Holy Passion
“When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, and he stopped everyone from using the Temple as a marketplace. He said to them, ‘The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.’” –Mark 11:15–17
If you grew up in the American church, we were given this image of Jesus, wimpy and mild. The “pictures” we had were of him with an impeccably clean robe and groomed flowing hair, as if Jesus were modeling for a shampoo advertisement. That Jesus was soft-spoken and “nice” in his demeanor. I believe these ideas and images are one reason we have seen such a lack of engagement in faith among men (I could spend hours working through that topic).
I remember when the music video for “Secret Ambition” came out (please watch, but be prepared for the blatantly 90’s imagery contained within!). For me, it painted a vastly different picture of Jesus. He was a masculine man who came to boldly confront evil, voluntarily die a violent death and launch a Kingdom movement. It was a Jesus who in the right circumstances would “kick butt” like we see in this temple clearing passage! This was a more biblically accurate picture of Jesus that a young man like me wanted to follow.
Maybe the thing that struck me deeply is that he is our King with HOLY PASSION.
Where do our passions lie?
Confession time, my passion can be wrongly focused. Living and serving overseas changes you. Six months ago, we returned to live in the US for a season, primarily for family reasons. One of the greatest re-entry struggles to my passport country has been the prevailing church culture. In my desire to follow Jesus’s passionate example, I’ve gone into “temples” and found myself wanting to drive out dazzling teeth-whitened worship team members, turn over tables selling all kinds of church branded “merch,” and render fog machines inoperable with a bat!
While there might be some validity in this, is trying to change the American church culture where my time, energy, and attention is best spent? Is this the passion to fan into flame?
As Novo missionaries, where should our passion be focused? God’s glory among the peoples and nations! Why are we pursuing God for movements all around the world? Because there is not enough worship nor worshippers of Jesus among all the peoples! He is glorified through more and more transformed lives that lay down the worship of every kind of idol and bow their knee in submission and obedience to him as King.
Questions I am asking myself: Is his glory and fame my passion? Does what I do each and every day flow from a desire to make his name great and see increased worship among all the ἔθνη (ethne)?
Questions to ponder: What is your motivation for wanting to see gospel movement? Where are your passions wrongly or rightly focused these days?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brian Miller is husband to Trish, father to three incredible daughters—Reagan, Emma, and Morgan, and father-in-law to a pretty great Berliner named Yoram. The Miller family served for the last eight years in Berlin and are now based in the Phoenix area. As city movement catalysts, they are casting vision for DMM with local disciplemakers and pursuing movement among international students and refugees.
