Reaching The World By Being Like Christ

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
- Acts 4:13 (NIV)

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV)

When I was a youth pastor I remember struggling when I got around youth pastors who were up on the youth culture. They could quote stats about the youth culture such as how many teen pregnancies there were, how many teenagers committed suicide every minute, and how many youths would drop out of the Church by the time they left for college. They would dice up their sermons with illustrations from the latest music and movies. They knew all the songs the top secular artists had out and they knew which movies the teenagers were seeing the most. I felt so defeated because I simply was not up on the youth culture. I knew little of their songs and little of their movies. I cared less for their fads. I felt that I would never be a successful youth pastor if I did not grow in understanding the youth culture.

And then I heard Richard Crisco from Brownsville Assembly of God during the Brownsville Revival and his words calmed my spirit and brought comfort to my soul. His words were simply this: "My teenagers respect me because I am not like them. They don't need me to be their friend but they need me to be a godly leader. They don't need me to know their music or their movies but they need me to be an example of Jesus to them so that they can know how to live like Jesus. You want to reach teenagers then simply do this: love God and love teenager and God will bring the increase in His timing." (Taken from my journal from 1997).

I am convinced the world needs the same thing. We have conferences that many churches attend that focus on the culture and how to reach it. They tell us that we need to know what our culture is in to and attract them with that. Know their movies. Know their felt needs. Know what they want in a sermon and in a church. Know what the world wants and use it to reach them. Yet what is lacking in all this is godliness and Christlikeness. Where are those who would stand against the tide of secularism and post-modernism by being like Jesus and not like this world.

The Bible says that the Jews in Acts 4:13 noticed that the Apostles had been with Jesus. No doubt the Apostles knew their culture but what impressed the Jews was that these unschooled men were full of courage for the glory of Jesus. Peter and John did not quote the latest stats or sing the latest hit song from the Jewish beat but they simply sought to be like Jesus and in this case they performed a miracle that exalted Jesus and the Church was growing (Acts 4:4).

The world today does not need a new definition of Christianity but a fresh demonstration of it. Where is the power of God? Where are the answered prayers or even the people praying for the nations? Where are those who would seek to be like Jesus in all that they say or do (Colossians 3:17). Where are those who try to walk like Jesus (1 John 2:6)? Where are those who believe Jesus' words that greater things will be done in His name and for His glory (John 14:13-14) because He is going to the Father and He reigns over all authorities (Matthew 28:18)? Where are the mass baptisms such as on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41) or as in Acts 4:4?

What we don't need is to try to win the world using the world but we need to be Christ to the world and allow His glory to shine through us (Matthew 5:13-16; 1 Peter 2:11-12). When I come to hear the man of God, I don't need to hear about what the latest television program has to do with life but I need to hear a word from God! Only the Bible being preached in truth through the power of the Spirit will bring true change (John 17:17; 1 Peter 2:1-3). Let me listen to a man or a woman of God who has been shut in with God, seeking His face, and has heard from heaven through the Scriptures (Acts 13:1-4 for a case in point of where the disciples sought God and He revealed His will to them). I don't need to hear the latest numbers from the watch group of culture but let me hear from Jesus (John 10:27). Let me know that the man of God stands upon the final authority of the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and they are not going to bow to this world but to Christ alone (2 Timothy 4:1-6).

The most effective evangelist in the world are those who are like Christ. Jesus was counter-culture and the way that we impact our modern culture is not by running out to see the latest ungodly film or listening to the latest ungodly music but by shutting ourselves in the secret place with Christ (Matthew 6:6) and coming out with the glory of this new covenant shining through us (2 Corinthians 3:10-11). If we truly believe Acts 1:8 then let us stand on God and His Word and go forth making an impact that exalts His honour far above our own. The world needs to see Jesus living inside of me and that will draw them to the Saviour.