THE DUDE

There’s no getting around it… John the Baptist is one of the most original, unique, interesting, radical guys in the Bible. He was what Mark Driscoll would call “THE DUDE.”

He wore odd clothes made out of camel’s hair and tied together with a leather belt. He was raw and wild. He was doing the Urban Outfitters thing long before it became the rage…

He ate strange food. He literally lived off the land. Again, he was doing the organic thing long before Whole Foods started charging an arm and a leg for this kind of stuff… His diet? Whatever “THE DUDE” could find – usually locusts (without the chocolate covering) and wild honey. Think the original Survivorman…

But we don’t remember “THE DUDE” for what he wore or what he ate. That was just the outer shell of the “barbarian” within… We remember the guy for what he PREACHED… This is what actually made him “THE DUDE.”

John stood flat footed, looked at people steeped in a dead end, life-less religion… With a “Clint Eastwood like” gleam in his eyes, he looked at power brokers, political operatives, butchers, bakers, candlestick makers, house wives, shop keepers, and run of the mill beggars and this was his message.

Matthew 3:2 (MSG), His message was simple and austere, like his desert surroundings: “Change your life. God’s kingdom is here.”

The NIV, NKJ and NAS read like this: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand…” The word “repent” means “to turn around; change direction; change your mind, will and actions.” It’s involves a whole lot more than “THINKING different.” It’s about “LIVING different.”

Here’s what amazing! Despite his appearance, lack of etiquette, apparent problems with personal hygiene and what could only be described as “in your face,” no holds barred style; people actually flocked to hear this guy speak… They not only listened! They REPENTED and were baptized.

This first century wild man who had no power or position, no heritage or religious pedigree, who wasn’t politically connected or financially backed, who lacked an impressive skill set and vocabulary, was used by God to bring new life to a nation that hadn’t really heard from God for more than 400 years…

What made John “THE DUDE”?

1. HE KNEW HIS MISSION.

John 1:6 says, “…there was a man named John who was sent by God.”

Somehow John knew he was “…sent by God.” He was on mission.

There is a theological film from several years ago that some of you might remember. The movie was called “The Blues Brothers.”

It’s the story of two ex-convict-wanna-be, blues musicians named Jake and Elwood. They're trying to escape the police and raise money for an orphanage. Periodically throughout the movie, somebody will ask them what they're doing, and they always come back with the same stock answer. They respond by saying, “We are on a mission from God.” They say it like they really believe it!

That becomes sort of the punch line for the whole movie – the idea that two felons, two completely inept, wanna-be blues musicians - could be on a mission from God becomes the punch line of the whole movie.

Well, the punch line of that movie is the story of John’s life. God took a completely unlikely candidate and used him in an incredible and amazing way!

But not only is that the story of John’s life, it’s the story of my life and it’s the story of your life. You and I are actually on a mission from God. The only question is whether or not we’ll accept?


2. HE WAS BOLD, WILD AND RADICAL, WHILE SOMEHOW REMAINING COMPLETELY HUMBLE.

Despite John’s bold and often abrasive style, he possessed an incredible amount of humility. He knew that his mission wasn’t about him… It wasn’t about his position, his perks, his salary package or his popularity. His mission was about Jesus.

John 3:30 contains one of the most amazing statement to ever come from the mouth of a Type “A”, driven, wild, radical, goal oriented leader:

“He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.”

John understood, “Life really boils down to this: It’s all about HIM. It’s not about me. HE must take center stage, while I slip off to the sidelines.”

So much of what plagues Christendom and the church today is the fact that many of our leaders are more committed to their agendas, ideas and personal legacy than they are the mission of Jesus, the needs of the church and the eternal fate of a world in desperate need of Jesus.

We spend a whole lot more time protecting personal turf, reputation and traditions than we spend in aggressively reaching out to a world that is hopeless without the message of Jesus.

A PRAYER: God, please give us guys and gals who are bold, wild and radical, but also amazingly humble… Guys and gals who could care less whether or not they’re applauded or elected, but who wholeheartedly and without apology pursue the kingdom of God and the mission of Jesus.


3. HE WAS COURAGEOUS ENOUGH TO RISK IT ALL.

A few years ago I read a quote from an anonymous author. It describes the way I want to live:

“Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming -- WOW--What a Ride!” ~ Author unknown

The challenges that lie ahead for the church and our world ahead will require leaders who are bold enough to RISK EVERYTHING for God’s kingdom. The changes that are required if we’re really going to reach our world for Christ and pursue Jesus’ mission will cause people to criticize our methods, question our heart, judge our actions and dismiss our opinions… And this only matters if we allow it to matter… If we allow it to paralyze our actions and prevent us from stepping up, speaking out and doing something radical…

When it comes down to it, what’s really most important is for each of us to be able to stand before God and ultimately hear him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant…”

That’s the ultimate compliment.

John received it. Just before his execution Jesus had this to say about John

“Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John…” (Matthew 11:11)

He was the original DUDE.

A PRAYER: God, form this kind of character in me… Help me stay riveted on the mission… Empower me to be bold, wild and radical for the kingdom, but humble in your presence… Humble enough to live the reality – it’s not about me, it’s all about Jesus. Give me the courage to risk it all in the pursuit of your purpose, plan and calling. Amen.