Thought Quotient

We recently got this update from The Jesus Film Project - a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ International…

A traveling film team was showing “JESUS” in Mozambique, in a spiritually resistant community. The people became engrossed in the film, captivated by Jesus’ words (the Word of God exactly quoted from the Gospel of Luke). They were amazed by His miracles and then appalled by His unexpected, unjust crucifixion.

The film came to the moment when Peter was crying at the empty tomb, before he understood that Jesus had been raised from the dead. The crowd nearest the projector heard a sound, like wings. There was a flash of light and bomb-like burst.

Panic set in. The crowd fled in all directions, screaming, tripping over one another and the equipment. Some people ran so quickly that they left their shoes on the ground. The team leader too was startled. Now his audience was gone. He checked out the equipment…all was okay. There was no sign of an explosion. He walked around the grounds picking up the people’s shoes and belongings, then took the icrophone. “Come back, everyone. Come back. There is nothing wrong. All is okay.”

Slowly the people returned, sat down and settled back in. The team restarted the projector, without incident. The audience realized that Jesus was no longer dead. He was alive, raised from the dead, the victorious Son of God, and Master of all.

What had happened? Witch doctors had walked into the crowd and were in the process of cursing the film team and the projector. The team reported that apparently an angel suddenly appeared and attacked the witch doctors, protecting the message, team and projector. The witch doctors also fled and had not returned.

Inhabited just recently returned from a mission trip to Belize. Here’s Sara’s report:

One Sunday morning Inhabited was invited to lead worship for a small church in Belize City. So, we took the stage, and began our first worship song. As I looked around I was overwhelmed by the simplicity. There we stood facing a small congregation who was not bothered by the rising temperature or the lack of ventilation. They weren’t distracted by the fact that my vocals were distorting through the speakers, or that we had no bass amp. They were concerned with one thing…worship. They sang with all their hearts and didn’t care if we were singing the “hottest” worship hits, or if we even if we sang on pitch! It was all about the heart! It was all about directing their praise and love to God without thought of the person next to them or the “performance”. Though a small congregation, it seemed their voices were louder than mine and we sang as one. It was liberating to be freed of all the unspoken expectations that seem to exist for a worship leader. There was no trying to hype them up, or even a need to tell them how great God was in order to get them “into it”. They possessed genuine devotion, which was an inspiration to us.

My heart was gripped with conviction as I realized I had somehow been sucked into the American worship mentality that everything has to be “just right” for people to get it! I was reminded that when we REALLY get it, and truly see Him, we will not be able to contain ourselves. The overflow of our heart will pour out worship. Without that heart of worship, our songs are nothing but noise to God, no matter how great applause of men.

Then at the end of the service, many came forward for prayer. I was then reminded of the universal “call”, the universal search of humanity to be one with their Creator. It is the global journey of mankind…whether in Belize, India, Africa, Spain, Russia, or the States…mankind is still searching…we are the human race…and there is an unrest in humanity…some buy more things to mask their emptiness. Others find their escape through temporary fixes. Others sedate themselves or try to make themselves look better on the outside to cover up the mess on the inside…others find it in “religion”, the rituals, the high of feeling righteous due to external commitments…

I was also reminded that it is the simplicity of the gospel that brings people to salvation. It is not our great attempts at making Jesus cool, or making bigger better buildings with more attractions, nor is it in our eloquence of speech! It is the simplicity of the gospel! It is a mystery how God unveils the human heart and allows us to grasp the salvation message, but that is where we realize it is His supernatural power. It is not about our power or anything that we can do. Yes we can give a speech to move people’s emotions, but only God can move the soul of man.

- Sara Acker