Are We Christian Revolutionaries?

In Revolution, George Barna describes qualities found in early churches in the book of Acts. In the effort to increase their obedience and faithfulness to God, Barna discovered that Revolutionaries are characterized by what he identified as a set of spiritual passions – seven specific emphases that drive their quest for God and a biblical lifestyle.:

1. Intimate Worship: believers worshipped God every day, in private and in the company of other believers. This didn’t require a “worship service”.


2. Faith-based Conversations: The evangelistic efforts of the first believers included low-key/high-impact conversations about truth, purpose, and prayer.


3. Intentional Spiritual Growth: Believers tried to learn more about the Christian faith. The put Jesus’ teaching into practice. Their faith was at the center of their lives.


4. Servanthood: Serving people was the best way of demonstrating the example Jesus had set for them.


5. Resource Investment: The first Christian shared everything with anyone in need. Their resources benefited all believers.


6. Spiritual Friendships: The friends of Jesus became each others friends after he left them. This provided encouragement and accountability.


7. Family Faith: Christian families taught the ways of God in their homes every day.

When asked how the church is going to react to his survey findings, Barna concludes an interview that I read recently with this comment: “We’ve got to be real careful that we don’t try to build arguments that limit people’s ability to pursue God simply because they’re taking another path… It’s not about “mega-churches”. It’s not about “seeker” services. It’s not about reputations- it’s about facilitating peoples’ relationships with Christ.” I think this last line is really what it’s all about: Helping people find Christ.