I believe God is doing something very special in these days that we are living in. Yet many Christians seem to be very uncomfortable with what is occurring, because it just doesn’t look like God. It’s way too divisive, too messy, too offensive and too darn controversial for it to be God, apparently. And anyone who thinks this is God, is presumably trés deceived. However I beg to differ. And I would say the complete opposite - that anyone who can’t sense what God is doing in the most unexpected, is in fact the one, who is missing it - and as a result, they are completely missing out on enjoying something very beautiful and praiseworthy and oh so full of the Lord, right here, right now, in our very midst!
And I get why people might miss it. Because, who would have thought that during an age, so increasingly secular and so very anti-Christ, that we would see tens of millions of people across the globe, so deeply awakened by the life and death of a full blown unapologetic Christian like Charlie Kirk, who’s martyrdom was witnessed live on TV in front of their very eyes. That we would witness masses of people, seeking God like never before because of the influence of Christian celebrities like Charlie. Who would have thought his assassination would lead of global events, stadiums, sporting events, countries and parliaments holding memorials to this mighty man of God across the world.
Who would have thought his funeral attended by 100,000 people and broadcast to over 200 million people at least, would see world leaders holding the highest position in government, in the Church and across culture paying tribute to him in the only truly fitting way - by praising God and sharing the Gospel! Wow!! Who would have imagined the gospel being preached again and again so boldly, so passionately, so sincerely by men and women of the highest influence in the entire world.
Who would have thought we would see a political March in London led by an f-ing and blinding, once football hooligan, yet recently saved political prisoner which would involve anywhere between a million people again hearing the gospel time and time again. Worship and prayers opening up the March and the name of Jesus being proclaimed repeatedly what, every 500 metres?! Who would have thought we would see thousands upon thousands of football hooligan-esq, Union Jack clad lager-louts, chanting Christ is King alongside profanities and proclamations to sack the Prime Minister.
Yet right here, imbedded within the frailties, complexities and profanities of our broken societies, within realms of culture, within the highways and byways, God seems to be revealing Himself in such precious and praiseworthy ways. Seriously, who would ever have imagined that this is how God would answer our endless petitions for worldwide revival and our cries for His mercy upon this generation? Who would have imagined that God would show up in such unimaginable yet beautiful ways as this?
Yet for many, they unfortunately can’t imagine that this is in fact God answering prayers or showing up. For many, believers, boldly proclaiming the Gospel and evangelising the lost at Political Marches or standing alongside the President of the United States and sharing the saving grace of Christ in front of hundreds of millions of people is Christian Nationalism. It’s an unsavoury mixing of Christ with Politics. It’s tribal and aggressive. Militant, not humble. It’s idolatry. And it’s intimidating. It’s carnal. And it’s deception.
Yet I beg to differ. As someone who has been smack bang in the centre of what much of the Church are describing as Christian Nationalism, their description simply does not describe me or my heart and nor does it describe those that I know who are choosing to be Salt and Light, boldly representing Jesus, as a city on a hill, unafraid to get grimy in the highways and byways of culture shining His light in the darkest of places.
Those who are willing to share the love of God with the lost in the unsavoury places that most Christians wouldn’t touch with a barge pole, who are willing to be misunderstood, persecuted, who are following Jesus’ command to occupy until He comes by being on the front line in every culture in society. And so contrary to what is being defined as Christian Nationalism I believe it’s Christianity 101 actually - it’s utterly biblical, utterly necessary and utterly God’s heart!
Now does it mean that there isn’t tokenism there? That every single person who is seemingly singing worships songs in stadiums or crying Christ is King in Marches is fully understanding what they are singing? No. Does it mean that every single person at the marches, memorials or on social media platforms seeking this ‘trendy’ Christ Who is all of a sudden in ‘Vogue’ are genuine, bonafide seekers of God and new Christians who will stay the course? Far from it.
But does it mean that within all the tokenism, the clumsiness, the complexities and shortcomings of humanity that is God nevertheless moving? Yes, absolutely yes. Does it mean that people are being saved? Yes! Getting delivered? Yes! Comforted? Yes! Awakened? Yes!!!! And so, even with all the unconventional components of that which is happening across the earth - the seemingly erring, clumsy, unsavoury aspects that appear on the surface to be utterly undignified, unattractive, inconvenient, uncomfortable, non-straightforward, messy and complex, I’ll still take this as a holy move of God, with arms wide open shouting ‘bring it on Lord’.
Because even if it’s tokenism I know He’ll eventually bring truth. Even if it’s ugly, I know He’ll make it beautiful. Even if all this is uncomfortable He’ll bring rest, even if it’s offensive He’ll bring conviction. Even if it seems controversial, He’ll release love. Because God is in the business of doing the impossible, with the most impossible circumstances and amongst the most impossible people. He is more than able to turn hearts. Turn tides. And turn tables. He can tenderise our souls, pierce our hearts and melt a generation to long for Him.
Yet I believe He often uses the most unlikely, unimpressive, unattractive means to draw people close and reveal Himself. Isn’t that what He did with when Jesus walked the earth and hung out with sinners? When many people may have looked as His choice of disciples or companions and voiced their concerns by saying…“Nah that’s not the kind of religion I’m into…or Nah that’s not the kind of sinful people who should be connecting with someone claiming to be God.”
And as the many religious people watched him do things in a completely unconventional and often super controversial way, they may have also invariably questioned the way He was choosing to reveal Himself and concluded that “Nah that doesn’t look like the Messiah at all.” Or how about when they would have seen the Lord completely naked hanging there at the Cross at Calvary, with His head literally smashed in, back pierced to the bone, skin falling off, bloodied from head to toe and looking like an absolute mess?
They may have thought that was completely pathetic, this so called God allowing the Romans and Jewish leaders to put Him on the cross. “Nah that can’t be God. No way. Too messy. Too ugly. Too grimey.” And so they ridiculed and slandered our Precious Jesus, mocking Him, spitting at Him, not recognising that God deliberately chose Him to become utterly weak, ugly, offensive and surrendered, so He could show His love and power through His weakness. So He could use the foolish things to confound the wise.
And I think this is a little bit of what we are seeing now. In the ugliness, frailty, complexities and shortcomings of fragile humanity we are seeing our beautiful God show up with His love and power. Using the foolish things to confound the wise. And in the midst of what looks so shockingly sinful, offensive and down right ugly to some, our religious mindsets, bias’, boxes and blind spots all are getting triggered. And through it all, God is shaking and shifting the wheat from the chaff. The tokenism from the truth. The relationship from the religion.
And no matter how crazy it all gets or how many people get offended by what’s happening, I genuinely don’t want to miss a moment of it, no matter how uncomfortable, controversial or challenging things might get. And my prayer is that despite the discomfort, the dramas and deceptive media messaging swirling around the Church right now, that we will stay rooted in the Word of God, face fixed on Jesus like flint, where not a single one of us will miss a drop of the beauty of what is happening right now.
And as the glorious rumblings of a messy revival beginning to shake everything in us and around us, may we have eyes to see and ears to hear. May be know Jesus ever so intimately and rightly, as He leads us all, with His love and truth and may He receive the reward that He is worthy of. x