Shaun Groves
As bloggers and members of the media have written about Third World Symphony, they’ve sometimes struggled to label me – sometimes choosing the wrong label entirely.
When the labels “philanthropist” or “humanitarian” are affixed to me, “Christian” loses its meaning.
Gresham (9) and Gabriella (10) recently became Christians. They did not ask Jesus into their heart. They didn’t “accept” Jesus. Because this is not the language of the Bible. It is language invented by American evangelists of the early 1900’s and it’s downright misleading – dangerous even. This language allowed me to believe for most of my life that I could be a Christian and not live more and more like Christ.
Jesus is not in need of my acceptance – I am in desperate need of His. And in response to His acceptance of me I call Him “Lord.” I “repent”, or shift my allegiance from my comfort and happiness, from my will and my way, to Him. Jesus is Lord – Master – King!
And if He is King then I am His much-loved servant. He possesses me, lives in me and also through me. His mind thinks alongside my own. His emotions beat alongside mine. His compassion and love thrum within me. And He, wearing me like a suit of skin and bone, walks around this place aiming to believe and behave as He did 2000 years ago. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives through me, the apostle Paul explained.
When I was six I ran down the aisle of a little Baptist church because I wanted to be forgiven of my sins and live with Jesus in heaven someday. I asked Jesus into my heart by repeating a prayer the preacher recited. And then I went to Sunday school and Wednesday night church and told my friends about Jesus and – as I became a teen – I didn’t drink or have sex with my girlfriends or use drugs or say bad words. I stayed out of trouble while I waited to die and see Jesus.
After two years of conversation and bible study, Gresham and Gabriella, one day last week, told me Jesus is their King. They believe Jesus is God’s Son and that He was punished in their place on the cross, that he rose again and lives today. They believe God has forgiven them, loves them, and wants to be with them forever in heaven.
But they also know saying Jesus is their King is a commitment that changes everything about their life right now on earth. They know that God has a plan for their time, money, talent – everything. By saying Jesus is their King they are pledging their allegiance to Him, saying they want Him in control of their entire life. They are committed to reading the bible, asking questions about it, praying to God for understanding, and then doing what it teaches. They know this can be very hard, that they will mess up a lot, but they also know God and mom and dad will love them and help them every step of the way.
This is a Christian: A person pledged to and possessed by Jesus, giving up all rights to their life, pursuing a daily relationship with God and living life for God.
This is not radical or crazy. I am not a humanitarian or philanthropist. I am a Christian.
Barbara says:
Preach!
krisyoursis says:
Thank you. You just pulled an “Ann Voskamp” on me…putting into words so much of what has been on my heart. Great post!
Angie says:
Lovely. And welcome to the family Gresham and Gabriella!
Brady says:
Thanks Shaun. I needed to hear those words.
Jill Foley says:
Thank you for this. This is exactly what I want my girls to experience. I could have easily led them in a prayer by now, but I want them to understand what it means to be a Christian and gladly give themselves the label.
Tammy Helfrich says:
Love this, Shaun! And I love Third World Symphony. The lyrics are beautiful and life changing. Thank you for sharing your gifts with the world.
MainlineMom aka Sarah says:
Hallelujah. Anxiously praying and waiting for my boys to make that same commitment.
RebeccaF. says:
Yes. That says it all. Please keep on doing what you are doing. Praying for you and your family.
Ethan says:
I LOVE this. I. love. this. I LOVE THIS.
Thank you. Most ardently.
Dave says:
It appears we’re tuned-in to the same wavelength this week!
“We are the sons and daughters of the King about whom the main story is written. The lessons of history before us have been written by the King to equip us for this time and this place. We’ve been given a mission. There will be challenges to face, and some of them will be great, but it is our turn to do deeds about which tales will be told.”
The truth is so much richer than we sometimes imagine! A walk down the aisle can seem so pedestrian until we pull back the veil and grasp the adventure that begins with that first step.
It is an epic journey, lead by the king himself, and destined for glorious victory!
donna says:
beautiful ….
thank you for this.
whimzie says:
As a parent, I’m convicted. I think I’ve worried more about my children’s eternal destiny than I have about who they have been created to be here in “His Kingdom coming.”
I haven’t been completely honest with them. I’m not teaching them to count the cost. I have to go deeper with them than “put your quarters in the offering plate, say your prayers, and be nice.”
I’m raising them to be who I’ve been for way too many years. God forgive me.
RaD says:
Awesome.
rebecca says:
wow – i just finished the first chapter of The Cost of Discipleship, and wow – so this is dose 2 from the Lord
thank you
Jason says:
Fantastic, Shaun. Very well said.
Kevin Davis says:
Great post Shaun, and congrats on Gresham and Gabriella’s decision. I’ve always considered you a brother in Christ: “A person pledged to and possessed by Jesus, giving up all rights to their life, pursuing a daily relationship with God and living life for God.” Amen. Thanks for continually challenging me in my daily walk. God bless, Kevin
Jessica says:
I have recently found myself leading the “young adults” at my church. And at my church “young adult” means the drop-outs and the teenage moms that can’t be in youth anymore. I kind of feel like my only job is to make them understand this post.
Pray me luck.
Jennie says:
Yes. Yes. This is language we use at our house too. A Christian is someone who has Jesus as the King of their heart! Press on with God, for God…
Jaime Jones says:
Yes, yes, and yes! As usual, I’m encouraged and challenged by your words, and thankful for your role in reclaiming the true, priority-shifting, life-changing, meaning of “Christian.”
Jennifer Griffin says:
God must be really trying to get my attention lately about the “sinner’s prayer” and how it isn’t a fit biblically, how dangerous it can be, and why our kids are easily able to walk away from their faith. I am moved by your words…. I’m going to print this out and keep it tucked close.
Thanks for taking the time to address this so wonderfully, especially when it would have been easier to just let the other labels stick!
Jen Guarino says:
Great post. I needed to hear this. Thanks for sharing with us. Congrats to your children and the entire family.
Nicole says:
My husband and I were just chatting last night about what ‘profession’ might look like for our children (4,3, 1, and due next month at this writing). My experience was much like yours but Jesus became King when I was much older.
Prayers lifted that all who wear Christ’s label will crown Him as King of everyday–especially these children we raise under our roofs. Thank you for crowning Him here-who else is worthy?
Mindi says:
Wow. This just smacked me upside the head: “I stayed out of trouble while I waited to die and see Jesus.” Thanks.
Stacy says:
Thanks for reminding me of this today. So often I have wanted to push my boys down that aisle and throw them in the baptistry for my own assurance of their salvation.
But I know having their name on a church roll and being given the right hand of fellowship does not a Christian make. Gresham and Gabriella paint a much better picture.
Tara G. says:
The first time we lived in Ukraine, we attended a Protestant Ukrainian church- the culture here is that when someone accepts the Lord, it is called “repenting.” Depending on the church, the culture here is that a person will simply stand up where they are and openly confess their sins and desire to follow the Lord…it’s simple, hard, and beautiful all at once.
shirley slee says:
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24
Thanks for the simplicity, making it too complicated only turns people off!
Shannon says:
Thank you for this reminder…I needed this refresher on commitment to Christ…
Crazy for Jesus says:
So right on! It’s nothing we can do or have done!! He already paid the price…in the love He has for us now. Thank you for this awesome revelation! I think a more appropriate word would be surrender…
Kelley says:
What do your references to Radical and Crazy Love mean? I think Platt and Chan are both Bible believing Christians?? And don’t you think the modern term of “accepting” Jesus Christ as Lord of our lives rings true and necessary since we do have a conscious decision to make in choosing to believe that He is the Truth? I’m sorry but your post seems a little contradictory to me. I think I understand your point of not being legalistic but actually serving and loving the Lord…I get that. But maybe you could email me and clarify the rest?
Shaun Groves says:
I apologize for not communicating better than I did. And you’re not the only one wondering what I meant by that bit at the end.
I forget that not everyone reading this blog has always read my blog! Sorry for that.
I’ve got nothing against David or Francis or their books…other than the titles. What they describe well in their books is not radical or crazy Christianity. It is just Christianity. We’ve been down this road before here on my blog. Sorry for forgetting not everyone has walked those miles with us.
Erin says:
Shaun,
I’ve been blessed by your music for some time, but have only just discovered your blog (through Ann Voskamp’s). You have wonderfully expressed something that I have been trying to put into words for several months, as I couldn’t find a basis for “praying a prayer” in Scripture. It’s not a script… it’s a servitude!
Kathy Schwanke says:
Yes and AMEN!
Because the name “Christian” seems to encompass many who live worldly lifestyles, I often feel the need to use my other version of the name, “Christ-follower”…
Alex says:
I think I used the words “profoundly gifted songwriter and musically mature creative spirit”!
Is that inappropriate labelling? 😉
That aside, I never understood where the ‘with God forever in heaven’ bit is spoken of in the bible!???!!?!
Have I missed something?
Shaun Groves says:
Yes, I think you have, Alex. Jesus Himself said that He was leaving earth to go and prepare a place for us. He promised to come back for us and said that we would be where He is. Anyone who’s ever watched a football game has seen John 3:16, which says that those who believe in Jesus will not die but will have everlasting life. On and on the New Testament is full of hope and promise of life everlasting with God in heaven.
Tanya says:
Two words: Thank you.
JR says:
Well said, Shaun, and hurrah Gabriella and Gresham! Sorry to be off topic, but for those who haven’t heard…please pray for Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani (Twitter #Nadarkhani) who is currently facing execution for having repented and followed Jesus, and for refusing to recant his faith in Him.
ali @ an ordinary mom says:
Labels are so tricky, aren’t they? Semantics always seem to get in the way…
Loved this.
April says:
Thanks!! That is SO true. What a wonderful message.
Angeline says:
Please consider a view from another vantage point and forgive me if I am offensive or disagreeable–which is not my intent. If we are only to speak in the language of the Bible, we must limit ourselves to quoting the Bible. There is not a verse that truly and entirely codifies the gospel. We cannot find language of Jesus that says word-for-word, “accept me into your heart” or “declare me as your King”. No, Jesus doesn’t need me to accept him but neither does he need me to call him my King. Why did Jesus use all those pesky parables? Why not clear, concise, unable-be-misunderstood language? The prodigal son is neither looking for acceptance from good ole dad nor does he seem particularly interested in committing his life to dad — he just knows that home is where there is security, food and shelter. I have my own ending for that story. In the next chapter, we see the son experiencing the love of his father. The son gets to the point where he’s committed to Dad — even if a large sum of money were dropped on him nothing could impel him to leave. He’s not staying for the food, security and shelter anymore — it is all about love and grace. Heck, he’d gladly sleep with the pigs on his dad’s farm. I sensed a dissatisfaction with your “come-to-faith” experience. That makes me sad. It was the beginning of a journey that brought you to where you are. So you didn’t come home for the right reasons. Most of us don’t. But once we get there – we learn, we grow, we understand –hopefully. No matter what language you employ (especially at a young age) experience will change that understanding (or else it is a dead faith). Faith will be tried and tested — no matter if you accept Jesus in your heart or crown Him King. Faith is relationship to Jesus. If we need to understand the Bible and the mechanics of salvation and the correct language in order be saved — who could be saved? None. I don’t understand the mysteries of the Holy Spirit or salvation or this ridiculous love — I just know it and it keeps moving me. Even really good writers — have never been fully able to communicate it. Rich Mullins once wrote an article and he described communicating the gospel like telling a joke — either someone got it or they didn’t. No amount of explaining will get someone to laugh at something that that don’t find funny and the more you try to “explain” the joke the worse it gets. My favorite statement in that article was one that said that he was a Christian — not because someone explained the nuts and bolts to him but because someone was the nuts and bolts for him. The other parable (on words/actions) is the one where dad asks his sons to do something for him. The one says, “no” but later does it — the other says “yes” but doesn’t do it. I’d hate for someone to feel like their faith was inferior or dangerous because they “accepted Jesus into their heart”. Sorry for my horrible/wordy/streaming writing style.
Jorie says:
my husband and i so agree with your post. We work in church ministry and feel like we are taking crazy pills when we try to explain this basic Biblical truth. my question is – so many of us would nod in agreement with what you said about “accepting the Lord into your heart” is not in the Bible, neither is the “prayer of salvation,” etc… but why, then, do we continue to teach salvation that way in our churches day after day, year after year, only to produce church attenders and not true Christ followers? how do we shift how we present coming to Christ? So many never come to this realization like you and I have. Obviously, the Lord has to show this to the heart. I guess that’s the answer: we continue to teach truth and then we pray that hearts could be opened to the truth. thanks so much for your open discussion and thought provoking posts. we all need it!
Jason says:
“This is a Christian: A person pledged to and possessed by Jesus, giving up all rights to their life, pursuing a daily relationship with God and living life for God.”
This is the best definition I have come across. Spot on and simple.