Anywhere Christians

The other day I was reading through a list detailing signs of a mature Christian.  The list told me I'm on the right track, but that I have work to do.  One area I wasn't sure applied to me though was living into the concept that there are no "off-hours" of our faith lives, that it's a 24/7 thing.  As a pastor, I've seen what happens to pastors who treat their role with a sense of 24/7 priority--burnout, moral failure, and neglect of spouse and family.  I decided to ignore that one--or at least pretend it didn't apply.  For me, a sign of maturity is a healthy balance and to know the bounds of what I believe is personally in my hands to achieve or tend to.

Yet, I have ultimately concluded there IS wisdom in that sign and challenge that I couldn't ignore.  While I may not be in active ministry everyday--especially when I'm taking my weekly Sabbath or spending time with family, etc.--I'm still a pastor and have an example to keep.  Furthermore, even when I'm not actively in my pastoral role, I'm still a Christian and seeking Christ in and through my life.  There's a subtle difference between being a pastor and being a Christian, and that's where this sign of maturity comes into play:  regardless of whether I'm off or on as a pastor, am I the same Christ follower during my "on" days as I am during my "off" days?  Is my faith life a profession or a way of living?  What do I value behind closed doors?  How do people see me when I'm in a different city?  This matters.

The bulk of this wrestling came to a head for me just yesterday (Sunday 11/01) as I stepped up to the starting line of my first half-marathon--the Good Life Halfsy.  I was excited to be there and was proud to think about what this meant for people around me, at Horizons, and in my life:  I am an example that keeping fit AND being faithful is possible.  We don't have to choose to worship fitness OR Jesus; we can be fit AND keep our eyes on Christ.  Yet, there I stood at the starting line also just minutes away from our first worship service starting at Horizons.  In the back of my mind I also contemplated what example I was setting--am I saying sometimes there are more important things than being in worship??  That doesn't sound very good to me.  Nothing is more important than routine, joyful worship of our God.  Nothing.

So I decided there was only thing to do--be a fit, 24/7 on-call, running-but-not-preaching-today pastor AND Christian at the Halfsy.  If I'm going to miss worship, I'd better still be praising my God!  

I'm sure I was annoying to my fellow runners, and I'm sure many spectators chuckled as I ran by and thought to themselves "there's one of those guys..."   But regardless, I knew what my duty was:  not to run this for myself and my own goals, but to run and be a witness.  So I yelled along the way, in response to cheers and encouragement "It's all for Jesus!  I run for Jesus!"  That was my call and role Sunday.  Running came second.

In the end both the witnessing and running turned out.  I actually had more energy and enjoyment when I was busy shouting out my savior's name--I wasn't focusing on myself!  I also received several "amens" and "yeses"  along the way.  When I finally crossed the finish line (200th place out of 6,100 runners), I pointed upward to God.  He's why I run.  Of course Sarah, for a moment thought I was holding up a number 1 sign and was preparing for how she would gently break the news to me that I was not the first runner to cross, but quickly caught on and joined me in celebrating: this is why we're alive, no matter where we are--church or the finish line!

So that's what this 24/7 life in Christ looks like.  It's good.  Go live yours!


More to come!

Jason <><