Life In A Bubble

I didn't grow up in a bubble. I actually grew up in the very opposite of a bubble. My parents divorced when I was six. I didn't go to church regularly. My relationship with my high school boyfriend (who now, praise the Lord is my husband) got serious way too fast and we were way too young. The consequences of sin were very real to me. They were in my face daily. And although I was forced to deal with the consequences of my own actions and of those around me, I didn't know Jesus. I had a great childhood, but definitely not a sheltered one.

Flash forward to 2010. I now know Jesus. I love Him. I'm in love with Him. I couldn't take my next breath without Him. But somewhere along the way I packed my things and made a cozy little life inside the "Christian Bubble."

I have a husband who loves God with his whole heart. I attend an amazing church and am involved in a small group with other members of that church. Our best friends were introduced to us because of my old job at said church. I work in Christian music. I spend my days at work thinking of ways to market worship songs to other lovers of Jesus. I rarely, if ever spend time around people who don't know God. Sounds pretty great, right?


Yes, but something is missing.


Carlos Whitaker, a worship leader and an amazing communicator (who also has one of the best blogs - Ragamuffin Soul - I've ever stumbled on made a statement a few months back that hasn't left me.


"If all of your friends go to church, you need to make new friends."


His point wasn't that we need to leave the group of friends we currently have to make new ones; he strongly believes that community inside the church is pivotal to our growth as believers. What he is saying is that we weren't put on earth to spend all of our time with other Christians. Yes, iron sharpens iron, but how many people are not hearing the Gospel because we never leave the boundaries of our little bubble?

I practiced my best evangelism in college. Although I started my journey at Belmont, I quickly moved back home to attend a state school. I worked at the mall and other "secular" establishments. I met people every day who had known Jesus at one time or had never known Him at all. I was broken for my friends who were hurting and didn't realize they had help - a help nobody but their Heavenly Father could give. And I would tell them that. I was bold, people. Old friends from high school said I had "become weird." I was a Jesus Freak. I was proud of it. And it wasn't that I would just share Jesus with people I didn't think would judge me. I was telling everyone I could find about Him.

Those were the days...

Now I don't even really know people who have never heard of Him. The people I know do know Him, and sometimes that just makes things harder. When Christian friends let you down, it's much more personal. "They know better."

I posted a few days ago about needing change, and I think God is really tugging on my heart to get outside of my bubble. I don't know if that means a drastic change. I like the way things are for the most part and hope they will stay put. But I do think God wants me to dust off my boldness I sat on the shelf to reach His people. There is no better time than right now. It will be challenging for sure, but I'm ready to stretch myself.

So thanks to Carlos, I want to find new friends. And thanks to Bean (who just wrote one of the most honest, genuine, beautiful posts I've ever read: Jesus Is My Facebook Friend), I want to know Jesus even more so that I am equipped to tell others about Him.

How about you?