Sound of Hope
I had always heard sirens as a call to get out of the way until my mom fell and needed transported to the ER. Then the siren became a sound of hope.
We have all heard them, seen them and tried to get out of the way when they were near. I am grateful for the efforts of police, fire and EMS and their sirens give me cause to get out of the way so they can do their job. However, when my mom fell and was unconscious the sound changed for me. It became a sound of hope.
As the sound of the ambulance got louder and louder I knew that it was getting closer and closer, that rescue was near. Recently when we I was in a home that called EMS I felt the same for the spouse. The louder the sound, the closer the hope.
I have been thinking about our gospel message and the impact it has been having on the culture at large. Is our message one that makes people want to get out of the way or does it inspire hope? Since people in America are not flocking to our churches, I am afraid that what they are hearing us say is, “Get out of our way!”
I am reading Reframation by Alan Hirsch and Mark Nelson for the second time in the past 12 months and it challenges me to consider the way in which I communicate the good news about Jesus. Here are some tips to consider as you think about what sound you are making to those who see your life.
Unity: Does your life focus on dividing or uniting people? It is hard to be a divisive person and be effective in sharing the gospel. Our world is tornado that continue to try and suck us into divisive issues. Instead of getting sucked into that which divides, be a person that works to unite others.
Hope: Does your life inspire hope or despair? There is so much despair in our world today and people of hope are a breath of fresh air. Be a person filled with hope.
Love: Conditional love is all the popular rage right now. Loving unconditionally does not mean you will be loved in return. That, ironically, would become conditional love. Love others unconditionally.
Majesty: Our language surrounding the gospel does not often illicit images of beauty, grandeur and wonder. We need new language that captures the wonder of what Christ accomplished on the cross and through the resurrection. In the intersection of God’s grace and your life there is a beautiful transformation that took place in your life. Put that intersection to word and you will be closer to describing the majesty that is found in relationship with Christ.
When we speak of Christ, we will either be telling people to get out of our / God’s way or we will be inspiring the sound of hope on the horizon. What does your life inspire?