Revolutionary

I am reading a book right now by George Barna called Revolution. It is an awesome book about how church will possibly look in the future. In fact the future is already here as I see it from his perspective.

As you probably know, Barna is a "stats guy." He does extensive research for folks in all walks of life. This book reveals his research over years on the trends of the religious world.

He has come to the conclusion that what God needs in this world is revolutionaries. One chapter in the book tells of the seven passions of revolutionaries. They are:

1. Intimate Worship
2. Faith-based Conversations
3. Intentional Spiritual Growth
4. Servanthood
5. Resource Investment
6. Spiritual Friendships
7. Family Faith

The most interesting thing concerning all of these is that Barna claims that much of the life of the revolutionary takes place outside the traditional setting of "church." Individuals who decide that the way of the revolutionary is the way they choose will do that--individually. That is not to say that the more people involved is not a good thing. It is good and even necessary for the greatest good to be done for Jesus. Revolts are much more exciting and life changing when done with a group.

I tell you all of this just to wet your appetite for such a book and to also tell you about Michael. I met Michael today and it could not have come at a better time. Michael is a revolutionary in my opinion. He is a member of the Christian Motorcycle Association (CMA). They go all over the nation helping minister to bikers.

He told me of how they went to an event that was run by the "Hell's Angels." The event coordinators for years did not recognize the CMA in any way publicly. For years the CMA would go to this event and hand out free coffee and/or water and simply make relationships with these people.

The even, as you could imagine, is an extremely decadent place to be. Yet they kept going and helping out any way they could. This past year Michael told me that on the area map they issue to all the bikers, they had four crosses representing where the CMA would be. How do you like that? The Hells Angels were putting crosses on their maps. That is just the coolest thing to me. This would not have been possible had they gone in and marched against, or tried to "set of Bible studies," or some other mass approach to the situation. (By the way, you understand that I'm not saying that those are bad things, but just not what would have helped in this situation.)

Because of their influence by befriending those who were not like them, they built relationships, helped people, and Jesus was both taught and glorified through this means. Praise be to God. Here are people dedicated to using their gifts and abilities and influence to be the light of Jesus to their world.

I pray to God that I can become more of a revolutionary for God. I want Him to open my eyes to areas of service that I can serve in to make a real lasting difference in the lives of people. He has already done that in so many ways, and yet I feel so inadequate.

I want to encourage you to read this little book if you haven't. God bless you my blog family and fellow-revolutionaries!