Participant or Consumer: Play The Game, Don’t Just Watch
by Daniel Burton
I have never thought it was particular effective to bring someone to church and let pastor bring them to Jesus. There are too many steps in this process. Most people come to a true and genuine decision to dedicate their lives from the invitation of someone they know, someone in their immediate surrounding community. Sure, the invitations to church, and other events can definitely help to prime the well, yet, the lasting decisions are ones where there is a group of people (community) supporting them.
If God has blessed you with the opportunity to lead a person to the Lord, do not pass up on this opportunity or delay it a few days “so pastor can bring them to Christ.” Seize the opportunity. Usher a person towards a relationship with their heavenly Father. Martin Luther talked about the Priesthood of All Believers. Basically, that we are able to and should take part in the ministry of God. We all have been given the authority to advance the Kingdom of Heaven wherever we find ourselves. The average person, fully equipped by God is able to lead a person to a relationship with Christ and even help to disciple those around them.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
1 Peter 2:9-10, NIV
God Changed the Game
In 1 Peter 2:9-10, it becomes clear that the game has changed. Where we were once stuck in darkness, we are ushered into light. Where we were not a people, now we are. With the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the game has changed and we have direct access to God with Jesus Christ as our High Priest. As we follow Jesus our High Priest, we become the Priests and representatives of Jesus Christ to the world. We no longer sit back just to consumer but participate in the unfolding story of the Gospel. Previously, the people had to rely on the Priests of the Temple for the atonement of their sins. Now, we have direct access to our Heavenly Father to not only seek forgiveness and be restored, but to minister and represent Christ ourselves to whoever we come into contact with.
Play The Game
The final words of Christ, commonly referred to as the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20), are a giant calling to get in the game. People were encouraged to spread their faith through the world and through their hometowns by sharing the story of Jesus Christ. The Spirit which Jesus sent serves to empower and equip the believers to get in the game, advancing the Kingdom of Heaven throughout the world. Wherever you find yourself, you are the representative of Christ there. Shopping at Publix? You are the missionary to Publix. Going to the bank? You are the missionary to the bank. The Spirit empowers and equips us all to live out our faith in whatever the context we find ourselves. We are called to participant in the story and play the game, not just watch it happen and be a consumer.
So we can safely get out there and play the game instead of merely watching it unfold. We have been empowered by the Holy Spirit and have the honor and privilege of joining the already begun ministry. Look for the opportunity to show someone how Jesus has transformed your life and how great His love is towards us. With God’s help, we can complete the tasks set before us.
