A Letter Home

[archive: September 21, 2006]

Recently, my mom sent me an email for my birthday. In my reply back to her, I wrote the following words, “I’m merely a product of a great God, great parents and great friends. The rest is improvisation.” After I sent the email, I couldn’t stop thinking “how does that statement play out for a follower of Jesus Christ?”

More often than I care to admit, I struggle with the mainstream Christian community. Because of our focus on being the moral voice in society, rather than the spiritual voice in society we seem to spend our time studying scripture in order to be better people. In effect, we’re studying the scriptures to pass the God test (making it into Heaven), rather than studying the scripture so that we understand it, make it our own and be able to carry a conversation with someone about it (the Great Commission).

I heard someone say recently that, “In the modern world a great preacher was a person who could teach you the information of the bible. Now (in the post-modern world) people want to know, has that book taken you anywhere – where you’ve met and experienced God?”

Studying the ancient scriptures for information is great if your intent is to apply it in your own life AND the lives of those living around you. However, the human soul does not connect with information alone – it’s the combination of that information with your own personal experience that connects with the human soul. That’s what I call improvisation.

It’s reading the ancient scriptures, thinking about what it says, questioning what it says and talking with others about what you’ve read. In that process, the Spirit of God will bring the words on those pages alive, giving you new incite into that scripture. It’s relevant, it’s fresh, it’s personal and it’s applicable. This is the collision that happens when you’re seeking God and God is seeking you. It’s a time of personal revelation and when in conversation with other people, it is also improvisation. It’s utilizing the information contained in the bible on a day-to-day basis with real people. It’s un-sanitized Christianity. It’s raw, unique and it connects with the human soul.

Our lives are important to God, not only because we are His creation, but also because we are completely unique. That individuality lends itself to the Good News of Jesus being improvised and broadcasted in such a way that can be very personal and unique for all the people who do not know Him. Your life was created with the intention of effecting one or more lives. Your story will connect with one or more human souls. Your story will be developed as you read the scriptures and live your life amongst people. Do not be surprised if you are put in some interesting situations and conversations…you may not know what to say or do and at that point you’ll have to ‘wing it’ or improvise. All of your studying will be put the real test – putting faith into action.

Talk to God and hear from Him through the scriptures – then go talk with people….and repeat, and repeat. Let your new song, your life’s improvisation resound in the lives of those around you.