Evaluating 40 Days of Community

[*NOTE: Quotes from the 40 Days of Community Workbook are blockquoted.]

"We're Commissioned to Reach Out Together...By Representing Jesus."

We are to be his face and hands and feet...

This is a common expression used in the church today which is likely taken from Rom 12:5 "so we, who are many are one body in Christ" or 1 Cor 12:27 "now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it." However, the first refers to the fact that though we are different peoples, both Jew and Gentile are made one in (or because of) Christ. The latter refers to Christ's "spiritual body," or God's appointed "body parts" described as apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, healings, helps, administrations and languages. We must take care to remember that the Bible says "for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them" (Eph 2:10). So it is the work that He is doing in us, not the work that we are doing to try to take His place in His absence as if He wouldn't be able to accomplish anything if it were not for us in this world. He chooses to use us, but He doesn't need us. Always remember that lest we become too haughty with ourselves.

We function as ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor 5:14-21); we serve at the will of King Jesus.

This is exactly what we are. An ambassador is one who does not represent their own interests but those of the one in whose name he or she was sent. As ambassadors of Christ, we are to declare His will in no uncertain terms.

"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Cor 5:20, NASB).

"Pray for me also, that I may be given the message when I begin to speak — that I may confidently make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak" (Eph 6:19-20, NET).

We reach nonbelievers by living in such a way that they ask us about the King we represent.

While it is true that we must live the truth walking according to the scriptures, but we must be careful to not take the attitude of waiting until they ask us. Imagine trying to rescue someone from the demise of cancer by living like you don't have cancer. Does that make sense? Of course not! What we do only serves to confirm the message we speak. The miracles Jesus' performed and the things that He did confirmed that He was who He said He was. But it was the message that brought people to the truth. We ought to remember that Jesus condemned many of the cities where He did the most miracles because of their lack of repentance (Matt 11:20)! Also, are we so arrogant to assume that we will live such good lives that unbelievers will bow down at our feet and accept Jesus without speaking the gospel to them and convincing them of their sin? How will they know to repent and not just try to please God through works? Jesus said, "the world ... hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil" (John 7:7, NASB) and "...'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also" (John 15:20, NASB). We are commissioned to speak, but it should go without saying that we must live what we believe. Yet Rick Warren spends most of his time on the latter and very, very little on the former.

His love not only compels us to explain our faith, it will sometimes prompt us to confront evil behavior in others.

I'm glad that Rick mentions this, but he does it so seldom that it becomes buried in all the deeds. Comparatively, it is much easier to give someone a bowl of soup or a basket of groceries or to shovel their driveway or mow their lawn than to show them their sins before a righteous and Holy God, how they will fare on the day of Judgment which could come at any time, and what they must do to be saved. We should not cease in doing good deeds, but look for every opportunity to share the gospel. This of course can be done with grace, and our selfless acts (not just petty little deeds) will demonstrate that we are abandoning our life for eternal life, confirming the message of repentance, not just intellectual assent.

Great sacrifice equals great influence...

Perhaps, but it doesn't mean great acceptance if we stick to the message that God has given us to proclaim as His ambassadors. Again, is the slave greater than his master (John 15:20)?

Why doesn't the church have great influence? In a message entitled "How to Become Fishers of Men," C.H. Spurgeon makes the following statement: "I believe that one reason why the church of God at this present moment has so little influence over the world is because the world has so much influence over the church."