by George Barna
Know this: just as the prophets of old were unwelcome in their own hometown, so are Revolutionaries looked at askance by even their closest friends and family members. The skepticism of those who lead conventional spiritual lives is a palpable reminder that growth always comes with a price tag.
Be forewarned: just as Jesus Christ, the ultimate lover of humanity, was scorned, misunderstood, persecuted, and eventually murdered for His extreme love, goodness, compassion, humility, wisdom, and grace, so are Revolutionaries abused by a culture that is itself in crisis. The mere presence of Revolutionaries makes the typical American citizen—yes, even the typical churchgoer—uncomfortable. It is not uncommon for Revolutionaries to meet with rejection—verbal, intellectual, relational, or experiential—simply because of their determination to honor the God they love.
You have probably heard about the “culture war” that rages in the United States today. Perhaps the most significant battle in that war will be waged by the Revolutionaries. They are entrenched at ground zero in the test of wills and worldviews that is shaking our nation. Like their role model, Jesus Christ, they ignite fierce resistance merely by being present and holy. It is perhaps that holy presence that will get Revolutionaries in the deepest trouble they will face—and that will bring lasting healing to a culture that has rebelled for too long against its loving Creator. These Christian zealots are radically reshaping both American society and the Christian Church. Their legacy is likely to be a spiritual reformation of unprecedented proportions in the United States, and perhaps the world.
Are you a Revolutionary? Is someone in your family or your circle of friends a Revolutionary? Would you like to be a Revolutionary—someone who lives only to love, obey, and serve God, rejecting and overcoming every obstacle that emerges to prevent such a life? Read on. . . .
Chapter Three
What Does God Expect?
THE TENDENCY OF MANY PEOPLE—especially those who are skeptical of the spiritual integrity of and biblical grounds for the emerging faith transformation—will be to dismiss Revolutionaries because such individuals and their faith practices are allegedly not in full compliance with Scripture. That concern is a valid consideration; every person who embraces the name Christian and seeks to live in ways that honor Jesus Christ must be willing to evaluate everything in light of what the Bible teaches.
But at the same time we must take God’s words to Peter to heart: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean” (Acts 11:9). We must be very careful how we critique another person’s spiritual journey. If someone’s path conforms to biblical guidelines—even though it may stray from church traditions, cultural expectations, or our personal comfort zone—then we must accept the possibility that God may be working through him or her in a manner that is different from how He is working through us, or perhaps different from the ways we have previously seen or experienced His leading. We are called to be wise and discerning, but not judgmental.
In other words, we are not called to judge the spiritual path of other believers who are dedicated to pleasing God and blessing people when the root of our concern is their style or approach, even though they are true to biblical principles and commands. We are to be discerning in our observation of how fellow believers connect with God and respond to His exhortations, and sensitive to the latitude He has allowed us within the boundaries of Scripture.
What the Bible Says
Since the Bible is the source of motivation and wisdom in our efforts to be more Christlike, let’s examine the key biblical passages regarding the nature of the Church—that is, the aggregation of followers of Jesus Christ whom He has saved. The most pertinent passages are in the book of Acts, which describes the life of the early Church, immediately after Jesus returned to heaven and allowed the leaders He had trained to develop the Church.
All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)
All the believers lifted their voices together in prayer. . . . After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness. All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. (Acts 4:24, 31-35)
The high priest and his officials, who were Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. . . . Then they brought the apostles before the high council, where the high priest confronted them. “Didn’t we tell you never again to teach in this man’s name?” he demanded. . . . But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. . . .” [The council] called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go. The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.” (Acts 5:17-18, 27-29, 40-42)
The Seven Passions of Revolutionaries
Wow! I would love to be involved in a ministry like that, wouldn’t you? That’s what the Revolution is all about: making it possible to live in such a way, in connection with other like-minded people, that the description we just read is not merely an artifact of Christian history, but a depiction of our Christian experience today.
What made the early Church, which I believe God designed to be our model, compelling and life changing? Let’s identify some of the attributes that made the first Church so attractive and effective. If you study these passages and categorize their content, you find that the Church was characterized by seven core passions.
Intimate Worship
Every believer was expected to worship God every day, both in private and in the company of other believers. This did not require a “worship service”; it only necessitated a commitment to feel the awe of God’s magnificence, to express gratitude for His love and authority, to acknowledge His control and power, to follow Him with dedication, and to enjoy the miracle of His relationship with us.
Faith-Based Conversations
Just as Jesus was intractable in His pursuit of us, we are called upon to share His love with those who have not yet understood it or embraced it. It is natural to talk about and promote the things that excite us. Nothing should excite us more than the realization that God Himself loves us, wants an intimate relationship with us, and allows us to invite others into that sacred and priceless relationship with Him. The evangelistic efforts of the first believers were carried out through preaching, low-key/high-impact conversations about truth and purpose, prayer, performing miracles to foster the opportunity to discuss the Source of their power, and the joy-filled perspective they had toward God and life that created interest in their lives.
Intentional Spiritual Growth
The Church in Jerusalem endeavored to learn more about the Christian faith and employ the principles of Jesus’ teaching. Believers exhibited a remarkable attitude toward life and people and acknowledged the presence of the supernatural in their everyday adventures. They placed their faith at the center of their live
s and derived their sense of meaning, purpose, and direction from their connection to God and His commands.
Servanthood
Love is more than a feeling; it is a tangible reality when it is shared with other people through acts of selfless service. The early Church fostered the notion that serving other people was the best means of demonstrating the example that Jesus had set for them. Servanthood also showed the transformation that their faith had wrought within them. Like Christ, they lived to serve rather than to be served.
Resource Investment
Because we own nothing in this life, it is best to wisely invest the resources we manage for the One who is the true owner of all things. The first Christians defined communal living through their sacrificial sharing of everything they had. Note that the Scriptures specifically tell us that they shared “everything” with those in need, and that they used the variety of resources at their disposal—money, food, clothing, housing, relationships, influence, skills, time—for the benefit of all believers.
Spiritual Friendships
The Church was all about relationships. These friends of Jesus became friends with each other and reveled in their mutual admiration of Christ in their frequent get-togethers. The friendships they formed provided not only encouragement but also loving accountability for spiritual integrity.
Family Faith
Christian families taught the ways of God in their homes every day. Parents were expected to model a Spirit-led lifestyle for their children, and families were to make their home a sanctuary for God. In a very real sense, the home was the early Church—supplemented by larger gatherings in the Temple and elsewhere, but never replaced by what took place in the homes of believers.
It is the persistent exercise of these seven passions that makes Revolutionaries just what their name implies. They are not perfect people, and they are not always the best example of genuine Christian behavior. But they are obsessed with becoming just that.
The Fruit of the Effort
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned from studying the words of Jesus is that He loved fruit. Not the kind you pick off trees or vines, but the kind that’s evident in the life of a person whom He has changed. He made very clear that the proof of people’s faith is not in the information they know or the religious gatherings they attend, but in the way they integrate what they know and believe into their everyday practices.
The hallmarks of the Church that Jesus died for are clear, based on Scripture: your profession of faith in Christ must be supported by a lifestyle that provides irrefutable evidence of your complete devotion to Jesus. The Lord encountered numerous people during His earthly tenure who could quote Scripture or pretend that they knew and loved Him. But His reaction to them was always the same: “Show me the fruit.”
Revolutionaries are Christ-followers who refuse to make excuses for their failings; instead, they address and overcome those inadequacies. Jesus did not die on the cross to fill church auditoriums, to enable magnificent church campuses to be funded, or to motivate people to implement innovative programs. He died because He loves you and me, He wants an everlasting relationship with us, and He expects that connection to be so all-consuming that we become wholly transformed—Jesus clones, if you will indulge the expression.
Does something get in the way of your living like Jesus? Then figure out how to eliminate that obstruction.
Does life get so complicated that it’s difficult for you to juggle everything and remain Christlike? Then simplify your life.
Are you unable to find words that describe how you believe God has called you to know, love, and serve Him? Then develop new ways to communicate to others how God is ministering to you and through you.
Is society dragging you in the opposite direction from where Jesus calls you? Then acknowledge that your life is part of a spiritual war between God and Satan, declare your side, and get on with it. Admit that you are better off “fighting the good fight” and suffering on earth for the cause of Christ than winning the world but losing your soul for eternity.
Get used to the fact that your life is lived in the context of warfare. Every breath you take is an act of war. To survive and thrive in the midst of the spiritual battle in which you live, seek a faith context and experience that will enhance your capacity to be Christlike. This mission demands single-minded commitment and a disregard for the criticisms of those who lack the same dedication to the cause of Christ. You answer to only one Commander in Chief, and only you will give an explanation for your choices. Do whatever you have to do to prove that you fear God, you love Him, and you serve Him—yes, that you live only for Him.
That is the commitment of a Revolutionary.
Chapter Four
How Is the Local Church Doing?
LET ME BE COMPLETELY up-front about this: My goal is to help you be a Revolutionary. I have been so moved by the spiritual authenticity of the Revolutionaries I have encountered—and so disappointed by much of what I have seen and measured among Christians in the United States over the last twenty-plus years—that I want to understand and be part of this groundbreaking development. I sense that this is one place where God is operating in a big-time way these days—and I don’t want to get left out. Nor do I want you to be on the sidelines merely watching as the parade passes by.
Whether you become a Revolutionary immersed in, minimally involved in, or completely disassociated from a local church is irrelevant to me (and, within boundaries, to God). What matters is not whom you associate with (i.e., a local church), but who you are. I have spent the last twenty-plus years of my life studying and working with a wide variety of churches: large and small; theologically liberal and conservative; wealthy and impoverished; urban, suburban, and rural; Caucasian and nonwhite; Protestant and Catholic; located in the North, South, East, and West. I have spent countless hours reflecting on my experiences and observations related to those congregations and thousands of hours poring over statistical measures of what is happening in churches and in the spiritual lives of Americans. And, most importantly, I have studied God’s Word regarding the Church.
After all this effort I must confess that I believe the French mathematician-philosopher Blaise Pascal was correct when he stated that all human beings have a God-shaped hole within them that they naturally attempt to fill, and that only a genuine relationship with the living God is capable of satisfying that emptiness. The reason is simple: Every human being was created by God primarily to know Him, love Him, and serve Him. All other activity is superfluous.
But that being the case raises some tough questions. One of them is simple: if the local church is God’s answer to our spiritual needs, then why are most churched Christians so spiritually immature and desperate?
The State of Churched Christians
If the local church were the answer to our deep spiritual need, we would see two things. First, people who were most heavily involved in a Christian congregation would be more spiritually developed than others. Second, churched Christians would increasingly reflect the principles and characteristics Scripture tells us are the marks of Jesus’ true disciples.
One of the greatest frustrations of my life has been the disconnection between what our research consistently shows about churched Christians and what the Bible calls us to be. Granted, we are sinful creatures and will never achieve perfection on this planet; only when we are reunited with God in heaven will we experience a fully restored state. However, if the local church is comprised of people who have been transformed by the grace of God through their redemption in Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit, then their lives should be noticeably and compellingly different from the norm.
So let’s take a look at the condition of the seventy-seven million American adults who are churched, born-again Christians: people who have confessed their sins, asked God for forgiveness, accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior, are confident of their salvation solely because of the grace extended to them by God, and regularly participa
te in the life of a Christian congregation. Earlier we explored the seven passions of the first Christians; let’s see if the same kind of transformation is evident in the lives of contemporary Christians.
Regarding Worship . . .
The biweekly attendance at worship services is, by believers’ own admission, generally the only time they worship God.
Eight out of every ten believers do not feel they have entered into the presence of God, or experienced a connection with Him, during the worship service.
Half of all believers say they do not feel they have entered into the presence of God or experienced a genuine connection with Him during the past year.
Only one out of every four churched believers says that when they worship God, they expect Him to be the primary beneficiary of their worship. (Most people say they expect to get the most from the experience.)
Regarding Faith-Based Conversations . . .
The typical churched believer will die without leading a single person to a lifesaving knowledge of and relationship with Jesus Christ.
At any given time, a majority of believers do not have a specific person in mind for whom they are praying in the hope that the person will be saved.
Most churched Christians believe that since they are not gifted in evangelism, such outreach is not a significant responsibility of theirs.
Regarding Intentional Spiritual Growth . . .
