drew moser: RE: Numbers

journal : : field notes

RE: Numbers

26 September 2007

I promised long ago to follow up on my brief numbers post. To refresh your memory:

1: The number of times in Scripture Jesus tells us to "Be born again..." (to Nicodemus in the Book of John)
33: The number of times in Scripture Jesus tells us to "Follow me..."

So here are some of my thoughts:

I think we first should understand that numerical statistics don't alone provide an airtight case for anything in Scripture...but they sure can be telling. In other words, just because the imagery of 'being born again' only occurs once doesn't mean it's not important. IT IS. I strongly contend for a supernatural conversion experience in salvation.

But I can't help but wonder at what cost we, the church, have upheld 'being born again' as THE litmus test for who's in the heaven club. We've reduced 'born again' to 'do you adhere to conservative evangelical belief?'.

When this happens, the life transforming essence of being born again (new, fresh, different) is lost. It's not an intellectual shift, though it includes it. Rebirth is, in a word, transformation.

It's as if the rebirth is the end-all of all end-alls. The hard work is done.

But it's only the beginning.

You see, the call to Christ is rebirth, transformation, redemption, and DISCIPLESHIP. A radical, nonconformist, passionate following in the Way of Jesus. Disciples follow, plain and simple.

So, are you born again? Good. That's a great start. But what I want to know is, are you following Jesus?

I can just picture Jesus in Jerusalem coming up to a man, giving him the opportunity of a lifetime, "Come. Follow me."

The man replies, "Jesus! Hey, I knew you existed. I believe in you! I let you enter my heart 3 weeks ago! I walked down that aisle. I'm born again! You're the Messiah! I now have eternal life in you!"

Jesus replies, "That's great. You obviously have great faith. But I'm asking you to come follow me."

The man: "But Jesus I believe. Isn't that enough?"
Jesus replies: "I'm happy that you believe. But will you follow in my footsteps?"

Simplistic? Sure. A caricature? Maybe. But I look around, and this is the disconnect that I see: a lot of Christians who've signed on the dotted line, but won't get off their duff to truly LIVE it. And so often I'm one of them.

Back to numbers. I think that spiritual rebirth is a supernatural, miraculous, cataclysmic event in the soul of an individual. It's apparent that the contemporary church only needed to read this once in the Bible to cling to it. But today's churches seem full of believers, and void of FOLLOWERS, those who will truly 'take up their cross' and follow Jesus.

Maybe this is why Jesus had to say it 33 times in the New Testament. Believers are a dime a dozen. But He's looking for followers...To the poor. To the outcast. To the mission field. To the orphans. To the unreached. To the ghetto. To flip tables and throw chairs in corporate America. To challenge the religious status quo. To call politicians to account. To call televangelists out for their health and wealth message. To stand up to racism, bigotry, spiritual apathy, pop atheism, legalism....TO LOVE THE LORD THEIR GOD AND THEIR NEIGHBOR.

I could go on, but I'm indicting myself as much as anyone. Time to go for a walk in the footsteps of my Master.