Downward Mobility

I just want to be a Christian — a simple, radical, marginal, downwardly-mobile follower of Jesus. There’s nothing unique or spectacular about being a Jesus-follower. You just remember that God’s love is borderless. You just declare the Good News to the poor, as He taught us to do. And it all happens through relationships, not programs or organizations.   -- Dave Black

I guess 8 years on the mission field gives a person a better perspective on the problems of clinging affluence while trying to effectively live out the gospel. It is very very hard to do, and probably more than 99% of the people that try to do both end up letting go of either a life fully lived for Jesus or the comforts and securities that affluence provides. On the other hand, it’s easy for people to ignore the words of a missionary as someone who has “forgotten what it’s like in ‘the real world,’” or some nut that was called to suffer for Jesus.

Sometimes… most of the time, you can’t have it both ways. 

Recall the story of Nehemiah rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem in Nehemiah chapter 4. The wall was so important and so vital to be protected, that the construction workers carried swords in their belts as they worked. All those who carried supplies, did it with only one hand, so they could keep a weapon in another. During the building of the wall (52 days overall) they didn’t take their clothes off, not even to sleep and never put down their weapon, not even to drink water. That’s not a comfortable lifestyle, but it gave way to a glorious result.

What would you really be willing to trade of your comfort for the kingdom to advance?

Now a serious question…

Would you trade your car for a bible translation for an indigenous indian tribe of only 550 people? I dare you. I’ll help you do it if you’re interested.