Sacrifice for what's real

Matthew 11:2 Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to Him, "Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?"

I remember when I first sensed a call to ministry. One of the first times I prayed about it I remember distinctly telling God that IF He was calling me to ministry, I wanted it to be radical ministry…the last thing the world needs is “just another church”. I’m pretty sure I had no idea what I was asking for. But I think my desire was to be a part of something real, something honest, something true to God’s word, and something that is life changing…a place where real live testimonies of God’s grace and miraculous power worship Him in Spirit and in truth. A church that would be a lighthouse to the community in which God placed it…not because of the steeple, the marquee out front, the facility or the programs, but because the lives of people in that community were impacted and changed by God through His Church.

I would sacrifice much for a church like that. I think John is saying the same thing…”Hey, I’m about to lay it all out here…You are the real One right?” 4 Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. 6 "And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me."

It’s interesting that Jesus answers with scripture but He also tells the disciples to tell John what they themselves have seen and heard. I want to be a part of a church that is firmly grounded in the word of God with a knowledge of the scriptures and discipleship at its core. But that alone is not adequate. I’m not interested in a simply cognitive faith, and that alone will not sell to the next generation or radically change lives either. While it’s vital that we be grounded by the word of God, we must live out His word experientially day by day. Otherwise the bible is just a history book of what God did...not what He does. I would sacrifice much for a church like that, but I’m not interested in just another church…been there, done that.