You Say You Want A Revolution

"Let’s be the revolution
That lives for hold nothing back, nothing back"

~Phil Wickham

I've been listening to this Phil Wickham song all day called After Your Heart, and it really got me thining about what it really means to be part of a revolution. When you hear the word revolution what do you think? The first things that comes to my mind are war and radical. Specifically the American and French Revolution both of which were extremely bloody ordeals, but despite their violence I believe we can learn from them. These revolutionaries were radical and they were passionate. They were all united and devoted for a purpose, a cause of some sorts that they honestly believed would better their lives here on earth. We are called to have the same sort of passion, but in a different sense.

Ephesians 4:1:-7

¹I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, ²with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. ⁷But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

Like it or not we are called to be united in the Spirit Paul makes that pretty clear to us in Ephesians, and it's something I think we hear pretty often. What I think is missing from this discussion is talk about passion and a revolution. Jesus was a revolutionary. Jesus was a radical. Jesus loved everyone even if they didn't "deserve" it. In today's society that would be called radical. Loving and blessing your enemies is straight up radical to the world, and sadly it's radical for many Christians. This kind of love is necessary, and honsetly just Biblical. When I use the word radical I'm just referring to what the Bible calls us to do. Compared to the world and most Christians it looks radical, but when you get in the scriptures you can't deny what it says.

Luke 6:35 Butlove your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

We are called to be part of this revolution Jesus started. Jesus turned the world upside down with His love, and he literally gave us life through it all. Our passion should be about the greatest commandment Mark 12:30 "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." Mark 12:31 "The second is this 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." Man can you imagine a church body passionately pursuing this kind of love. That would be revolutionary. That would change the world. So let's be united by these great commandments.

This revolution isn't about making life better here on earth like so many other revolutions. This is about life and death. This is about Heaven and Hell. This revolution is about love and salvation through Christ. This junk gets me so excited. Call me idealistic if you want, but I truly believe if we held nothing back and joined the revolution of Christ it would change the world. Christ's love rescued us how can we not turn around and share that love? What is holding us back from joining Christ and rescuing people from darkness?

I remember hearing a sermon last year at fall retreat for CRU at UCF and it was titled "Lover's Tell." Just think about how true that is. When you are in love you want to shout it from a mountain top. We tell people we hardly even know, because we are so overcome with emotion. If we are truly in love God why don't we join together in spreading this love no matter what. I really like the chorus of the Phil Wickham song I started this entry with. He says to "live like you see it," and "love like you mean it." Live with confidence in faith in the living Son of God, and love with the heart of Christ. That is such a simple way to put it, and it's exactly what we should do.

Jesus' life is the perfect example of this lifestyle. Jesus was passionate about life and living for the kingdom and he loved everyone no matter their condition. This is powerful stuff. I've been excited all day just thinking about being part of revolution devoted to spreading Christ's love and the eternal. I hope and pray that you all share the same excitement. This is supposed to be a joyous revolution.

Jesus is alive! Let's join the revolution he started. Let's live like we see the kingdom. Let's love like we mean it. Let's be radicals to the world. Let's be joyous and excited to spread the word and love of Christ.