Jesus Is For Losers

I had a couple interesting conversations lately. More than once in the past few weeks I've sat with pastors and church leaders and had them say something along the lines of, "...the key to a successful church is, you need to spend less time with the 1's and 2's and spend more time investing in the 8's and 9's..." (now in this context they are speaking of a 0 to 10 scale, where the best, most skilled, most valuable, most important, most wealthy, most influential are the 10's) My response has been simply, "Where do you see that in scripture?" It's a simple question, one no one had a ready answer for. The CEO mentality of pastoring and church leadership has projected this concept of not wasting time with the "losers" and invest in the "winners" instead, because they can get you somewhere the quickest and easiest. Now I can see the temptation in how that may "seem right", since businesses often run on that principle. Yet regardless of whether that method works in business or not, the point as believers should also be filtered through..."Where do you see that in the bible? Where do you see Jesus model that for us?" The answer is you don't see it. Jesus didn't teach it nor model it for us. In fact He modeled quite the opposite. The 12 men Jesus selected as Apostles were a rag tag bunch, made up of mostly fishermen and farmers, quite common for that time period. Matthew was a tax-collector for the Romans, a dubious job at best in his culture. A very cut throat occupation that was not well respected at all. Simon & Judas' occupations are not readily known, and appear to be inconsequential, though some suspect Judas may have had some money skills since he was the one given the responsibility for the Apostles purse (a responsibility that proved too tempting, to the point of self destruction & betrayal). This motley crue (not the band in the midst of their reunion tour by the way) was used by God (except for Judas) to change the world! In spite of their flaws, insecurities, doubts and fears Jesus delivered a message through them that still is alive and well to this day! Not because they were "8's or 9's", but because they had the right heart, and trusted Jesus enough to follow Him, learn from Him, be shaped by Him and carry out what He asked them to do. In many ways the apostles were losers by today's standards...1's & 2's...so to speak. Yet in that, I'm reminded of a Steve Taylor song written over 10 years ago entitled, "Jesus Is For Losers". It was a satirical song that reminded us that Jesus wasn't enthralled with the things we're impressed with. Jesus didn't chase after the wealthy...the influential...the talented. He invested in the "losers"...the whores...the lepers...the outcasts...the poor...even women & children (which in His day was a big deal). Jesus died for losers. He died for those on top of the hill also. He gave Himself for everyone. The question here is, not who Jesus pursues, but who do we? Who, do we as churches, pastors, & leaders pursue and what's the result? Who do we as believers "choose" to invest in and is it consistent with what Jesus taught? If we are honest, we all are losers underneath the veneer of ego, pride, selfishness and our thirst for power. Reinforcing this, I was reminded twice in the last 2 weeks of a similar concept, one I found in 1 Samuel, chapter 22. On May 28th at a cool Eugene-like coffee house in Austin, Texas called Progressive...God drew me to this portion of scripture. In it God describes the 400 men who would team up with David (eventually to be King David). These 400 men would go down in history as "David's Mighty Men"...known for incredible exploits for God. But this passage describes them as they began to gather as the 400...before anything had been done yet. They were described as "in debt, in distress & discontented". This hardly sounds like a bunch that would do mighty things. This hardly sounds like a group most churches would pursue, or seminary's would teach to attract, or "church growth people" would encourage you to embrace as world changers. Yet in God's hands, they did mighty things! I felt God encouraging me that day regarding ECHO, saying this is who ECHO will be built on..."the in debt, in distress & discontented"...don't seek after the elite. And you know, in many ways that is who God has brought and is bringing to ECHO. In fact just a few days ago I met with a local pastor and was describing the people who are being drawn into ECHO...and he said, "sounds like David's 400...the in debt, in distress &...I forgot the other "d" word..." At that moment I felt I was in the midst of a "God thing"...cause I knew I never told him of my scripture in 1 Samuel at the coffee shop in Austin a few weeks prior. I blurted out "...the disillusioned...". He said, "ya that's it...the disillusioned...that sounds like who God is bringing to you...and look what God did with those guys" Wow, God is cool...He reminded me even further that He doesn't require the talented, the beautiful, the wealthy, and the status people to accomplish His purposes. Even though our western church culture tends to project you need to be an exceptional orator, a talented musician, a seminary degreed, beautiful person with perfect smile, hairstyle, weight & snappy clothes...yet God shows us something very different. Is it any wonder why so many are spectators in our churches? How few fit the criteria we model? Yet God's criteria is very different, it begins with a heart that's willing to use what you got to impact people for God's purposes...everybody has a place...everyone is eligible...everyone has an opportunity! Jesus criteria says the "last shall be first"..."blessed are those who mourn"..."it is hard for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom"..."it takes the faith of a child to become part of the Kingdom"...and "the servant is the greatest in the Kingdom of God". Clearly His ways are not our ways...so aligning with His ways is our challenge. When in fact, it's a greater miracle when He uses people like you & me...regular folks...even losers, if you will...people who don't have their act together...then you know it's God doing something, cause it surely ain't us! There's nothing we can take credit for in that, and that's a good thing...it's just us depending on Him. Isn't that the way God has always meant it to be?

be God's!
Brian O
Lead Pastor dude, ECHO