Are You Living in a Holy Huddle?
Are you living in a holy huddle? Before you answer this question, let me describe what I call a holy huddle.
You’re a Christian. All of your friends are Christians. Your social activities involve other Christians. Your children go to a Christian school or are home schooled. You may wave to your neighbors but you really don’t know very much about their lives. You’re active in your church and probably teach or go to a regular Bible study. You may pray for your country or city but really don’t get involved unless it’s for a Christian community leader.
OK, before you think I’m down on Christians …that’s absolutely not true!
I am a Christian and I love the Lord Jesus. And I think it’s important to have fellowship with other Christians. But I also see it often taken to the extreme where people get so used to their comfortable “holy huddle” that they really don’t live out the Great Commission.
In Matthew 28: 19-20 Jesus appeared to eleven of His disciples on a mountain in Galilee. Here’s what He told them to do:
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Did you notice Jesus said GO? Remember back to Genesis 11 and something called the tower of Babel. Do you remember that God had told the people to go out? Instead they settled and built a tower. Listen to verse 4:
“Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”
So, what did God do? Read for yourself His response in verses 5-8:
“But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other. So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city.”
There’s a lesson for me in that one. When God tells me to do something I should listen and …obey.
Jesus came to save sinners. And in the New Testament He uses us as His channel of blessing …to others.
It’s not given for us to keep this blessing only to ourselves. I’m so grateful that I am declared righteous before God because I am clothed in the righteousness of Christ. When He looks at Debbie, He sees Jesus. How awesome is that? My heart is so thankful. I have peace with God and I will spend eternity with Him. Why would I want to keep that to myself?
There are so many people who still don’t know Him. We are called to be salt and light to a lost and dying world. I want to challenge you to go out and be that light.
- Don’t just preach. Walk your talk.
- Talk to your neighbor when you’re out getting your mail.
- Smile at the person checking you out at the grocery store. Learn their name.
Did you know that people are more inclined to listen when they know you care? They don’t want to be seen as a project with a goal of converting them. Be an example and live a life of love, always being ready to share the reason for your hope and treat others with respect.
Do you take the Great Commission seriously? Or are you so worried about being in the world that you’ve cut yourself off from contact with many of the people who just might need what you have within you?
Debbie Petras
Heart Choices
Hi Debbie,
This is convicting to my heart. Now that I’m a SAHM, I’m not out in the public like I was before. When I worked full time, I was always talking to non-believers about Jesus. Now, the most contact I have with non-believers is on my facebook account. Trust me — I have quite a few characters on there. Ha.
When my daughter was in day care, I had some relationships with people who didn’t know Jesus. I even had one tell me that she came to my blog just so she could “feel good” some days. But now my daughter isn’t in day care. Sigh.
Somehow, I must get myself back out of the house. It is very easy to live in a huddle of people who are like ME.
Thank you for sharing!
Love,
Beth
I totally agree. I was in a holy huddle of only Christian relationships. Then I moved and my husband lost his job and I went to work in Sedona amongst the New Agers. Wake up call! But God gave me grace and a heart for the lost and I have never been the same. Evangelism is a lifestyle. We need the encouragement of Christian support, but need to be salt and light in the world.
Amen Debbie, I have written something similar I think it was last year. What good are we doing if we only hang around Christians? Amen!
This is such a wonderful devotional thought, Debbie. Good job!
You have shared some good ideas to get out of the comfort zone of the Christians that surround us. I feel I’m often “out of the loop” b/c I stay at home and don’t have to deal with the negativity and non Christians in the workplace like my hubby does.
Dear Debbie,
I find it is easy to spend most of my time with Christian friends. I love to listen to them and just let them know I care. The Lord has been convicting me to reach out more to those that don’t know the Lord. I love to walk each morning and do enjoy listening to many of our neighbors. However, it is easy to just go home and not see them until the next day. I need to spend more time with some of them to get to know them on a deeper level. There is such joy when we reach out to others.
Sue
Very convicting post. I admit that I live in pretty much of a holy huddle but I try not to be a Vashti (think Esther’s husband’s first wife, who wouldn’t even come out to the banquet when he called her). I don’t want to be a spiritual snob to the world. I do want to GO and lead others to Him. Great post! Very thought-provoking stuff.
Wow, Debbie…what a coincidence? It was the same message the pastor said on his homily yesterday^-^ “Be an example so that people will know that you’re a true follower of Christ. Going to the church is not good enough, it is living your faith and don’t be afraid to tell the world about your God that will make people believe that you are a true Christian:))”
The biggest challenge for me as a Christian is “loving the unlovable”. Easier said than done… an example is loving those who have hurt me. Indeed, forgiveness is such a divine act. That’s where I question Job’s faith… he is a perfect example of such great faith and humility^-^
Thanks for sharing such profound thoughts, Debbie^-^ And yes, I struggled with that “Great Commission” so seriously. Everyday, I kept asking what would I do to help? I know I can do something and I want to be a gift for others in my own small ways^-^
What a great word! I believe you are right on, even though I am probably one of the worse offenders. I tend to be introverted, and even among Christians it can take me quite a while to relax and be comfortable. But as you said, God is calling us to Go, not to huddle together. While we need one another and should not neglect the assembling of ourselves together, neither should we neglect being the salt and light that the world is so desperately in need of.
Thank you for the wonderful reminder!!!!
Ev
Such a powerful word, bless you my friend.
Debbie-
wonderful devo today. As a pastors wife I run into this very problem … because we surround ourselves with christian friends, christian schools, christian banquets, etc etc. Even when you work with all christians – there are great possibilites waiting for us to share Christ with those at the supermarket, the car wash, or the homeless on the street. Thanks for the reminder today! -blessings, Laurie
Debbie,
Thank you. I needed this today. Right in line with a book I have been reading The Tangible Kingdom: Creating Incarnational Community. Something I need to be more aware of.
Patricia
Debbie,
YOu really did a great job with this post. I was thinking about it today, and one thing that occurred to me is that it is one of those “intentional” things I need to do. Like so many, it is easy for me to hang out with my Christian friends, and truly, that is important. But everyday, I need to remind myself to be aware of those around me who do not know Christ – maybe my child’s teacher, the cashier at the grocery store, the carhop that brings my order…..I see these people all the time. I wonder if they see anything besides another customer? One relationship at a time, one opportunity at a time. thanks Debble.
POWERFUL AND WELL SAID!!! Praise the LORD!