Dangerous Faith

David Hopper, the Missions Pastor at Northside Church and current MOL student, comments on an excerpt from Holy Sweat, a text used in Biola's M.A. in Organizational Leadership program:

I read a quote in the book Holy Sweat by Tim Hansel that stuck with me recently: "Some of us really believe that the point of Christianity is to look good and have a good reputation. But the kingdom of God is a life-changing, life-transforming experience. It's more than just...nice." (Page 41) "...we often hear that Daniel's faith got him out of the lion's den, but we forget that it also got him into the lion's den." (Page 42)

I have been in ministry as a profession for over thirteen years and this was a new
way for me to look at the story of Daniel. In the Christian world, we talk about martyrs and we remind ourselves that if we are doing what the Bible tells us to do, the world will not like us, but we don't actually practice this in church. Somewhere along the way we started making church look really good so everybody would want to be a part of it. At first glance this is a beautiful thing. In fact, it has sparked greeters, welcoming teams, hospitality teams and follow up teams to make sure everyone who visited really enjoyed their time at Church. We have made our campuses as friendly as possible with parking attendants, friendly signs and the most beautiful buildings for every age group. All great things, but is it the faith we read about in the Bible?

The Bible that says, "If your hand or your foot causes you to sin cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell." (Matt 18:8-9) Are we building a kingdom of God that believes with all their heart, soul and mind that sin is so bad that they would do anything to stop pouring on to the sins Christ had to experience and die for on the cross?

The Bible says, "He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 'I tell you the truth,' he said, 'this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.'" (Luke 21:2-4) Do we have churches in this world that are full of people giving until it hurts? Call every church in town and ask how they are doing in tithing while America faces this economic collapse? As we learn that churches are laying off people by the thousands all across this country that was originally founded by a protestant movement, ask yourself, "Did we build churches the Bible talks about or was it more about us?"

The Bible that says, "He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'" (Matt. 18:2-6) Are our churches filled with awe inspired people? Are we men and women who look at the Bible with a sense of wonder? Are we convincing people of the Bible, God, Heaven, Hell, etc. through our apologetic arguments or reminding people to look at God through a child's eye? Are we ourselves like that child that sees the moon and is awestruck with its bigness? Am I a child that is excited to be held? A child who wants to play? A child that stares at a flower for hours because a bee is flying around it? A child that loves Jesus because He is Jesus? Is this the church of today or the church that once was?

The Bible that says, "'Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and
pay no attention to the plank in your own eye ? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me
take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You
hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye , and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.'" (Matt. 7:3-5) Do our Pastors of today take more phone calls about frustrations about programs and other members of the Church, or frustrations about wanting to do more for their neighbors, co-workers, family and/or wanting to grow closer to God? Being a Pastor, I sadly know the answer to that question. How many more letters will I receive about the temperature of the building, the clothes being worn, the songs being sung, the times of our programs? When will the letters be an all out call for war against the devil no matter what it takes and what it costs?

We've heard,  "'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matt. 5:3-12)

This is the Church I want to be a part of. Does it still exist? "...the time has come...the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:15)

David Hopper
Northside Church Missions Pastor
Masters of Organizational Leadership Student

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