Get Dangerous!

Whether it is a summer camp or church retreat, all of us have been there at one point or another. We get fired up about our relationship with God while at an event or camp. We often make statements about changing things in our lives or turning away from a specific sin, but all too often when we return home, the passion fades and the commitment disappears and we are back to our old habits. Rather than turning back to our former way of live, author, Shay Robbins believes Christians need to get dangerous!

Each summer, Robbins, Director at Kanakuk Kamps and member of the teaching team at Woodland Hills Family Church teaches hundreds of campers and counselors what it means to have not just a relationship with God, but true intimacy.  His new book, titled, Dangerous Christian: A Brave Heart for a Broken World is a war cry for intimacy with God. In a world obsessed with status and self-satisfaction and a Christian community caught up in culture wars, Dangerous Christian offers an invitation to a radically different way of life.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:10-17

Robbins shares how often what we learn growing up, and the culture, counter what it means to be a dangerous Christian. He weaves together personal experience and Biblical truth and takes readers on the journey of developing brave hearts to engage our broken world.

“It’s easy to equate following Jesus with being nice. Fighting, for all intents and purposes, has become what the bad guys do. That’s the message I learned growing up. Be a good guy. Keep your cool. And don’t get too passionate—that’s a fast track to sin. But perhaps fighting is not the problem. Maybe it’s what we are fighting for? It’s not about working harder or doing more. It’s an invitation into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, which can transform us from passive believers into dangerous weapons for the Gospel. A Dangerous Christian sees the world, themselves, and other people differently. Appearances don’t matter so much anymore. Physical prowess is no longer how strength is measured. Faith is. Humility, toughness, prayer, and passion to follow Jesus—that’s what has the power to change our world, make the devil tremble and bring glory to God.”

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.  Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Ephesians 6:18-20

Robbins opens up in Dangerous Christian on what he believes Christians were created to do.

“You and I were created to fight against evil with our Heavenly Father by our side. Following Jesus isn’t for wimps. It’s the most dangerous thing we could ever do. It will take toughness and grit, passion and gutsiness. But it may not look like you’d expect.”

Risen Reflections

Get dangerous! Take time this week to reflect on what is holding you back from being dangerous in your relationship with Christ. Ask God to remove any fear, doubts or worries. Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you and give you strength. Check out Dangerous Christian and other resources that can empower you in your relationship with God. Read through different examples throughout the Bible of men and women who initially had fear but turned to God.

Surround yourself with other dangerous friends. If you are going to a camp, retreat or event, ask some friends to go with you. Before you head home, take time to meet and pray. Share what you learned and how you can pray for one another. There might even be things that you want to ask the group to hold you accountable to doing. If you are able to, check in on each other daily or weekly through email, text message or meeting up for coffee. Remember that the enemy is on the attack and we are stronger when we join together and help one another out. It may not be easy to open your life up or allow people to challenge you, but God will sharpen each of you and make you more like his Son.

Put on the full armor of God. Reflect this week on Ephesians 6:10-20. Often times, we head into the battle with only the helmet of salvation on! The enemy is looking for any way to cause dissension and division individually and corporately. Ask the Holy Spirit for insight into situations. Often times, conflict is a result of spiritual warfare and if we respond in the spirit of God, it can help alleviate the conflict. Remember that God gave us the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome the schemes of the enemy.

To check out Dangerous Christian: A Brave Heart for a Broken World visit: http://ow.ly/eXtk304LUng