Holy Week Challenge

As many of you may know we are currently in the midst of the season of Lent. Lent is a time of self reflection, sacrifice, fasting, soul searching and spiritual renewal as we approach Easter Sunday which is on April 12th.

As I have been doing my own reflecting I felt compelled to issue a challenge to the congregation I serve and the city we live in, Kansas City, to LIVE HOLY THE WEEK OF HOLY WEEK. (April 6 - 12)

Unfortunately “living holy” can and often means different things to different people, so allow me to clarify.

I am not referring to non-biblical rules that the church often imposes on it’s congregants like NO Drinking, NO Dancing, NO rated “R” movies, NO reading Harry Potter or any other ridiculous man-made “religious” rule that we thought would get God to like us more. I was raised in that legalistic culture years ago and now see why so many people no longer attend church.

Leviticus 11:44 “For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.” - NASB

When I say “LIVE HOLY” I am referring to 3 things that, if not all at least one, will make sense to you I am sure:


1) Keep the 10 Commandments

ONE: 'You shall have no other gods before Me.' TWO: 'You shall not make for yourself a carved image--any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.' THREE: 'You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.' FOUR: 'Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.' FIVE: 'Honor your father and your mother.' SIX: 'You shall not murder.' SEVEN: 'You shall not commit adultery.' EIGHT: 'You shall not steal.' NINE: 'You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.' TEN: 'You shall not covet…’

2) Live by the Golden Rule

Matthew 7:12 "So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the Law and the prophets." - RSV

3) Love your Neighbor as yourself

Matthew 22:36-40 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments”

I am fully convinced that if we will commit to live holy the week of Holy Week it will not only impact us personally but also our churches, our friends, our neighbors, our cities and the world we live in.

On a very practical level let me give a bit more detail; the bible clearly states that we should “obey the laws of the land” as long as they do not hinder us from serving Christ, so included in this challenge is for us to live as law abiding citizens … no speeding (something I gotta work on – lol!), wear your seatbelt, if you have had too much to drink call a Taxi or a friend to drive you home, etc. I can feel some of you rolling your eyes … listen if you are a weak sissy and unable to take the challenge to Live Holy for one week then fine be a sissy!

Here’s the deal… if every person in Kansas City would do this it would be like utopia … like Heaven … everyone caring, giving and loving … it would be awesome!

Wouldn’t it be cool to see crime stand still for one week?

**Please forward this blog to everyone you know!