Risky Business

A word from Mark 8.19.2008: “Risky Business”

The very nature of a journey of faith entails risk. There’s just no way to maneuver around that fact. Faith requires risk, because everything God calls us into is a risky endeavor. Understand though, its not the type of risk that calls you to take a leap out of the plane without a parachute or a plunge off a bridge without first being attached to the bungee cord. But it is the sort of risk that requires us to trust in the chute and the cord. Without the trust that allows the risk there is no faith. We find a great illustration of this in Matthew 14:22-34.
It was the end of a long heart-breaking (earlier the disciples and Jesus had gotten word of the beheading of John the Baptizer) and miracle-making (the feeding of five-thousand men plus their families with only the bare ingredients of five loaves of bread and two fish) day and Jesus commands (literally, physically forces) His disciples to head over to the other side of the Lake, because He needs some down-time with Father. The twelve climb into a boat and begin to make their way across. It’s here that Matthew introduces the sinister villain of the story. He says, “The boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by waves because the wind was against them.” In the original language it reads this way: “the wind had made itself contrary to them”. That word contrary is best translated as “opponent” or “opposition”. In order to make it to the other side, some wind and waves were going to have to be overcome. Now for half of the crew of this fateful tour this was nothing new. Peter, James, John, Andrew, to name just a few had spent most of their B.C. (Before Christ) lives as fishermen. In the culture of the day this probably meant that not only were they fishermen, but it’s highly probable that so were their fathers, grandfathers, maybe even great grandfathers. So being in a boat on the Lake at night with wind and waves wasn’t that big of deal. In fact, that particular position would be actually very comfortable and familiar for them, at least something they had learned to maneuver and live through. But it’s here at this point in the story that Matthew adds an element that makes it not so comfortable. He says “Jesus went out to them, walking on the water” about as casually as he might have stated, “And Jesus went to the ‘fridge to make Him a turkey sandwich.” But that’s not the best part – here’s what happens next. The disciples see Jesus, although they don’t know who He is, coming toward them and they start freaking out. Which personally, I think is rather fitting, because after all, the guy is walking on the water. Jesus then tells them not to be afraid, it’s only Him and then things get really interesting. Matthew is the only one of the Gospel writers that mentions this, but He records Peter saying to Jesus, “Lord if it is you, tell me to come to you.” Now from our perspective, the idea of Jesus walking on the water, as extraordinary it may seem at least makes some sense, because Jesus is Jesus and if the guy wants to walk on water, who are we to tell Him not to? But, can you image what would have gone through your mind if you happened to be the person next to Peter when he makes this outlandish proposition? But then what does Jesus say? His response is “Come”. So Peter does what no one else in the history of the world, as far as I know, has done except Jesus – he gets out of the boat and walks on water. For all the cynics of the audience that at this point love to point out that Peter doesn’t make it, because he sees the waves and the wind and begins to sink, I have only one question for you – when was the last time you’ve done any better? The truth is Peter does see the wind, he does see the waves, but Matthew adds a detail that makes all the difference in the world if we’re willing to look at it. He says that at that moment when Peter gets distracted and the wind hits him square between the eyes, Jesus reaches out a hand to save him. Did you catch that? Yes, Peter gets distracted and yes, Peter starts to sink – but where was he when he does? Within an arms length of where he wants to be. It doesn’t matter whether he takes two steps or twenty, when he gets distracted, he’s almost there, within an arms length.
For too many of us, this story is too much like our own. We find the chapters of Life unfolding to reveal that there is more going on here than just the regular ho-hum kind of life we have gotten used to. The waves of Life start to stir because the natural windy forces of this fallen world seem set against us, but yet we are not quite afraid yet, because we are still in a place that is pretty comfortable and very familiar to us. But then God shows up, as He often does, in His Godness and only then do things start to freak us out. Not because His appearing is in itself scary, but rather because if we have spent any time whatsoever in an authentic faith walk with God, we know that when God shows up in an extraordinary way to us, something extraordinary is going to be required of us. That is what freaks us out the most – ghostly figures on the water are easy to overcome, but getting out and coming to where He is requires a little more to digest. For too many of us, this is where our story ends. Too many of us feel the faith rush of the moment, step out only to get distracted by the wind and the waves and all we know how to do is sink. If we are willing to cry out, whether in faith or desperation, for God to save us, we will see Him there within only an arms length away from where we want to be. Yes, it’s where Jesus wants us to be, but remember that it is Peter’s idea – Peter’s desire is to be out on the waves. Jesus simply agrees that this falls in line with what He is trying to teach him, and beckons him to come. Too many of us stop short, just before we’ve arrived. Too many of us lose focus and then refuse to refocus.
But here’s the thing – Jesus and Peter were not the only two characters in the story. What about the other guys who had as much opportunity to step out the way Peter did, but didn’t? What about the other ones that chose the place of comfort and familiarity over the place of risk and faith? Obviously this experience hits home with Matthew because he’s the one remembering and writing it down. Surely Andrew thought about it, after all, it was big brother Peter out on the water. Maybe the rest of the writers don’t mention it, because deep down they don’t want to have to admit they stayed in the boat. Maybe it’s the reality that those who don’t risk much don’t receive much, or maybe they received only by way of being part of the audience instead of being part of the action. Who knows about those guys? The only guy I can speak clearly for is myself, and in too many occasions have chosen to be part of the audience rather than being part of the action.
This being said, I have decided to make a step of such risky faith. Last Sunday night (8.17.08) we announced that my wife, Jenny, and I are making a vocational change from my working as Community Pastor with The Soul Café to taking a position as a Ministry Associate with Westwood Ministries, which provides ministry care for those individuals and families who are in vocational and lay-led ministry. The change is only vocational, which means we are technically not going anywhere – we will still be a part of The Soul Café and I will still resume a role on our leadership team. The step has been one of my following in the footsteps of Peter who followed in the footsteps of Jesus – it was time for me to step out the boat of comfort and familiarity. It was time for me to make up my mind to pursue being with Christ wherever He might be, though none go with me. Understand, there was nothing wrong with Peter’s boat. As far as we know, it was still quite capable of carrying thirteen grown men across a wind-tossed and wave-infested Lake under the cover of darkness. It was just simply that for Peter to be where His deepest desires were leading, something had to change, and that something meant his place in the boat. My hope is that this, as with all leaps and steps of faith, will inspire faith in your pursuit of God’s best. That one person’s stepping out leads to the stepping out of many, which results in the mass advance of The Kingdom. That is my prayer and my hope.
If anyone has questions about Westwood or how this transition will affect The Soul Café, I welcome your e-mails at magicmarker52@hotmail.com or phone calls at 830-370-9796 (at least until the end of the transition period). Also because of the nature of the position and the nature of ministry at Westwood, Jenny and I will be praying for and looking for individuals and families who are interested in partnering with us through prayer support, physical support and financial support. If God so prompts your heart, please contact me and I would love to sit down and share with you more of what that looks like. Until then I pray that God blesses you with a stirring within you that leads to risky and faith-filled lives.

Getting Out and Stepping Out,

Mark Johnson
Community Pastor
The Soul Café-Kerrville
www.thesoulcafe.com