I've been attempting to watch the special "American Idol Gives Back" episode that aired last night, and finding that I can only watch it in little bits. It's too emotional. They're showing clips from the different parts of the world the funds they raise will be going help - from reading programs in Appalachia to Katrina relief trailer parks, to slums in Africa filled with AIDS orphans, dying parents, and children left to fend for themselves. It's overwhelming. I know that we are already doing our part, what we can right now, through our church and through our own giving, but even still, it's hard not to wish that we could be doing more. We have so much and they have nothing and sometimes I feel so powerless to really change anything. And then I go to things like our up/rooted meeting this past Monday to hear from a representative from the ONE Campaign, and the solutions start to seem so simple and it makes me angry that we've lacked the will to just get it done. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE LIKE THIS! What are we waiting for?
Labels: social justice
At 4/27/2007 02:31:00 AM, 
Mike Clawson
Hey Jazzy, thanks for stopping by.
A follower of the way of Christ is someone who doesn't think Jesus only came to tell us how to go to Heaven when we die, but also came to show us how to work for God's kingdom in the here and now - i.e. who came to show us how to follow his way of compassion, reconciliation, generosity, justice, and love.
Or to put it another way, it's disciples of Christ who take seriously the gospel message that he proclaimed in Luke 4:18-19.
I wouldn't worry about trying to do "everything" because giving back to the community and the world is sort of like blogging - pick only a few things and do them as well as you can. The reason why there are billions of people on the planet is so everyone has something different to do to help each other out.
In your faith Jesus was the only person who ever lived who was capable of helping every person all at once. I'm sure he not expecting as much from anyone else :)
At 4/27/2007 08:03:00 AM, jazzycat
Mike,
I certainly agree with you that sanctification is a part of Christian discipleship. There is a lot of the erronous "carnal Christian" thinking in America today.
While in no way arguing with your excellent point, I think the verse you cite is more about justification, the atonement, and setting people free from the bondage of sin. IOW, Jesus's primary purpose was to provide atonement for sin and then through grace justify many (Mt. 1:21).
I believe this justification results in sanctification and the Christian service you speak of and without the fruits of sanctification there has been no prior justification. There are plenty of Christians that refer to themselves as "Christians" who are in complete agreement with your views of Christian service. After all the N.T. is full of exhortations to do so.
I am not too familar with the emergent movement, but I will check by from time to time to try to learn more.
Thanks,
wayne
What is a follower in the way of Christ? Are there other ways to salvation? Just curious.