I didn’t want anyone to see it. After all, how many teenagers carry around an egg in the hallways, locker, and to each of their classes?
And even though most knew…
One of the High School Health teachers instructed their students to carry around an egg, as an example of parenthood, in hopes to “enlighten us” to the true responsibility of children….
I always hid my egg, tucked it safely under my coat or slipped it into my pocket because, well…
Carrying an egg seemed strange, I didn’t want to break it, and just maybe, someone might ask questions, or others might not understand it.
I am not going to lie, I was a tad bit ashamed of that egg. Ashamed that some hollowed out egg, was supposed to represent the beauty of a living, breathing being.
Ashamed that these eggs were given names, and at the end of the week, what was meant be about relationship, would end up just some report needing grading…
And that egg would be thrown away….an end to a means.
After all, there was only one goal after an entire week of this experiment: Do not break your egg.
Yet, in thinking about that egg; fragile, hidden, carefully carried…I am reminded of something else we can treat similarly; Our Christianity.
We can treat Christianity as if it is fragile, just some experiment, on the brink of existence or in danger of extinction…
Even though Christianity has radically transformed people, improved cultures and withstood centuries.
We hold our faith carefully, as if something might break it, a society might not like us, our own doubts can sabotage it….
When in reality, Christianity is more like a wrecking ball, than a fragile egg, that could shatter if someone bumps into us wrong.
Christianity plows down everything in it’s path, surpasses time, testing, persecution, and even withstands others hate and criticism.
For decades and generations, Christianity has tried to be eroded, tainted, and denigrated, all because of the simplest message that Jesus was God incarnate, died on a cross and rose three days afterwards.
There have been wars over His teaching, battles surrounding His message, struggles between legalism and grace from the very beginning….
In fact, many have been martyred; facing lions, getting beheaded, even facing a fiery furnace, because they refused to renounce their God.
Still, in this age, this day, I wonder if we have, somehow, kind of sissified Christianity.
Have we worried about it’s state, feared that it might offend, cared more about our reputation, than the true redemption story that has sent flames in the heart of men and women for ages?
And somewhere along the way, have we coddled Christianity, weakened the magnificence of that fire than burns deeply, reduced the power of the full gospel message?
Have we, for the sake of political correctness, softened the entry, carried around in our pockets the gospel like some helpless egg in High School…
Mistakenly believing it has no heartbeat, pulse, or power to withstand even the most difficult, broken story?
- “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31)
- “The Spirit of God, who raise Christ from the dead, lives in YOU.” (Rom. 8:11)
- “We need not to be ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” (Rom. 1:16)
Paul, wrote those words.
He got that the gospel was never meant to be hidden under some bushel, taken out only on Christmas and Easter, or kept frail and shamefully hidden, presented only at just the right time, we think it might be relevant.
Paul shared the gospel verbally, not just by demonstrating his faith through unspoken, “good behavior”.
If we don’t have words, if we hide our faith, how do we think, Jesus would be glorified?
The gospel means, “good news”.
Yes, the light and love of this Good News is a wrecking ball changing lives, it’s the power to redeem, and turn sinners into saints.
I don’t want my faith to be like that fragile egg, do you? Something I hide and carry around shamed, afraid of its frailty, and worried anyone or anything might break it.
Christianity is unconquerable, impenetrable, untaintable, and undefileable. No cultural appeal can weaken it, no enemy can thwart the power of this gospel.
Will you stop and consider what your faith looks like? Is it kept hidden, secret? Does it feel fragile and weak, or powerful and victorious?
We were made to rise, so that Christ might be made known, healing would come, and the world would know the glory found in the One True King.
Fan your faith into flames friends. We have enough fragile eggs, walking around in people’s pockets, hidden…
It’s time we live like wrecking balls, this gospel of love, that changes people.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” ~ Matt 5:14-16
