There are times, like this Wednesday night, that I want to go full on Marvel or DC Comics style prophet. I have had enough – heard enough stories, seen enough despair. I don’t want to wait any more. I don’t want to stall until I carry a harp, and I don’t want anyone else to stall in hopes of some heavenly choir. I want to see hard work accomplished. Shalom is hard work – not an ideal that comes easily, yet fully available as a part of God’s historic plan.
The above blog is from my dear friend Jeff Shaffer. He is one of the true missional pioneers in in the U.S. and a CA missionary. Author, Deb Hirsch calls him "the Jesus man." If I lived within 50 miles of Jeff, I would be driving to Santa Barbara to be involved with him in the Uffizi Project. I have been there several times and can attest that it is the real thing. Read Jeff's "10 Reasons to Hit the Street" and tell me if they don't make sense to you. If you live in the Santa Barbara area, please stop in and say hi to Jeff, and help if you can. What he is doing is what every church community in western culture should be active in. Do you think that is too strong of a statement? Consider Luke 4.
Jesus said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. Just sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord."
What Jesus is communicating is a manifesto of the Kingdom of God. If we want to contend that we are Jesus followers, it is vitally important that we actually act like him and live into the very things he declared. I'm not sure what your church is involved in, but if it isn't speaking of things that Jesus spoke about and living out the things that Jesus called us to live out, I wonder about its purpose in the world.