John Ortberg at the Global Summiton AIDS and The Church
John Ortberg started off the evening session on Day 1 of the Global Summit on AIDS and the Church, hosted by Rick and Kay Warren.John taught on the topic of why the church needs to be the leader in the HIV AIDs efforts across the world. His teaching came from the parable in Mark 5 of the demon possessed man. Here are some bullet points from his teaching:
- Just as Jesus took the disciples across the lake to the Canaanite people, as we follow him he will always take us to people who are “on the other side”. Those we are not comfortable with, and that we even find offensive.
- The possessed man was alone, rejected and suffering. Jesus always goes to the rejected, alone and suffering.
- The possessed man doesn’t expect help from Jesus. What does that say about what people will expect from the people of the church when they come to help?
- One the people came and saw the man healed and his dignity - they were not excited for him, but rather scared by the contribution and power of Jesus. He was not one of them, and even though he had helped the man in a powerful way - they weren’t sure of his credibility. They asked him to leave.
- Jesus always wanted people to follow him, but he told the man to stay. He was best equipped to share with those people, and to hear about Jesus from him.
- If we are going to follow Jesus we are going to have to follow him to “the other side” where people are different, suffering, uncomfortable and even offensive to our traditions or senses.
- What the world need is the power of the Holy Spirit - which is why the church must lead.
- There is no power like the healing power of Jesus and his Holy Spirit on earth.
- If you follow Jesus, apathy on AIDs is not an option.
Man, just writing that out reminds me of the challenge and cost of being a disciple of Jesus - and how I am a couch potato disciple. How about you? I think we all need a reminder of the cost of discipleship - especially in regards to social status. And if our ministries are going to reflect disciples living at the cost of their lives to reach the rejected, alone and suffering around us and around the world - it MUST start with us.
It was always so easy as a youth pastor to teach my students to sacrifice and makes steps of faith, while through the week I was usually comfortable in my church office. It has to be the other way - in fact - I would say you should be teaching something unless you have the conviction of your own life to show as evidence. That is a pretty high bar - but don’t you think there is enough apathy in the American church that it is time for a different approach? This Summit and it’s challenge to be an influence for those suffering with HIV AIDS extends in the challenge to be a true disciple, and for a lot of us a Teaching Disciple of Jesus.
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