Upside Down

This morning I was hanging out with a future staff-intern in Boston...

The other day, a friend of hers was standing on his head and invited the rest of the group to join him, saying,

"Guys, the world looks pretty cool upside down. Have you ever seen it from this perspective?"

She said initially they mocked him, but then they actually got down on the ground and looked at the world upside down. And she was so excited by the new perspective that she had gained, from standing on her head and seeing the world in a new light.

Yet, before you write this experience off as loopy... she went on to say,

"You know, my experience standing on my head was kind of like my experience with InterVarsity... they challenged me to change my world-view: to look at the world from a kingdom perspective, not a normal perspective. To see things differently To operate differently."

And indeed, the kingdom that Jesus presents is upside-down...

... the least shall be greatest...
... blessed are the poor in spirit...
... blessed are those who mourn...
... blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake...
... whatever you do for the least of these, you do unto me...
... release for the captives... freedom for those in darkness...

Friends, if we legitimately follow Jesus, it requires us to fundamentally change our world-view... kingdom lenses look entirely different from modern culture lenses...

... social justice
... view and value of self and others
... care for the environment
... prayer for the city
... stewardship

I'm not recommending that we all stand on our heads... too much blood to the head is potentially dangerous. However, I think the metaphor is good!

To truly follow Jesus requires that we change the way we view the world... it's the same world. The same people. The same us. The same situations. We are not called to be completely separate from the world. But, our perspective, our vantage point, and our world-view should be completely transformed and indeed turned upside-down.!