They Had Been with Jesus
First Published in the Home News Tribune, July 2009
by Pastor Lloyd Pulley

Not too long ago, a couple was walking along the beach on a beautiful July day in Ocean Grove, and saw a huge – I mean HUGE – crowd gathered on the north-end of the beach. People were smiling, laughing, playing with their kids, getting their faces painted, listening to music, and all around just having a great time. Curiosity piqued, the couple asked someone standing nearby what was going on, and learned that the group was, to their surprise, a large number of Christians – that's right, Christians – getting together for a great day at the beach!

The event was Bridgefest, hosted by Bridge FM Radio, and that couple ultimately joined us for what turned out to be one of our most memorable outreaches in Ocean Grove.

What surprised me about this couple's story was their astonishment at seeing Christians having such a great time. How is it that Christians have developed an unfortunate reputation for stodginess? Is it possible that we as believers have forgotten what it means to stand apart from the world, and yet still have the joy that only God can give? Have we misrepresented Christ in our generation?

Unfortunately too many Christians tend to fall into two camps. One is the legalistic crowd – Christians whose lives are dictated entirely by endless dos and don'ts and whose experiences are devoid of all joy and godly power. This camp does nothing to dispel common misconceptions about Christianity and fails entirely to draw the unbeliever to explore the claims of Christ. Besides, who would want to be like long-faced, miserably legalistic Christians?

The other camp is the licentious crowd – those Christians who've taken the liberty we have in Christ and turned it into a license to live worldly, undisciplined lives. Their freedom has devolved into unrestrained pleasure seeking, so much so that Christ has no visible impact on the lives of these believers. They are essentially no different from the world around them and as a result are powerless to affect that world for good.

The real power Christians possess lies in Jesus Christ Himself. The only way for Christians to dispel stereotypes, avoid legalism, and combat worldliness is by thinking and living like Christ did. He was certainly in this world, but not a part of it. He could eat and drink, but never compromised the truth for pleasure. He was perfectly obedient to the spirit of the Law, without bowing to the letter of the Law. He modeled for us a demeanor that was neither legalistic nor licentious. He was full of life, yet separate from worldly entanglements.

This Christ-style of living is the only way that the Christian church can have an impact on a secular world. Jesus said that "the words I speak to you are Spirit and they are life," and by clinging to those words, Christians can once again have an effective dialog with and an impact on our post-modern age.

Close adherence to the life and words of Christ does not in any way impede a Christian's ability to have fun! To the contrary, many Christians have learned to have a great time together without the need for carousing, alcohol, and other drugs. We have fun not in spite of our faith, but because of it!

That's why I love officiating believers' weddings. At the reception believers engage in animated conversation and gregarious fellowship, leaving relatives wondering who spiked the punch for those people! My post-hippie generation would just say we were high on Jesus! And as with Bridgefest, our joy can sometimes be the greatest testimony of God's great work in our lives.

Christians imitating Christ as they spend time together is modeled throughout the Scriptures, but perhaps the most poignant example is in the book of Acts, chapter 4. After the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, His followers had begun to boldly proclaim the name of Christ, and as a result had come under intense scrutiny (not unlike today). The ruling authorities were amazed that these relatively uneducated fishermen possessed such authority and could articulate the Gospel with unprecedented boldness. They were amazed, that is, until they realized that the disciples had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13). The very fact that these men had spent time with Christ was evidenced by their power and joy, even in the face of intense persecution.

And that is my challenge to all Christians – is it evident to others that you have a joyful, abiding relationship with Christ? Are your words, attitudes, and actions reflective of Christ's presence in your life?

Christians, as summer continues and opportunities abound, let's not miss our chance to shed legalism and worldliness, and show the world that we too have been with Jesus!

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

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