The Call of Every Christian

I got the following message in my campus mail box this morning and was absolutely blown away by the clarity with which it described my heart. Be encouraged and Challenged by it. (I also included my response).

There was once a gathering of Christians who took a stand. They heard the call of Christ and refused to settle for anything less.

They decided to live out Christian life along side one another in a way that was challenging and encouraging.

They chose to speak with courage, think with purpose and act with passion.

They resolved to share without hesitation, hope without apology and love without fear.

They willed to worship with everything and in
everything.

They dared to dream big and to challenge the impossible.

They were complelled to love God until everything in them changed; and to love their neighbors into loving God.

They decided to no longer grovel in sin already forgiven.
They decided to no longer hide behind "Christian" masks and empty smiles.
They decided to no longer cover up their sin in an attempt to appear good, but to cast aside their sin in an attempt to do good.

They refused to settle for "runtdom" and instead, strove to be heroes.

They lived life with greatness- not a greatness that has anything to do with self, but a greatness that has everything to do with Christ.

They determined to train hard- to run, to fight, to strive with all that was in them until their bruised and well-worn hands held the prize and their tear-stained eyes saw their King.

Until that day, they yearned for every step taken to glorify their Maker; every bead of sweat to fall working for the Kingdom; and every heartbeat to beat in time with their Saviors's.

They decided to no longer give God part, or even most, but all, and that nothing short of all will do.


Who is this gathering? It is us. Or, more accurately, what we could be. This is the call of every Christian- your call, my call. And some of us have heard this call and answered it. We are going for it. We are giving God our all.

This is an invitation to come with us.

We are not afraid of who sees us. Please don't misunderstand this. It is not a prideful exaltation of ourselves, but rather, unashamed love.

This is not a club, or a clique or an activity- it is a lifestyle. Will you answer the call?

If so, please contact us.
Jesse Hayes
Collin Box

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Jesse!!

Wow, I got that statement in my box today and thought, "Wow, this is what I have been praying for all semester" for myself and for the girls in my hall, well our whole campus. As an R/A team we have sensed a lot of opposition as girls step forward to confess sins and work through the healing process. My room mate and I have also talked a lot about how the values that our campus is standing for (just think of pk's message on God's glory in chapel today) and the honest lifestyle where authenticity and growth happen, that the R/As have been promoting are so contrary to what Satan wants us to believe and do. This whole idea of what it means for us to live radical lives commited to God has been brought vividly to mind even this week as I started a study of Daniel, a man who "resolved not to be defiled" by indulging in a culture very much as "me-focused" and materialistic and spiritually misdirected as ours (Daniel 1:8).

It is a battle.

I am so grateful to you and Collin for putting into words our call as Christians to stand up, refuse to settle, refuse to stay in sin, refuse mediocrity and embrace a life that is lived to bring God honor even to the point of personal sacrifice. I just can't explain how many things in that statement echoed the cry of my heart.

I have heard this call and am eager to support others and be supported by others who likemindedly desire to live this lifestyle in our world. Even while our world and our "christian" circles, call us to blend in, dream manageable dreams, live "normal" lives, not cause a stir, not make a difference and live for ourselves.

Amen! I am all for this.

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If you would like to contact my friend Jesse, you can e-mail him at jessehayes@corban.edu

Please be praying for our campus as it is at great cost that people recieve this call and there will be opposition. Pray that we would stand firm and rely on God wholly. Please pray about living this vision and call to all believers.

-Mary