Subversion

My friend Trevin Wax said, "If we were truly subversive of authority and power, our church parking lots would fill up from the back to the front."

This is convicting. While this sounds immediately negative, Piper might say it positively, something like, "When the entire Christian community is living selflessly, joy overflows."

Ought it not be to our joy to delight in the joy of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ? But this cannot happen apart from a majority taking interest. In other words, if twelve cars out of 100 decide to park in the back of the lot, those 12 are doing a good thing. And they are hoping that others, perhaps not all 88 - for therein lies the difference between the visible and invisible church - but maybe 3 here, 4 there, 8 next week, 5 the week after....

In time, you have a majority parking in the back, and there is true joy in that. But joy is stifled when the 12 cars are there every week, and no others join them. The sense of community unity is missing. How can people be encouraged to "hop on board" apart from the Holy Spirit? Lord, send down Your Spirit, renew the face of the earth.