take care of all those root issues, which in turn will directly affect the behaviours.

Ezekiel 36:26 says "And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart". Jesus deals with the inside problem first. This should mean that we, as His representatives, and bearer of this kind of Good News, do the same.

Practically this means a few things.

1 - People need to realize the deeper, inside issues to understand the surface, outer problems.

2 - We need to bring the Gospel to the real point of need. That means sharing what is appropriate for them to see the issues and hear what God has done for them.

3 - When we pray for people, pray past the "image"; those behaviours we see first. As spiritual people there is a great need to hear what the Spirit is saying about someone, for we look at the appearance, but God looks at the heart.

The questions I need to ask myself are these: Where is my focus? Where is God working in someone's life? What are the real issues?

When we begin to understand that true change happens from the inside out, we begin to be the catalyst that brings the kind of change God brings.

Jon