Natural theology and ministry

I recently watched a movie I didn't think I would ever watch. It was "The Karate Kid". Not the original, which I really like, but the recent Jackie Chan remake. I tend to dislike remakes, even if I like the stars as much as I like Jackie Chan. This said, one quote that seemed to resonate with me from this movie was when Jackie Chan's character 'Mr. Han' said to his student 'Dre', "Kung Fu lives in everything we do. Everything is Kung Fu." Mr. Han proceeds to train Dre using such mundane methods as having him hang up his coat and take it down repeatedly. Using every day motions that come naturally, but realizing their value for Kung Fu become the basis for the teaching he is presenting. Those who are old enough (did I just say that?) may remember the "Wax on, wax off!" of Mr. Miyagi in the original movie.

In the same way I have been made aware that the simplest of things if practiced consistently and with intention can come to form the basis for what I think of as a 'natural martial art'. For example, turning the wheel in a car with one hand in either direction can form the basis for a block or a strike. Opening the swinging door of a bathroom can form the basis for a push-strike or a throw. This is building something martial artists are well acquainted with called 'muscle memory', a muscle reaction that you don't even have to consciously think about in order to use when the time comes.

The larger life-lesson is what matters, though. Over the years, I have come to realize that in order for something to truly make a difference in our lives we must make it part of ourselves. We cannot just take on life-change like a coat and put it off when we no longer feel like wearing it. In the words of a song called "Back Burner" from Greg X. Volz (formerly of Petra), "...the only change that'll ever hold up goes under the skin, clear to the bone". This applies especially to the realm of theology, ministry and holy living. You can't go to church on Sunday and forget about God every other day of the week. If you want real life change, real holiness, real Christlikeness to develop in you, it has to be something made part of your daily life. If you want to see real power in your ministry, you need to be diligent about prayer and reading your Bible. We build spiritual 'muscle memory' into our lives.

So, to paraphrase Jackie Chan, "Christ lives in everything we do. Everything is Christ."

"Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all."
Colossians 3:11 (NIV)

.