Are You a Sexy Jesus Mobile App?

Posted by Worldview Warriors On Saturday, February 1, 2014 0 comments

The third definition of “sexy,” according to the dictionary, is “attractive because of being interesting or trendy.” While Jesus is not “trendy” per se, He never failed to attract a crowd, because He knew how to engage the trends with a vibrant and transforming application of Truth. The Church is made up of those who claim to follow Christ, and as followers, we are supposed to reflect Jesus to the world. Which means we should be able to engage trends the same way, attracting crowds, infusing Truth into the culture with intentional actions (not just words), targeting the broken places of our culture, and creating space for Jesus to transform lives.

Mobile apps, are about...well, mobilization! Taking essential tools (and even useless tools), and making them easy to take anywhere and have available anytime. Is this the way we live as followers of Christ? Is God’s Word so embedded in us, and His mission so ingrained in us that we passionately seek out and develop new tools, new relationships, and new networks of partnership within the cities/towns we live in? Are we mobilized like Jesus calls us to be?

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30 - "Come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

This passage is not about rest for those who are physically tired, though the Bible teaches that God does refresh those who are physically weary. This passage is in the heart of a statement Jesus is making about coming to Him to know the Father, to know the fullness of God. So if it is not about rest, what is it about?

A "yoke" in farming is a piece of equipment that holds a team of animals together and connects them to the one driving them in order to plow the field or haul a heavy load. A heavy yoke makes it hard on the animals to get the job done. In Jewish teaching, pictures convey ideas or are symbolic of another meaning, like icons on your mobile phone. A "yoke" to a Jew means a method of interpreting and living out the commandments of God. The understanding is we should be equipping ourselves with the Word of God so He can lead and be seen in every decision we make. Some teachers interpret the commands of God in a "heavy" way, and put a lot of emphasis on shame, guilt or complicated methods for living God's way. Jesus is making the point that His teaching, His living, and commands for living God's way are not weighed down by flawed human tradition, preferences, or perception. Jesus’ “yoke” for living God's way is meant to MOBILIZE!

Jesus cut through the thick and confusing system of laws the religious leaders had created around the Word of God, and he went straight to the heart of the issues for healing and mobilization. He didn't indoctrinate or brainwash them into a denomination, have them commit to a weekly service, make them tithe as "members," etc. Instead Jesus focused on the command of God as it applied to that person for their healing. He was helping to mobilize them for the healing of others, and challenged them to give everything to God – to let Him lead.

When you look in the mirror, or when you look at your local church – are you mobilizing people? Or hurting them? Is the teaching you are absorbing or the things you are reading mobilizing you toward a deeply transformed, revived, and renewed position?

If not, then something is out of sync with Jesus’ mission. Time to get back to basics with Him and let Him do His work in and through you.

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