On Fire!

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

(Luke 24:13-35)

Last month a big wildfire broke out just outside of Sedona, AZ; due to droughts and high winds the fire dramatically increased in size in just a day. Almost immediately, and without warning it was threatening the town of Kachina Village. One news report described the scene: "As smoke billowed over their homes, residents threatened by a growing Arizona wildfire filled their vehicles with clothes, heirlooms, medication, legal documents and family pictures. Many of them collectively gasped when they were told at a community meeting that a wildfire was approaching... Elsewhere in this village of about 1,400 off Interstate 17, residents were clearing brush away from their homes and hosing down the landscape. Search and rescue crews with the Coconino County Sheriff's Office were going door to door while pre-evacuation warnings were in place checking to see which residents were home and which weren't. For those who they knew were safe, they placed a yellow ribbon on their mailboxes."

Imagine this scene, right outside of your town, there is a huge fire burning, it is threatening everything you own. What do you do? You get as far away from it as possible. You don’t want to be anywhere near this fire so you take everything important to you and leave. You want NOTHING to do with this fire.

My parents have a fire pit they built in their backyard, this has become sort of a gathering place, and whenever they have a fire going you can expect people to naturally gather around it. People are drawn to the warmth, light, and comfort of the fire. Some of the best memories we have are gathered around a campfire sharing stories, enjoying each other’s company gathered together.

Think of the drawing effect a campfire has. If you have a fire pit and start up a fire, your neighbors might show up, friends will gather around with you, even people you don’t know might show and introduce themselves, starting a new friendship. Everyone wants to be a part of this fire.

Often in Christendom, you hear the term "on fire" to describe zealous Christians. I am sure you understand what this means when someone says they are "on fire for Jesus." So Lately I have been thinking there seems to be 2 types of being on fire for Jesus. The first is like a wildfire and the second is like a campfire. So let’s talk about the "wildfire" Christian and the "campfire" Christian.

Everyone has seen a wildfire Christian. How could you not see them? They stand on street corners shouting, they attack you in the mall, at work, on the beach, and anywhere else you might be enjoying a nice evening with your family. These are the people the average person is describing when they say "crazy Christian" or "radical Christian." 

Wildfire Christians have a fire for Jesus and they use that fire to go around and burn anyone that happens to cross their path. They know a lot of truth, and they use the truth to burn people. Just like the fire in Katina Village, Wildfire Christians make people pack up and get as far away as possible. Wildfire Christians make people want nothing to do with Christianity; they say "If you are what Jesus offers, I want nothing to do with him!" 

Wildfire Christians love telling people they are sinners who are going to hell, they love telling people all about the law and how we aren't good people. They are big on law and forget all about the grace and love Jesus shows.

 I used to be one of these wildfire Christians, I pushed so many people away. I can’t even begin to imagine the damage I did to the name of Jesus with my zealous judgmental demeanor and attitude. I lost multiple friends. Rather than being Christ like, I became a Pharisee and thought I was better than "most Christians" and was too good to actually get involved in lives of, and care about "lost people." 

Wildfire Christians will proudly proclaim that they are sinners saved by grace, and that they aren’t better than anyone else, but somewhere deep inside they have a very prideful arrogance and actually believe they are in fact in some way better.

A friend of mine had this to say: "A wildfire does not control itself which is the inherent part of a wildfire.  It burns bridges... It burns structures that are there to protect people.  A wildfire is still warm... It is just indiscriminate.  It lacks sensitivity and control... Thus a need for the fruit of the spirit to increase our self control.  Anyway...the guys who act like wildfires don't know what they are doing...they are just burning.  They are doing what they are supposed to...just in an indiscriminate way."

It is much harder to find a campfire Christian. They are all over, but they don’t ask to be seen, they just go about their lives, trying every day to be more and more like Jesus. They help people without any motive. People naturally are drawn to the campfire Christian. He is able to talk to people about Jesus because people respect him and see he is an honest and caring person. He has a definite fire burning, but this fire provides warmth and light, it doesn’t burn people. Let me make sure I am clear on this; I am not saying this person just sits and waits for someone to ask him about Jesus, he is active in his mission. But He doesn’t see evangelism as a specific thing you go and do, but he uses every aspect of his life to bear witness about Jesus. He is big on showing the Grace and Love of Jesus and combines those with words to both show and tell people about Jesus. I can’t really properly put this person into words, but it’s that person you are drawn to, and you know he is a Christian without even having to ask, not because they are constantly spouting off bible verses, but instead because they have a genuine love for people. They are selfless and are willing to accept more pain then they deserve. You can just look at them and know they are filled with the Holy Spirit. A Campfire Christian sees themselves as a normal person, not superior or "better" than non-Christians. They have an honest desire to see those around them saved, and spend hours and hours praying for others salvation. They get involved in people’s lives. They aren't afraid to get dirty and get down in the trenches with the most marginalized groups. They aren't worried about their image, so they are willing to go where the wildfire Christian would never go. Wildfire Christians often see them as lukewarm, but in reality they are doing exactly what Jesus did, meeting people where they are, and being a friend of sinners. I so desire to be this person. I want to my Christianity to be something so natural, yet different, that people can’t help to ask me about it. I find my pride is the biggest thing that gets in my way. Somewhere deep inside my fallen self, I find this rotten root that is trying to infect the rest of me. I struggle with so many aspects of this, for instance, prayer is hard for me, but I am working on it, and I truly believe Jesus is blessing me in those efforts.

So let me ask you, what type of Christian are you? Are people drawn to Jesus through you, or do you make them pack up and get away as fast as they can? Are you affecting your culture in a positive way with grace and love by being a part of it, or are you trying to separate yourself like a Pharisee, and then going into culture to burn it with your truth?

There is one other option out there that I need to talk about, that is Christians that don’t have a fire at all. They just take their faith and wrap it in a napkin and bury it, hoping that they never have to tell anyone about Jesus or their faith. This is the worst thing a Christian can do, it is worse than being an unbeliever. 150,000 people die EVERY SINGLE DAY. Jesus told us to GO MAKE DISCIPLES. This is an active command. People will NEVER just happen to see that you are a Christian and become a Christian. You have to be active in this mission; you have to step out in faith and resolve to live your life for Jesus and his mission.

But if I say, "I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. (Jeremiah 20:9 NIV)