That's It?
That’s It?
That was weird…
You said it. "Jesus Christ died for your sins against God and then he rose from the dead so you can live with him forever." Short, sweet, true, but now they are staring at you and you're not sure how they are going to respond.
One of my favorite movies is Elf starring Will Ferrel who plays a human raised by elves, Buddy. Buddy goes to New York in his elf-attire to find his estranged father who has no idea Buddy even exists. The moment arrives when Buddy the Elf finds his dad who works in an office at the Empire State Building. All the employees gather around thinking a Christmas song is about to be sung, but what comes out of Buddy's mouth is something completely unexpected. If you've seen the movie, it is a brilliantly awkward moment as Buddy makes up a song on the spot about how he's his dad's son and he loves him. The response his dad gives is so deflating:
“ That’s it? That was weird.”
This can be the picture we imagine as believers called to share the good news, especially here, where many of us are living cross-culturally. In our mind's eye and to our ears we look like Buddy the Elf in New York City belting, "God loves you! He loves you! He LOOOOVES YOU!!!" Fully expecting everyone to say, "That's it? That was weird."
Paul had a similar feeling when he arrived in Corinth. He says that he was "with [them] in weakness and in fear and much trembling". But, he also says this was for a reason, "so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God". You see Paul had resolved to know nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). That's it! Nothing more, and certainly nothing less!
Something amazing happens when we show up in all our weakness, our awkwardness, even our muddled words. If Jesus Christ and him crucified is the power of God to save, then he can do the convincing and break through to anyone. Paul was reminding the Corinthians of this truth. They heard the truth of the gospel and it was powerful to save them.
May we not be ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone... - Romans 1:16
Loren