Plastic Bubbles Series

Bubble Busters

Pt. 1 - Plastic Bubbles

I. Introduction

It grabbed my attention. I was riveted to the screen. I don't remember many dramatic tv shows from my youth but this one I remember vividly. I saw this in 1976 when I was 8 and I can't forget it. The plot was a young man, played by John Travolta, who had been born with no immune system. Any exposure to the outside world would result in his death due to exposure to germs and diseases. The solution was dramatic and drastic. This young man lived in a plastic bubble. The movie chronicled his desperation to exit the bubble and experience life outside this pocket of safety. His desperation caused him to become increasingly dissatisfied with life confined by this secure and sterile environment.

I would submit that the movie is a depiction of the church and most of us as Christians . . . only in reverse. The boy was trying desperately to escape from the bubble while it seems to me the church is trying desperately to escape to the bubble. Our plastic bubble is complete with Christian friends, Christian culture, Christian clothes, our own language called Christianease and we, in our desperation to escape forget, that we have not only been called and commissioned but equipped to live outside the confines and restrictions of safe, secure and sterile bubbles! We are, in fact, supposed to become bubble busters!

Christians in bubbles can be verified. Did you know that . . .

75% of regular church attenders do not believe that sharing their faith is important.

Once the average person becomes a believer in Christ, he or she loses contact with all unbelieving friends within two years.

When we ask you, at Easter and Christmas, to fill out a prayer and invite card with 5 names of people you know who aren't saved and that you will invite we typically get less than 50% participation. I am convinced that is because most of us have retreated inside our Christian bubble and either we no longer know anyone who doesn't know Jesus or at least know anyone who doesn't know Jesus that we have any significant influence with or entrance into their life.

We learned the practice of bubbling from the best!

Text: Acts 10:9-35, 44-48 (TPT)

The next day around noon, as Cornelius’ men were approaching Joppa, Peter went up to the flat roof of the house to pray. He was hungry and wanted to eat, but while lunch was being prepared he fell into a trance and entered into another realm. As the heavenly realm opened up, he saw something resembling a large linen tablecloth that descended from above, being let down to the earth by its four corners. As it floated down he saw that it held many kinds of four-footed animals, reptiles, and wild birds. A voice said to him, “Peter, go and prepare them to be eaten.” Peter replied, “There’s no way I could do that, Lord, for I’ve never eaten anything forbidden or impure according to our Jewish laws.” The voice spoke again. “Nothing is unclean if God declares it to be clean.” The vision was repeated three times. Then suddenly the linen sheet was snatched back up into heaven. Peter was so stunned by the vision that he couldn’t stop wondering about what all it meant. Meanwhile, Cornelius’ men had learned where Peter was staying and at that same moment were standing outside the gate. They called out to those in the house, “Is this where Simon, the Rock, is staying?” As Peter was in deep thought, trying to interpret the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Go downstairs now, for three men are looking for you. Don’t hesitate to go with them, because I have sent them.” Peter went downstairs to the men and said, “I believe I’m the one you’re looking for. What brings you here?” They answered, “We serve Cornelius, a Roman military captain, who sent us to find you. He is a devout man of the highest integrity who worships God and is respected throughout the Jewish community. He was divinely instructed through the appearance of an angel to summon you to his home and to listen to the message that you would bring him.” Peter invited them to stay for the night as his guests. The next morning they departed, accompanied by some of the believers from Joppa. The next day they arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was waiting anxiously for them and had gathered together all of his relatives and close friends. The moment Peter walked in the door, Cornelius fell at his feet to worship him. But Peter pulled him to his feet and said, “Stand up, for I’m only a man and no different from you.” They talked together and then went inside, where Peter found a large gathering waiting to hear his words. Peter said to them, “You all know that it is against the Jewish laws for me to associate with or even visit the home of one who is not a Jew. Yet God has shown me that I should never view anyone as inferior or ritually unclean. So when you sent for me, I came without objection. Now, may I ask why you sent for me?” Cornelius replied, “Four days ago I was fasting and praying here in my home at this very hour, three o’clock in the afternoon, when a man in glistening clothing suddenly appeared in front of my eyes. He said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayers. Your generosity to the poor has been recorded and remembered in God’s presence. However, you must send for a man named Simon, the Rock, who is staying in Joppa as a guest of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ So I immediately sent my men to bring you here—and you were kind enough to come. And now, here we are, all of us in God’s presence, anxious to hear the message that God has put into your heart to share with us.” Peter said, “Now I know for certain that God doesn’t show favoritism with people but treats everyone on the same basis. It makes no difference what race of people one belongs to. If they show deep reverence for God, and are committed to doing what’s right, they are acceptable before him.