Am I Guilty

This week I have be wrestling with a question found in my devotional reading originating on a church sign...

"If you were put on trial for being a Christian would you be found guilty?"

I'm a facilitator at the seminary for a ministry formation group that is part of the first year programming. One of the members of my group reflected about the early church and the lived life of some of the early disciples of Jesus Christ. Beginning in the book of Acts we see Stephen martyred and can follow through Church history many more that sacrificed that what we find most treasured...life! But isn't that what Jesus did?

I don't know if I'll ever be asked to sacrifice my life but I do know that I am called to go into the world and make disciples. This command begs the question...where am I to go and when do I do it? I find myself busy with church meetings, dinners, and other related church stuff that there seems to be little time to engage through active presence those that are not in the circle of church participation. I know that the truth of the lived life in Christ can only be shared and embraced by others as we become immersed in societal community (being present outside the walls). This presence provides opportunity to share the gospel through our lived story stripped of the verbiage and church- righteousness that only resonates inside the walls but by becoming vulnerable and revealing authentic journey and the truth of struggle where one finds the assurance of the gospel as life sustaining as well as the never dimming beacon of hope. Where those who do not know Christ have an opportunity to meet me, be exposed to and examine my Christlikeness, and to ask the question that opens the door for an introduction to Jesus Christ.

I've concluded this week that other than my time spent throughout the week at the Y my response to the question is I don't know?