The 'Following Jesus' Manifesto

1. Stop talking about Jesus. Just stop. If we loved the people around us half as much as we say we love Jesus the rest of this manifesto would be entirely redundant.
   
2. Live a secret life. Invest the time, effort and vulnerability necessary to delve deeply into the scripture and prayer. Spend long periods of time in stillness. There is no shortcut to this, there is no other way. Without a deep and secret life we soon find ourselves talking about Jesus instead of being like Jesus.
   
3. Stop pretending. I'm a Christian, and I suck. So do you. Let's get that out of the way, shall we?
   
4. Give more than you get. There will always be more than enough.
   
5. Be present for those around you. Following Jesus has nothing to do with your work, your resume or your income. In fact, nothing that matters does.
6. Treasure broken-ness. Our broken places are sacred spaces in our heart. Honour them. Value them. In doing so you love the unlovely, publicly declaring the beauty of God's image in everyone. Greet the broken with comfort and cool water.
7. Throw a party.
   
8. Know Jesus well enough to recognize him on the street. This is rather important, because he can always be found on the street - and he usually looks more like a pan-handler than a preacher.
9. Accept ingratitude and abuse as a fixed cost. Embrace them, and then go the extra mile.
10. If you follow Jesus, you will anger religious people. This is how you will know.
    

Comments

[rick]

Hey brother, you are starting to sound like another "radical" named rick that I know. :)

Preach it, brother!

[John Lunt]

This is great. I really love number eight and it is so true. I am really begining to see Jesus in the lives of the people I'm getting involved in on the street. Many of them wouldn't be welcome in the local church. How sad.

Number one though.... I assume you mean quit preaching at people about Jesus in a self righteous way. I don't think I can stop talking about Jesus and some of my best encounters on the streets and at work have happened as I told someone about what Jesus has done in my life or how he has been so good to me. Hmmmm....

I would add one more. Have faith. Expect God to show up and do something wonderful and maybe a little unusual and when you don't believe God is doing what you think he should, have faith anyway. God knows more than you do.

Number six is rich. Treasure broken-ness. We don't do that well at all at least in the American church, can't really speak to Canada or the rest of the world. We need that. Jesus treasures broken-ness. It's why he came. I think I'm beginning to.

Love the manifesto RWK. You're like James, take the theological and put it in a practical framework. That's why I love what you do. It's always an encouragement. You model Jesus for us. Thanks.

[[rhymes with kerouac]]

Monk-in-Training - Post away... though I'd have to say that it really doesn't seem to be that profound...

rick - What a life we lead...

John Lunt - Thanks, brother. I was just trying to say that talk without love is just talk, You sir, are walking the talk, and it's beautiful.

[John]

This is a beautiful, Jesus-filled statement we all would do well to commit to memory.

[Danielle]

At first read, I think of so many people who I want to show this to so maybe they'd "get it."

Then again, most days I just wish I got it.

[tonia]

mmmm...oh boy. I'm going to have to go think about this one for awhile. You don't do anything halfway, do you?

convicting.

[molly]

Ow.

[reesta]

RWK - I love this whole manifesto! It is very freeing - altho it definately separates one from mainstream Christianity and I am ok with that as I was finding it a bad fit anyway and just thought it was me.
I don't quite understand this part tho:
"Know Jesus well enough to recognize him on the street. This is rather important, because he can always be found on the street - and he usually looks more like a pan-handler than a preacher."
I know that Jesus is found in suffering and on the street with regular people and is likely more comfortable there than in a church but it sound like you mean he is physically there - like "disguised" as a street person...is this what you mean?
I know God is in the mission - I know He loves each person that comes through the door. But I sense you mean more than that and I'm dying to know what you mean...

[[rhymes with kerouac]]

John - Thanks.

Danielle - I wish I got it, too.

Tonia - Housework. Apparently I'm always doing that halfway ;)

reesta - Ahhh, I'm not that deep. I was thinking about Matthew 25. I think Jesus is - quite literally - disguised within the people we serve at the Mission. It's kind of hard to see Jesus when your being screamed at or dodging vomit but he's there nonetheless. Matthew 25 tells us that the one sure place to meet Jesus - and serve Jesus - is on the street or in the shelter.

[Steve F.]

Simple, direct, honest, to-the-point. It's brilliantly inspired, brother. And, as you pointed out, not only do I wish I'd written it, I also wish I could live it more than one day in seven...

The tragedy is, I spent a year at seminary and heard less about "serving God by serving the least of these" in that year than I hear from you in an average week. And "the church" claims to be preparing women and men to serve God and God's kids...

/sigh/

If you ever doubt what you're doing, please, please just come back here and read this. You need to know that I come closer to meeting Jesus through your writing than I could ever put into words. I am a richer man for encountering you here in the blogosphere - and I am grateful to God for a season in your path.

[MMM]

Now HERE is a piece of info I coulda used years ago. It's being BookMMMarked. Like, NOW. :)

[Catez]

I've had to think about no.1. I used to live and work in a ministry with ex-drug adicts, homeless people, street kids, alcoholics, and prostitutes. I was there 24/7. So I think I understand what you mean about not talking about Jesus all the time - putting the love into action. But... I wouldn't say never talk about Jesus. That's a bit too imperative for me. I like to have conversations as they happen - and I know in the ministry I was in (which some people came to from homeless shelters as we offered more - tutoring, learning to work, a home really) - anyway, in that place some people did want to talk about Jesus. They had questions. So I don't really agree with no.1 as a "never talk about Jesus" command -which is how it struck me. I agree that talking about Jesus can be overdone, and I have observed those who think assisting society's outcats is all about preaching to them all day. If you mean that I agree. But I wouldn't rule out being able to discuss Jesus, answer questions, and pray with people sometimes either.

I know what it's like - you roll up your sleeves and put it into action. That evidences what you do say in those conversations that happen sometimes. I mean real conversations - they are relational. And I mean "you' plural, in a general way.

[Catez]

I just read some of your other posts and see that you have talked about Jesus at the Mission. So I am thinking you are more addressing the over-preachy attitude in this post.:)

[[rhymes with kerouac]]

Steve - Thanks, bro! (It's always good to hear your voice)

MMM - Thnaks!

Catez - You are absolutely right - you and are on the same wave-length.

[robyn]

amen to that. if only i walked that out as much as i claim to believe it. we do all suck at this. praise God in heaven and Jesus our Saviour for grace. His mercies are new everyday, for even me.

[NeohehycleFox]

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