Faith That Refuses To Stay Still

What if the biggest challenge to faith isn't belief—but imagination? For the early Jewish believers, the idea that Gentiles could receive God's Spirit was unthinkable. They had a framework for a Messiah. They understood God’s presence among them. But the notion that Yahweh was for everyone? That was world-shattering.

And yet, this was Jesus' radical invitation: "Go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19).

Not just in Jerusalem. Not just among Jewish people. But to the ends of the earth.

This wasn’t an easy shift. The Jewish people had spent generations protecting their identity and faith. It was deeply tied to their land, their ancestry, and their unique relationship with Yahweh. The idea that God would move beyond these borders—without requiring people to become Jewish first—was unthinkable to many.

Even Jesus’ disciples struggled with this. When Jesus told them to take the message beyond their people, they likely thought, "Okay, maybe to the Samaritans. They're half-Jewish." But when He said "to the ends of the earth," that would have been beyond their imagination.

The early church wrestled with this shift constantly. The letters of Paul, the debates in Jerusalem, the struggles in cities like Ephesus and Rome—all of these reveal the tension between the old framework of faith and the reality of the Spirit moving in unexpected places. But Christianity didn’t just survive this transition. It thrived because of it.

Christianity didn’t grow because of logical arguments or cultural traditions. It spread because the Spirit of God moved powerfully in unexpected ways.

Two key reasons stand out:

1. Early Christians risked their lives.

This is still true today. Christianity isn't built on information but on transformation.

When people see real change—when they witness someone once lost in despair now filled with peace, when they hear stories of forgiveness that defy human nature, when they encounter love that overcomes hatred—they recognize that something real is happening. And that is how the gospel spreads.

Unlike other major religions, Christianity has no central holy city that believers must visit to experience the deepest connection with God. The Spirit moves everywhere.

For centuries, Jerusalem was the center of Jewish faith. The temple was everything. But after Jesus, faith was no longer tied to a place—it was tied to a person, a Body. The Spirit of God wasn't limited to the temple. It was moving across the world.

This is one of the most radical differences between Christianity and other world religions. Many faiths have a central location where spiritual power is concentrated—where one must go to experience the presence of God. But Christianity has never been about a location.

This is why, after Jesus' resurrection, He told His disciples: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

That last part—"the ends of the earth"—is the most shocking. For the Jewish people, God’s presence had always been centered in one place: the Temple in Jerusalem.

This was hard for the early church to grasp. It’s why they struggled when Gentiles started experiencing the Spirit without first converting to Judaism. But God was making a bold statement: God’s Spirit moves where God wills.

The Christian faith isn’t about coming to a sacred place to experience God. It’s about experiencing God’s presence wherever you go.

Jesus didn't say, "Go and convince people with arguments." He said, “Go and make disciples”. The future of Christianity isn’t about defending faith—it’s about living it.

When we:

• Align our minds with Jesus
• Build our lives around His way
• Open our hearts to the Spirit

That’s when transformation happens.

The gospel isn't just about what information we know or believe—it's about how we live. And this is the challenge for us today.

People are not drawn to Christianity because they lost a debate. Most often, people aren’t drawn to faith because of evidence or academic arguments. It’s not decided by their head. They are drawn to Jesus because they see and experience something real. Something alive.

• They see forgiveness where there should be bitterness.
• They see hope where there should be despair.
• They see love where there should be division.

This is how the gospel has spread for 2,000 years. Not by force. Not by clever arguments. But by the undeniable power of changed lives.

Lent is a season of reflection. Lent isn’t about religious obligation—it’s a chance to walk in the way of Jesus.

For those who believe, it’s a time to refocus on faith. For those who are unsure, it’s a time to explore.

Maybe you’ve been on the fence about Christianity. Maybe faith has felt like something distant. But this is an invitation: walk with Jesus for a while. Try it. Read His words. Follow His way. See what happens when you start to live as He lived.

You don’t have to have all the answers. You don’t have to understand everything. You just have to take a step. Because if you do—if you open your heart to the Spirit’s leading—you might find something you never expected.

You might find that Jesus isn’t just an idea. He’s alive. He’s moving. And He’s inviting you to experience the power of a changed life.

Because this is how Christianity grows. Not by force. Not by argument. But by the undeniable power of a changed life.