Breaking Free From Fear

I think as a pastor, so often I express myself as a pastor (because a pastor is a part of who God has shaped and gifted me to be), so a few weeks ago I wrote in my journal--"How would the church change if their pastors began to live from a position of freedom rather than fear?"

Over the last few weeks, as I have thought about that question, I have expanded the net to include all of you--"How would our world change if Christians began to live from a position of freedom rather than fear?"

How many fearless Christians do you know?

My list is pretty short.  And the fearless Christians that I do know are bold, daring, and oftentimes seem borderline obnoxious--they really aren't, but their ability to breathe and live in the rare air of true freedom almost makes them seem like they are the cockiest people on the planet at times.

Man, I want to be that guy.

I want to have the confidence that in Christ, there is NOTHING I can't accomplish for His glory.  I want to have the tenacity that fully believes that within the Church we can be the answer to so many of the world's wounds and hurts.  I want to have an unshakable boldness that radically and almost recklessly extends grace to those who need it the most.

What if we made the commitment to love radically, give recklessly, and serve painfully regardless of how much it would cost us or how others may judge us?

Maybe when we break free of the bondage of self-doubt and start to live under the shadow of true forgiveness as sons and daughters of God, perhaps we will begin to believe that we can forcefully advance His Kingdom on earth...

or we can just keep playing church and living in fear...

it's our choice!