A culture of comfort has superseded a culture of mission in many of our churches. Too many “Christians” are busy playing church instead of seeking the heart of Jesus. In many cases the church is like a country club where Scripture is manipulated so people can become richer and more popular, but unfortunately, more worldly. As a result, the church is declining in the US. Jesus example and teaching in Luke 5 helps us move out of a culture of comfort into a culture of mission.
Jesus asked Simon to “put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon said they “worked hard all night and caught nothing, but at Your word I will let down the nets.” When they did this, their nets broke with so many fish. Their partners boats also began to sink loaded down with fish after they tried to help. Simon Peter fell down at Jesus’ feet saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” They were amazed about catching so many fish. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” They left everything and followed Him (Lk. 5:1-11). Following Jesus’ pathway bears fruit in evangelism even thought it’s chaotic and uncomfortable.
A leper was cured immediately when he saw Jesus and begged to be made clean. Jesus ordered him to see a priest and make an offering for his cleansing as Moses commanded and as a testimony. News spread as great multitudes gathered to hear Jesus and be healed of their sicknesses. Jesus would often slip away to pray alone (Lk. 5:12-16). Prayer provides the power for physical and spiritual healing.
Some Pharisees and teachers of the law came from every village during Jesus’ teaching when the Lord’s power was present for Him to heal. Because of the crowd, some men carrying a paralyzed man went up on the roof and let him down through tiles to set him in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” Jesus, perceiving the reasonings of the scribes and Pharisees, said it’s easier to say your sins have been forgiven than say, ‘Rise and walk.’ So they could “know the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” the paralyzed man rose out of his stretcher where he had been lying and went home, glorifying God (Lk. 5:17-26). To be like God, be compassionate towards sinners instead of condemning them.
Jesus told a tax-gatherer named Levi to follow Him. He left everything behind and followed Him (Lk. 5:27-28). Verbally witness and challenge people to follow Christ so they will repent.
After Levi invited other tax-gatherers and gave a big reception for Jesus, the Pharisees and scribes grumbled at His disciples saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax-gatherers and sinners?” Jesus answered that since the sick need a physician, He was calling sinners to repentance, not the righteous (Lk. 5:29-32). Influence sinners by having meals and personal contact.
The religious leaders said John’s and Pharisees’ disciples fast and offer prayers, but “Yours eat and drink.” Jesus answered that it was appropriate for his disciples not to fast since He as the bridegroom was present with them now and not later (Lk. 5:33-35). It’s appropriate to delight in God’s presence and have fun relating with others.
One doesn’t tear a piece from a new garment and put it on an old garment since it won’t match the old. You also don’t “put new wine into old wineskins, otherwise the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new; for he says, ‘The old is good enough'” (Lk. 5:33-39). Put creative ideas in new structures and don’t view the old ways as superior.
One naturally gravitates toward the familiar and comfortable, rules and regulations, instead of being led by God’s Spirit. The old and new wines are opposites. You can’t combine them without destroying both. The gospel of the kingdom can’t be hindered by man-made rules of the Pharisees. The new wine is sharp and unrefined. It’s not as smooth to the tongue and finely aged like old wine. New wine is alive and can’t be contained in old structures or wineskins.
To move out of a culture of comfort into a culture of mission, do the following:
1. Follow Jesus’ pathway to bears fruit in evangelism even thought it’s chaotic and uncomfortable
2. Pray for physical and spiritual healing
3. Show compassion instead of condemn sinners
4. Witness verbally and challenge people to follow Christ so they will repent
5. Influence sinners by having meals and personal contact
6. Delight in God’s presence and have fun
7. Put creative ideas in new structures and don’t view the old ways as superior
