Being A Zealot for Jesus

Often as Christians we can become complacent and even stoic in the Church. That firey passion we had for God and His presence fades beneath the rituals and routine. The time has come for us to return to "our first Love," (Revelation 2:4-8) and go back "to what we believed at first." (). Remember when you first became a Christian; the passion and zeal to know the Lord and serve Him. Do not just remember, rekindle! Maybe it is the moment for you to leave the Church buidling or theology class to restore that desire to be disciple of Chirst. Perhaps you need a respite from certain people to re-enter the Presence of God.

We are living in times where you can be "called" or "chosen." The Called are the Church that desires to stay stoic and serve Christ at the bare minimum. These believers will be "saved by fire," or possibly be "spewed out," of God's mouth upon his Return. The Chosen in contrast are sold out for their Savior! They want to commit their whole life, being, and purpose to the Lord. These zealots or Jesus Freaks are "all in," they will not settle or compromise for a system of men. For the Chosen Christ is not just some insurance or get out of hell free card, he is the center fo their existance! For the Called, Christ sits in nice cubical of their life and they meet with him when it is convient, but for the Chosen Christ Jesus is their very oxygen and in their sights, life, and every second of their day.

How does one become Chosen? John Calvin had some very shakey ideas about this phenominion which I shall dismiss almost all together. Every believer is essentially chosen, "Christ first choose us.." (Ephensians 1:4). But there is difference between living a Called or Chosen life. The Called are like the masses that followed Jesus for healing, miracles, and his teaching. But the Chosen were his disciples, who when he said, "The time for mircales is over, now you must eat my flesh and drink my blood (suffer)," (John 6:54) they did not flee, but stayed in faith and asked Jesus what he was choosing for them to do. Not everyone is chosen, it says in Scripture, "Many are called, but the few are chosen." (Matthew 22:14)/ This can be interpreted as one of several meanings. The first is that God calls everyone to be his Disciples, but only a few will choose or have chosen to really follow him (one translation says, "many are invited, but few are chosen."). The second view is that God has two seperate parts of the Church: The Called and The Chosen; the Called are sheep who are not dynamic in the Faith, but stay faithful, while the Chosen are those who like the Eleven Disciples and The Apostle Paul will shake the earth with thier devotion to Jesus Christ.

Technically, both views can coincide. The Lord can call all people to be chosen, but they refuse to make the sacrifices and "pick up their cross," and follow Him. At the same time, since the Almighty does not live in time, he can tell who will be his Chosen, because he knows the hearts of men and who will be zealots after him and who will be "slothful in zeal," and be content to have just been called or invited.

As Christians I beleive we should want to be chosen. I challenge Calvinism and say, do not settle for just being Called! What if being part of the Called is only because you gave up and did not petition to be Chosen or fought to choose Chirst above all else?! What if all of God's people are meant to be Jesus Freaks, laying down their lives for His Will and making Him the center of every second of their lives?! I refuse to contradict Scripture, for it is the means of testing all things and is the Truth; it says, "many are called, but few are chosen." Well I say if John Calvin be right in his interpreation, then be the best Called person you can be! If you are only Called, act like you are Chosen! But the NIV translation and my interpretation be right; that all Christians can be chosen if they choose to follow Christ without compromise, then choose to be Chosen! Rekindle that zeal and follow Christ with every breath and beat of your heart!

Simeon the Zealot, A Disciple of Jesus Christ

One of Jesus' Disiciples was Simeon the Zealot. Simeon was part of Jewish sect that wanted to overthrow the Roman Goverment in Judea. Zealots were known for being fantatical and killing Roman Centurions. It is fitting Jesus called Simeon, who was part of this sect, because Simeon was suppose to be a Zealot for Jesus; to use that passion and devotion to follow the Lord instead of make war against Rome. Our call is like Simeon, to be zealots for Jesus Christ and to establish His Kingdom on Earth with the Word of Our Testimony (The Gospel), not a sword. Ironically, Simeon would get his former wish, for Rome oneday would fall, but not because of strength of arms, but because of the Gospel. Simeon ended up being part of Rome's demise; the difference is that it was through Jesus Christ and His Message that transformed Roman hearts; not metal and men at arms.

Above all elese follow Jesus Christ. Test all things with The  Holy Scripture (The Bible) and The Holy Spirit. Make the object or focus of your passion and purpose be Christ Jesus! Do not settle more medicority, give your heart to God and forsake the snares of this world. There is a verse in the Pslams that is approperate for this post, it says, "It is better to be the doorkeeper of the Temple of God than be the master of mansions (palaces) that are wicked." (Pslam 84). We should want to be in God's House and with Him more than in the abodes of men! In that say Pslam it says, "I live in the House of God, here I rest." We should want to rest in the presence of God and not be content with the presence of our possessions and people of the world. It is time to become zealous and to dwell in the House of the Lord. Are you ready?