Wired to Worship: A 7-Day Devotional Inspired by the Jesus Music Film and Bookনমুনা

The Barnabas Moment 

They weren't welcome in churches, their music too raw, their clothes not fancy enough, their expression of love for Jesus too edgy. But God was birthing something new at this moment, and a few Spirit-inspired leaders were willing to listen to God and see what he was doing. Kicked out of churches, criticized by TV preachers, feared by Christian media. 

And yet, along the way, a couple of key leaders recognized what God was doing and, like Barnabas, gave their approval to this emerging movement. Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel opened his doors to the Jesus movement, and Billy Graham spoke at the 1972 Explo in Dallas and spoke highly of what God was doing in the next generation. Both risked their reputation to endorse the move of the Spirit in the Jesus movement. 

This would be an ongoing pattern in the emergence of Christian music. Later Graham would invite and endorse the fledgling Christian rap genre, hosting DC Talk at a crusade. And it would be veteran artists who would put their arms around and use their platforms to support new artists.

Music isn't the only space where the body of Christ needs mature leaders to come alongside those who are up and coming. You might ask yourself, is it time for your own Barnabas moment. In the book of Acts, it was Barnabas, a veteran church leader who risked his reputation to support Paul's work, once a persecutor of the church. In those early days, Barnabas' endorsement was a gamechanger for Paul and helped him launch the ministry that would see him plant churches around the known world and write half of the New Testament. 

You might not be as famous as Billy Graham, but there are likely people in your life that you can uplift, whom you can encourage, support, even endorse for some important calling or ministry. Is it time for you to be a Barnabas to someone? Who can you lift today?