Who Said You’re Lost?

The religious world would have us believe that the “world” is comprised entirely of lost souls. The mission is to win these souls to Christ. Winning and losing. Duality. Either/or. But who said they were lost? Why is it even a contest, or a choice?

When my boys were small, we would go into a large store and I’d instruct them if they ever got lost, they needed to head to the front of the store and tell someone that they can’t find their parents. On a few occasions I would separate myself from them and then secretly follow behind to see how they would conduct themselves. I don’t recall a time when either of the boys got “lost” and I had fun surprising them when I popped into the aisle.

Notice that in this scenario, which we repeated on several occasions, the child made the sole determination of whether they were lost or not. Also note that lost simply meant not being able to find a parent.

If you’re a person who enjoys camping in the wilderness, one of the first things that you’re instructed in is what to do should you become “lost.” Experts far and wide tell you that you need to stay right where you’re at and prepare for a long wait for help to arrive. Again, it is at the sole discretion of the camper to determine whether they are lost or not. I’ve heard stories of people “lost” in the woods for extended periods of time and how a multitude of rescuers were dispatched to “save” them, yet, after many unfruitful days of trying to locate the “lost” person, this individual walks out to the surprise that people were looking for him. It never occurred to him that he was lost the entire time he had been gone.

In the book of Ephesians, we are told that everyone was in Christ before the foundation of the world, chosen and predestined for good works per the will of the Father. Nothing lost there; all recognized and accounted for. Somewhere, mankind had a self-conscious moment recognizing that they aren’t where they thought they were. The Father comes up behind them and asks, “…Who said you were…”

Is the “world” really lost if they’ve been in Christ from before the foundation of the world? Or is it possible the religious community doesn’t want to remind them of their inclusion until they repent of their “sins?” Doesn’t this make the religious community “rescue workers” looking for someone who never thought they were lost?

2 Cor 4:3-5 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: (4) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (5) For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.

It would seem to me that in this passage Paul is clearly indicating that a lost person is someone who has made the conscious choice to become lost through unbelief. That’s the god of this world, our own choice. It would also appear that their unbelief is a result not of the gospel of Christ, but Paul claims, “…For we preach not ourselves…”

How much of the preaching to the “world” is about ourselves, our testimony as it were? “I was lost but now I have been found…” Do we truly believe that God didn’t know where we were along? He may have asked Adam that question, but, come on, who was the response truly intended for? How naïve do you think God is about you also?

Now I understand many may claim that Jesus said he came to find the lost sheep, which is true, however, he was dealing with the lost sheep of Israel, not what would be called “the world.” Paul, on the other hand, is the apostle to the Gentile, “the world” according to Israel, and he is making a case here in a letter to the Gentile church of Corinth, so the way that I’m reading this looks like if you don’t believe, you’re lost; not if you don’t know.

I bring this out here because a lot of people know about Jesus and believe that he is a good person. Many of these fine people don’t attend a religious institution or even want to be affiliated with one and in extreme cases, do everything in their power to stay as far away from anything or anyone associated with one. Doesn’t sound like the actions of a “lost” person, more like the actions of a person not interested in the pomp, ceremony and segregation called “church.” However, the church would claim that these people are lost basing their belief on the premise this if you don’t congregate with me, you’re lost in the world. I’m beginning to wonder if the church isn’t so lost in the traditions they’ve crafted that they can’t really see the forest of humanity or the tree Christ hung upon.

I’m stepping on a lot of toes here on purpose. The finished work is just that, finished. A sweeping pre-creation declaration surpasses any of the theories we’ve invented to attempt to justify the mystery of all mysteries. Maybe it’s time for the eternal assurances to be stressed beyond what we think we know and thereby welcome an entire planet into the act which completed things we still can’t comprehend.

I still can’t believe that God would allow himself to be killed by his own creation. According to Paul in this passage, my unbelief would make me “lost” and a surprisingly large number of people too. This is the foolishness of the cross which every single one of us still can’t believe except through the faith of Jesus. However, knowing grace the way I do, I’ve never felt lost. So why are all of you looking for me? The Father knows right where I’m at and He is darn proud of me. He even surprises me on occasions. How about you?