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By Steve Simms
In Luke 19:13 of the King James Bible, Jesus says, “Occupy till I come.” Somehow, I don’t think “occupy” means to sit in a pew once a week and passively listen to a sermon. “Occupy” is much more aggressive than that.
A good example of this is the Occupy Wall Street Movement, which consists of ongoing demonstrations in New York City and around the world. The people involved in this movement are not passively sitting in a building once a week. They are on the streets, day after day, clamoring for change. They are forceful, determined, and committed.
Have you ever seen a group of Christians with that kind of passion and persistence and willing to sacrifice for what they believe in? To occupy is to take and hold territory. Occupiers don’t become like the land they occupy. Instead occupiers strive to mold the land they occupy into the image of their mother country.
Perhaps it is time for the church to take Jesus’ instructions to “occupy” seriously. Perhaps believers should stop letting themselves be brainwashed by this selfish culture and instead begin to live by the culture of Heaven. Rather than being swept along with the trends of society, what if believers instead actually followed and obeyed the teachings and lifestyle of Jesus?
Protesting greed in other people won’t change our society. However, repenting of the greed within our own hearts and embracing Jesus’ example of laying down his life for others would be a good first step.
The occupiers of Wall Street and other streets around the world are bold and courageous to stand up for what they believe in. The church could learn a lot from their example.
If you live in Nashville, help us occupy the McFerrin Park neighborhood of East Nashville. Stand with us on Sunday mornings at 10:45 at 225 Berry Street—The Salvation Army Berry Street Worship Center.
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