Do Something

Hi, my name is Alex and I’m a holy huddler. I love doing Bible studies with other Christians. I love being in community with people who are like me and have the same interests. I went to seminary because I enjoy learning about the character of God and the history of Christianity. My natural happy place is sprawled out on my couch and reading a good book, Christian or fiction.

I think all of these things are good! I think Jesus would high-five me for liking all of these things. I don’t think there is anything wrong with wanting to learn more about God or wanting to place myself amongst Christians who desire to become more like Christ.

As a holy huddler though, I have taken good things and indulged in them too much. I am too inclined to live a life of comfort where I am simply sure of the black and white world I have created for myself. I have learned all the right answers to what the Christian life looks like, but the power of the gospel is still in the process from moving from my head to my heart to my hands.

I am naturally inclined to turn the gospel into a story about how much Jesus loves me, how he died for my sins, and how the Father has sent the Holy Spirit to transform my life and act as my counselor. While these things are all true, my view of the gospel is way too narrow. The gospel is not just about the hope for my life but it is about the hope for everyone.

My brain tells me that I should go and share this good news with everyone! Go tell the world “Jesus loves you!” And yet my brain also tells me that the people around me that have not accepted Jesus as their savior will not do it because I tell them Jesus loves them. In fact my own experiences have taught me that speaking words does not make them true. Words are ways to communicate past or potential action! It is not the state of mind that matters but it is actions that come from it.

Having recently gotten married I have learned that only telling my wife “I love you” a thousand times does not communicate my love for her as much as when I make her dinner, fully engage in listening about how her day was, or even making the bed (I’m working on it). Romans 12:14-21 is packed full of actions that communicate to a broken world how the love of Jesus is practical and how I am a conveyer of that love by the way I act towards everyone, not just other Christians.

Bless those who curse you. That means I finds ways to love the people who make me the maddest.

Weep with those who weep. That is not a disposition of my heart were am I just sad for people. It means I am amongst the hurting and the broken and I cry with them because it hurts to see them hurting.

Do not be proud but associate with the lowly. Anytime I find myself looking down on someone (which is arrogance), my response should be to look for how I can show them love by spending time with them or taking care of their needs (without looking for anything in return!).

This whole passage of scripture is bursting with actions of how to take the gospel from my head to my heart to my hands. Acting on what I believe. Sacrificing my desires for the opportunity to show the love of Christ.

My name is Alex and I’m a holy huddler, but I’ve been called to be the hands and feet of Christ in a broken world.

-          Alex Berger, High School Pastor