Now that we are in prominently Muslim countries I was inspired to listen to a podcast series based on a large movement of Muslims becoming Christ followers (Maverick Podcast, highly recommend).

The first series of this podcast walks through a Muslim mans life of hearing about Christ and believing. He then reads the Bible and his life reflects the things written in this sacred book. His family turned against him and tried to even kill him; he experienced miraculous healings when he prayed for people in Jesus’ name; and he suffered persecution for his new belief. But none of this came as a shock to him because... HE READ THE BIBLE!

In one of the podcasts the narrator reminds us that this man knew nothing about Jesus until someone shared with him and then he got his hands on the Bible and read it. In the Bible it is chalk full of people becoming believers and suffering, people being bold and sharing their faith and many coming to know the Lord but also being persecuted for this belief, some till death. The whole New Testament is story after story of healings and not just by Jesus himself but by His followers and even people who merely believed.

I began to really think about this. What if we took the Bible at face value? What if we read the Bible and we only knew what it said? Then we wouldn’t be surprised by miracles, we wouldn’t be skeptical of healings. We wouldn’t think it was weird to have a holy prayer language or to hear the voice of God in however He chooses to speak.

I would never wish away my past because it has lead me to here and now, but just imagine if we could erase the many years of growing up surrounded by second hand Bible stories, watered down versions or other interpretations, skepticism and denominations arguing over how best and correctly to serve God. What if all I had to base my faith on was the Holy Bible and what God revealed to me when I read it? How different would my faith be, how different would I live my life.

Imagine if the people who claim to be followers of Christ actually did what He told us to! And this is not a condemnation, this is truly something I have asked of myself. What if I, one, actually had read the Bible cover to cover, and two, what if I took it seriously? We hear about radical faith, but based on the Bible what other kind of faith is there? 

There is a story that I have heard several times and has recently been brought back up about a man or woman who lives their life on the fence. They do good things, pray occasionally, never goes deep into the worldly things we are warned about, but also never truly puts their whole heart into the hands of Jesus. The world ends and Jesus takes His followers and the devil takes his people. Then the devil comes back and says to this person, come on. To which they argue and fight that they were good and never committed either way, and the devil responds with, "exactly, the fence is mine too."

So I ask, if we read the Bible cover to cover, and with God’s help with revelation of the true meaning, would we still believe? Would we still have the audacious boldness to still stand up in the face of persecution and say yes I do believe Jesus Christ is my savior and died for my sins? Would we dare grumble or complain about the very things the Bible near promises us as believers? Would we question our brothers and sisters in Christ when they share of miracles in their lives and signs and wonders that happen in the spirit? I want to stop reading the Bible for what I can get out of this deal and understanding the blessings only. I want to truly read the words and stories for what they are and decide: do I still trust and believe?

Let's go FULL SEND! Maybe we could all love our neighbor as ourself (Matthew 22:37-39), we could all be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry (James 1:19), we could all be sober minded (1 Peter 1:13) and be prayerful about everything (Philippians 4:6). I don’t want a splinter on the fence, so lets be sheep who know the Shepherds voice (John 10:27)!