The other day while watching the Confederations Cup Final (sadly Brazil beat the US) I was reminded of one of my favorite hymns. At the end of the game Kaka, one of the Brazilian players, removed his jersey to reveal an undershirt declaring “I Belong to Jesus.” I know that in much of the West today such effusive shows of religion are frowned upon, we can often be too cool for such displays, marginalizing them as throwing our beliefs too much in the face of others. What is remarkable about Kaka’s display is the joy that is always there (I believe this is the case even when his team does not win). Why should we be such shrinking violets about what we believe? Do we really believe it, do we really hold it to be true? If our answer is yes, then why should we be scared that someone find out that we belong to Christ? I think there is nothing so distasteful as someone who says they believe something but is embarassed by it.

Kaka: I Belong to Jesus

Earlier that same day during the sermon at South City Church, Pastor Jay Simmons used a quote by the comedian Penn Jillette (of Penn & Teller), an avowed atheist, that I think summarizes how misguided we can be about what we do with our beliefs. This is Penn’s response after he had been proselytized by a business man after a show (he is actually commending it, especially since the man did it respectfully):

“If you believe that there’s a heaven and hell and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life or whatever, and you think that it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward, and atheists who think that people shouldn’t proselytize — ‘Just leave me alone, keep your religion to yourself.’

“How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize?” Jillette asked. “How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? If I believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that a truck was coming at you and you didn’t believe it, and that truck was bearing down on you, there’s a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that.”

Check out this video for Penn’s full response:

All that to say that I was reminded of one of my favorite hymns entitled I Belong to Jesus and I wanted to share it with you. You’ll find the words below and if you would like to hear it, my friend Nathan Partain has set the beautiful words to a beautiful tune. The song is featured on his new CD, 11:43am. It was one of the songs played on my last Sunday at CrossPoint and has been a great reminder to me over the last few months of who I am. So, check it out.

I Belong to Jesus

I belong to Jesus; I am not my own;
All I have and all I am, Shall be his alone.
I belong to Jesus; He is Lord and King,
Reigning in my inmost heart, Over ev’rything.

I belong to Jesus; Blessed, blessed thought!
With his own most precious blood, Has my soul been bought.
I belong to Jesus; He has died for me;
I am his and he is mine, Through eternity.

I belong to Jesus; He will keep my soul,
When the deathly waters dark, Round about me roll.
I belong to Jesus; And fore’er I’ll stand
With my precious Saviour there, In his glorious land.
words: M Fraser, Music N Partain

Grace, J