Jesus attitude v. Jonah attitude …

It was just late last year that I attended the launch service for Grace City Church, a new church plant in the University City area of beautiful San Diego. Some months prior to the launch, I had the pleasure of meeting with Randall Tonini, the church planter leading this new faith family. I came away from that meeting thinking, “I like this guy!” and excited about what God would do through his followership-leadership style.

A couple of weeks ago, I dropped in on a service at the new plant, but it was this morning that I got a deeper taste of what’s really happening in this new congregation. I was blessed to spend part of this morning getting to know a beautiful young couple from Grace City Church, and hear from the husband about how God is shaping a vision of his using his training and talent as a pharmacist to launch a free medical clinic for the homeless population of San Diego. As he described the vision God is shaping in him, he referred to the vision of ministry Grace City is instilling in its members, that of being “… a church for our city that seeks new life in Jesus.”

It excited me to see this church’s vision already so implanted in such a bright young couple that they are dreaming big dreams about what that means for them, about their role in making that vision statement a reality by how they live, and how they love and serve the people of San Diego. It was easy to see that this graciousness from them stemmed from the grace God has poured upon their lives. Because of the grace of God shed abroad in their hearts, this young couple have a love for, and longing to serve, the people of their city in Christ’s name.

That’s a Jesus attitude!

This couple understands the Apostle Peter’s exhortation to us: “For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:21).

It’s a very different attitude than the one the prophet Jonah exhibited toward the people of the great city of Nineveh. If you take the time to study the life of Jonah, you’ll discover he was a wildly successful revival evangelist. Even Nineveh repented after Jonah preached the message God had given him to deliver to the people of that city …

“When the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying, he stepped down from his throne and took off his royal robes. He dressed himself in burlap and sat on a heap of ashes. Then the king and his nobles sent this decree throughout the city: ‘No one, not even the animals from your herds and flocks, may eat or drink anything at all. People and animals alike must wear garments of mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence. Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us.’ When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened,” Jonah 3:6-10.

But Jonah didn’t rejoice at the response of the people. Instead, he railed with anger at God …

“This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. So he complained to the Lord about it: ‘Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen,” Jonah 4:1-3.

What had Jonah predicted that he was so upset because it wouldn’t happen now?

“On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: ‘Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!’” Jonah 3:4.

In spite of who God was to this angry prophet, and regardless of what God had done for him, Jonah didn’t have a gracious attitude toward the Ninevites. He certainly didn’t see them or care about them like his God did! He would rather the people be destroyed than repent.

That is NOT a Jesus attitude!

But it’s an easy one to have if we don’t allow the Holy Spirit to renew our minds so that we have the mind of Christ with which to value others. It’s easy to slink back and point at all the evil in our own cities, and just wish God would wipe out the sinners! But Jonah was right in his description of God …

“… I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people …” Jonah 4:2b.

It’s this graciousness of God that is the example Jesus demonstrated for us. And what did Peter say about this “Jesus attitude”?

“For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps,” 1 Peter 2:21.

Beautiful things happen when followers of Jesus take seriously this call to follow in the steps of Jesus, to really live out His example. It can impact your city, because it will change your life and your view of others.

Our calling isn’t to preach the Gospel with a heart of hatred toward those we bring the message to, that’s a Jonah attitude. Instead, the example we have is to pour our lives out in loving service to others, proclaiming the Good News in an effort to seek and save the lost. To rejoice with those who repent rather than be angry and pout.

Which attitude are you living out, a Jesus attitude or a Jonah attitude?

Scotty