Name Tags: You Are… Zealous

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

Romans 12:11 (ESV)

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

Revelation 3:19 (ESV)

He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His Head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak.

Isaiah 59:17 (NKJV)

Some scholars believe Christ's Seven Letters in the awesome Book of Revelation… form a prophetic chronology, as the evolving stages of His church.

Are we in the stage of the Lukewarm Church? A stage of political correctness?

  • A stage where the church's majority wants to please the world and copy its wealth?

  • A stage where zeal is now an ugly word, because some church zealots are brash bigots?

Because zeal (passion) has two directions: one follows God and the other does not. Either way, zealots have this in common: AN OVERWHELMING, CONTAGIOUS ARDOR.

Zeal attracts others to join its great chase. Whether it's passion for the cause of Christ, passion for media's favorite shows, or passion that incites an evil gang.

Because JESUS STILL LOVES the Lukewarm Church, He says to them, 'Be zealous and repent.'

Actors, models, and talent for Christ:

God gave you EXTRA amounts of passion! (All entertainers feel it and show it. It’s necessary in this line of work:)

But YOUR passion has unusual features (sadly uncommon in churches today):

  • It’s a passion without hypocrisy: an unrestricted love without judgment, where you’re practicing what Jesus teaches.

  • It’s a passion to seek and find the lost: an overwhelming call to lead them home, where your smile is real and arms are open....

Therefore, guard your zeal from “church” naysayers.

Because the warming light of your passion WILL ATTRACT eager fans to “come and see!” (It may also reignite church “sleepers” from a stuporous and unfeeling faith.)

Name Tags: You Are… Zealous (Part 99)

* Short article: The Most Reluctant Convert - C.S. Lewis Institute

NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players.’ Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.

Carey Arban