Elijah was a man

"Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops." - James 5:17-18

Heroes of the Faith

I think there is an idealogy in the Body of Christ today to look at men and women of God in leadership positions as "untouchables".  This isn't to say that people feel like they can't connect with today's Christian leaders, or even to assume that today's leaders intentionally try to distance themselves from normal Christians like you and me.  No, I think the "untouchable" idealogy is best defined this way: "Normal Christians often look at most leaders' gifts, callings and anointings as out of their spiritual scope and reach (e.g. 'untouchable')"

Elijah was just a man

I heard Erik Fish (of Campus Church Networks) say at a conference that "a revolution ceases to exist once it is taken out of the hands of common people and placed into the hands of trained professionals".  I believe this idea of the common person is critical to the Church's growth and maturity.  If we continue to look at leaders in the Church as these spiritual giants that have somehow attained a level of maturity we will never reach, then we can expect a lot less leaders to arise.  Or even more than that, we can begin to expect a lot less power and boldness to arise.

James 5:17 tells us that "Elijah was a man just like us.  He prayed... that it would not rain.  And it did not rain."  I love that.  James sets it up for us so simply, so achievable.  He says "Elijah was a man just like us."  I can hear all of the Church thinking, "Yeah, that makes sense.  He ate bread.  He walked places.  He was a pretty normal guy."  And then James blows our socks right off.  "He prayed that it would not rain... And it did not rain."  It's so great!  It's as if he sets us up by trying to remind us of our humanity and then hits us in the face with something totally impossible.  He reminds us that we are capable of impossible things through Christ.

Pray for rain

Imagine what it would look like if the Church really got ahold of this idea.  What if we really believed in ourselves as much as we believed in that one Christian leader we look up to?  This isn't to diminish the calling God has on certain people's lives and the special gift God gives to certain people.  But I think in honoring that special gift in somebody else, we often overlook what it is God has given us.

I'll never forget the time I went up to a well known Christian leader to ask for prayer.  I remember telling him that I really wanted what God had given him.  I told him I was so enthralled with the way the Lord was using his ministry.  So he prayed for me.  Afterwards he told me he felt like God was putting something on his heart to tell me.  I was so excited.  I knew it was going to be some great word about how God was going to use me or my calling or destiny or something really profound and uplifting. "I feel like God is telling me that you need to stop looking at people like me.  You just need to start living out your calling."  I was so offended.  What sort of encouragement is that?  What kind of 'Get out of my face' word was that?  If he didn't want to pray for me, he could have just said it!  But after I got through that offense (finally) and saw the truth in what he was saying, it all made so much sense.

The truth is this: Elijah was a man just like us.  John Wesley was a man just like us.  Martin Luther was a man just like us.  The Apostle Paul was a man just like us.  And, just like us, they all walked, cried, fought, and were discouraged at times.  But they chose to step into a calling that was beyond than their broken humanity.  Here's my big point.  We have also been given this same choice.  We can either look at giants in amazement, or we can step upon their shoulders and call forth a generation into God's kingdom.  So, fellow normal Christian, will you pray for rain with me?