What if

What if

several families

with one vision

lived together

under the same roof

as one family

loving God

loving each other

and loving their neighbors as themselves.

What if

they lived intentionally

loved intentionally

served the community intentionally together

loving God as more than a belief system

but as a living breathing Love

that reaches out to people in need

people in need of this Love

the Love that longs to restore the universe

to itself.

What if

there is more to "loving God"

than going to church on Sunday

Women's coffee on Monday

Small group on Tuesday

and being consumed in our individual lives

for the remainder of the week.

I would be a nice person

regardless of whether I believed in God or not.

My life looks no different

than any other "nice" young woman

who likes having good relationships with others.

So if I truly love this God that I claim to serve

why am I not doing anything?

Why does my life not look any different?

If I claim to really be a Christ follower

laying down my life for Christ's sake

than I am a lier.

I am not caring for the widows and the orphans

clothing the least of these

or feeding the hungry.

I have been too comfortable

in my dreams of the future

in my familiar circle of friends

the warmth of my own home

my individual wants

and needs

me

me

Me.

And Jesus is calling my family

out of this comfort

out of complacency

out of our familiar circle of friends

to a live a life that is not lived in vain

in the individual pursuit

of worldly possessions

or gain

or success

or fame

or even comfort.

It is a life of intentional living

intentional community

intentional loving

intentional serving.

Living in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ

in response

to that same Gospel

that same Love

that is transforming our hearts

restoring our souls

shaping our lives.

What if

Christianity

is not about our personal comfort

our personal pursuit of God

our personal sins

and personal issues

and personal dreams and visions?

What if

Christianity

is actually meant to be

lived out together

as a collective pursuit of God

a community vision

with a collective outflow

of this Love

into service?

What if Jesus never intended

for us to be so concerned

with our individual faith

and individual struggles

and individual victories

that we lose sight

of who Christ really is

and His heart for the people around us?

What if Jesus wasn't so much concerned

if we read the Bible that morning or not

but was more concerned

that our neighbor is hurting

and is desperate for the Love

that we are so selfishly

hoarding

for ourselves

for our individual emotions

for the feel good high

that we have been taught is appropriate

and right

and Christian.

I think there is more to being a Christ follower.

I think Christ is calling us to a higher standard

to a radical way of life

to a radical way of Love.

And I think if more people

lived in direct response to this calling

our world

would be different.

I don't know all the answers,

but I know that this crazy God

who is this crazy Love

has ignited a fire within me

and within Eric

that won't be put out

until our lives

are radically different...

...until Jesus really is

our Everything.