Stolen Identity

People love to go to visit the ministry in the Philippines where Mike Redick is the President of Student Movement For Christ International. They meet our team and think how marvelous it is to see this sort of fearless, simple faith--joyously zealous--unquestionably obedient. They feel refreshed after just being with them for a short time. Many want to pack it all up immediately and go to join this move of GOD because they have never experienced Christianity like this before!

And why not? Aren't we all hungry for something more? I want to experience my living God in the way of the Bible! I know I believe it, so couldn't I please experience it just a little?

Considering all this should cause us to pause and re-evaluate our individual Chrisitianity. Why are they like that and I am not!? I think those new Christians in the Philippines are living closer to the what Watchman Nee meant when he wrote about The Normal Christian Life, or when he outlined the Character of the Christian Workman-- He said that those Christians aren't special--they are simply normal--even average.

I think the rest of us are the out of sync ones---and not only that, we reproduce other who are even more out of sync. We perpetuate "clinging vine" Christians generation after generation--clinging to pet-peeves and idiosyncratic preferences. These Christians entwine themselves and cling to identities forged by who you know, who approves of you, or by what you wear. Sometimes it's how high you jump or even a Godly heritage. Not that the LORD doesn't have a lot to say about these things, but one thing is clear, there is no joy and life in an identy forged from anything other than who I am in Christ.

Living that way, our true identities have been stolen! The baby Christians in SMCI don't know any better than to believe that the "such were some of you" means them! And that they really are seated with Christ at the right hand of God--that we are all the same bunch of sinners, and all forgiven... completely washed... standing just as if we never sinned before man and God. Their true identity is in Christ!

Shouldn't that mean something to me and to you too?