Tear Down The Walls

Hillsong United, a group of worship leaders who have led and inspired millions across the globe, got it right tonight: “If what we do inside these 4 walls doesn’t make a difference in the streets we travelled to get here, we’ve missed the point.”

I walked out of the theater almost 3 hours ago and I am still trying to process everything I saw tonight, everything I felt tonight. One thing I do know is that God has broken my heart in all the right places tonight.

One of the things I was awakened to tonight was that Jesus didn't die so we could experience religion, He died so we could experience love:

“I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream!” Amos 5:21-24

“And if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.” Isaiah 58:10

“What you do unto the least of these you do unto me" Matthew 25:40

"Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world." James 1:26-27

It is so easy to put myself, my self-seeking ambition, above all else in life. So far, my success has been the most important thing in my life 99% of the time. Another truth revealed tonight is this: "The human race is no race at all- its not a competition..."
What would it look like if our eyes were open to the fact that we’re not in a racing to beat the other guy. We are all in this together. Living life and glorifying God is about living in community and in fellowship, about loving and helping out our brother and our neighbor.

One question asked in this film was this: “When you ‘help’ people, do you pull them up from where they are... or do you sit down with them?”

This was convicting. And humbling. Because for the people who are even qualified to answer that question (am I? who have I helped lately?) I imagine a majority could honestly reply with the first answer, myself included. I tend to have a “know all” approach to most things in life, when there is a lot I really don’t know because I have been blinded. It seems that my eyes have been closed to the reality around me. But growing up in church my whole life by no means result in knowing everything. In fact, I have been highly naive to what has been going on in the world. How have I missed this all this time?

“Christians are known for the things we stand against but the things we stand against are so petty compared to everything going on in the world.”

I know that I am suppose to do something amazing with my life, what a life changing film. I am inspired and ready to spread the love. I left speechless, feeling helpless in the giant face of poverty, loneliness and deep need, but at the same time I am so full of hope for what could be.

It is time that I get out of my comfort zone and do what is commanded of me. Nelson Mandela once said that “bravery is not the absence of fear, but the overcoming of it.”

So long status-quo, I think I just let go. You make me want to be brave. (Nichole Nordeman)

Basically...I'm excited, humbled, ready, open, heartbroken and hopeful.

(Written on 11/4)