Bubble People

Do you or someone you know live inside the ‘Christian Bubble’. I borrowed that term from a book I read once called ‘They Like Jesus but Not the Church’ by Dan Kimball. It’s a term that describes the ‘inner circle’ type of mentality that many of us have. So many believers throughout history have fallen into this bubble mentality without even thinking twice. It pains me to think about how many people I can think of that I know and love who spend their days shielding themselves from the world instead of bringing light to it. These people love Jesus, and they know all about the Bible and they pray like crazy- many of these people are viewed as being really good Christians people, but they are missing the point! I love it when these people say “Well, we’re supposed to be in the world, not of it” I nearly bust out laughing every time one of the ‘bubble people’ say this to me. I mean, really? You think that justifies legalism? Being judgmental? You think God’s cool with the fact that you don’t have any friendships with non-Christians because of that? Do you think that being ‘in the world’ is only a reference to the fact that you live on the planet earth? Do you really think that living a super conservative lifestyle means you’re not ‘of the world’? I mean the list of questions goes on. This is why it’s so dangerous to base your lifestyle on just one verse in the bible.


Okay, now back on task:
Jesus didn’t hang around the church building, shaking hands, and drinking coffee. He didn’t spend His days at home, reading from the Torah, and praying for God to help the world find Him. He got off his rear and went to the world. He knew that he would be ridiculed, judged, and killed, but he went anyway. He didn’t just hang out with the church folk, as a matter of fact He hung out with the sinners. Oddly enough, it was the church folk that mocked him and the sinners who grew to be his best supporters.
Fast forward to today. If Jesus were here, what would he do? If He saw a girl going into an abortion clinic, would He shake a sign and shout she’s a baby killer? If He met a stripper, would He shame her and make her feel worse than she already does? If He passed a drunk, homeless guy on the street, would He quickly look the other way and pretend He didn’t see him? If He met a gay man, would he hand him a cheesy tract about how homosexuality is wrong? the answer to all these questions is HECK NO! So then why do Christians? To be fair there a vast number of us that do strive to live outside the walls of comfort. However, the above is how the world perceives us. The few balanced voices that exist are often drowned out by the loud, shouting voices of the extremes. Those who speak out against these extremes are verbally stoned, so they rarely act/speak out for fear of having their faith questioned by extremists.
So what do we do? Well, lets start in Hebrews 13:13-20 (from the Message)

"13-15So let's go outside, where Jesus is, where the action is—not trying to be privileged insiders, but taking our share in the abuse of Jesus. This "insider world" is not our home. We have our eyes peeled for the City about to come. Let's take our place outside with Jesus, no longer pouring out the sacrificial blood of animals but pouring out sacrificial praises from our lips to God in Jesus' name.
16Make sure you don't take things for granted and go slack in working for the common good; share what you have with others. God takes particular pleasure in acts of worship—a different kind of "sacrifice"—that take place in kitchen and workplace and on the streets.
17Be responsive to your pastoral leaders. Listen to their counsel. They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God. Contribute to the joy of their leadership, not its drudgery. Why would you want to make things harder for them?
18-20Pray for us. We have no doubts about what we're doing or why, but it's hard going and we need your prayers. All we care about is living well before God."


That is it: Go outside. Know that because of your faith in Christ, you are already not ‘of the world’. Don’t allow your fear or judgement to keep you from living ‘in the world’ Go to a bar and make some friends and don’t tip your bartender with a tract about ‘riches in heaven’. Find out how to show people that you love them with no other motive. Don’t take you gay co-worker to coffee with the intent of ‘saving’ him. Take him to coffee with the intent of getting to know him and loving him just as he is. God can/will take care of whatever else is needed. Understand that you will be judged and ridiculed for this behavior (mostly by other Christians). ‘We’ are His hands and feet, so we need to let our feet go where He would and let our hands do the work that He did. This Christ-like love is what changes lives. Jesus doesn’t change people through ridicule and shame. He changes people through His love and sacrifice. To be truly following Christ, we should reflect His love and bear the pain of sacrifice. ‘We’ are the Church.... let’s not keep it for ourselves.