I am reading a book In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, by Mark Batterson. I know, what a title, huh? But he talks a lot about living life on offense, taking risks, and focusing on God rather than life, a 500 lb. lion that's coming after you. You'll have to read the book to fully understand.
In Chapter Six, "Playing It Safe is Risky," I have to share some of his thoughts. It stirred my heart to action.
"Is anyone else tired of the church playing defense? Why is it that the church is known more for what we're against than what we're for? Why does it seem like the church is always in a defensive posture? Maybe it's time for Christ followers to put on crash helmets and play offense.
"God is raising up a generation of lion chasers that don't just run away from evil. God is raising up a generation of lion chasers that have the courage to compete for the kingdom....
"...Lion chasers don't retreat. They attack. Lion chasers aren't reactors. They are creators. Lion chasers refuse to live their lives in a defensive posture. They are actively looking for ways to make a difference.
"In his book Roaring Lambs, Bob Briner reflects on missionary conventions he went to as a kid where children were challenged to commit themselves to missions. And that's an awesome thing. Missionaries are heroes. But I agree with Briner when he says that the same spirit needs to prevail in sending our children into culture-shaping professions like entertainment, journalism, education, and politics.
"Why not believe that one day the most critically acclaimed director in Holleywood could be an active Christian layman in his church? Why not hope that the Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting could go to a Christian journalist on staff at a major daily newspaper? Is it really too much of a stretch to think that a major exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art could feature the works of an artist on staff at one of our fine Christian colleges? Am I out of my ind to suggest that your son or daughter could be the principle dancer for the Joffrey Ballet Company, leading a weekly Bible study for other dancers in what was once considered a profession that was morally bankrupt? (Briner, Robert. Roaring Lambs, (Nashville: Zondervan, 2000), 5.)
"We need to stop criticizing culture and start creating it.
"Paul didn't boycott the Aeropagus. He didn't stand outside with a picket sign: 'Athenian Idolators Are Going To Hell in a Hand Basket.' Paul wasn't playing not to lose. Paul was playing to win, so he went toe-to-toe with some of the greatest philosophical minds in the ancient world. Paul competed for the truth on their turf.
"Instead of complaining about the current state of affairs, we need to offer better alternatives. We need to make better movies and better music. We need to write better books. We need to start better schools and better businesses.
"As the old aphorism suggests, we need to stop cursing the darkness and start lighting some candles!
"In the words of Michelangelo, we need to criticize by creating. And you can't create without taking some calculated risks." (Batterson, pg 120-122)
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