What the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Means for Christians
Craig Gross, known to many as the Porn Pastor because of his work with XXXchurch.com, is encouraging Christians to look at the viral “ALS Ice Bucket Challenge” as an example of the Christian life.
Over the past several weeks, social media has been flooded with one of the most effective fund-raising campaigns of all time. The “Ice Bucket Challenge” encourages participants to dump buckets of freezing water on their heads to raise awareness for the debilitating condition amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. It has become a national pastime to watch friends, family and favorite celebrities get wet in support of ALS research.
Participants are encouraged to donate $10 if they complete the challenge, or $100 if they don’t. In the past few weeks alone, the ALS Association has earned more than $88.5 million, a monstrous increase from their donations of about $2 million in the same period last year.
The ice-bucket challenge sets a great example to Christians of what a life of “going small” can look like. Often, Christians feel discouraged in their faith because they are told by culture they aren’t doing enough. In a world that champions the “biggest and the best,” many individuals feel they can’t do enough to actually make a difference.
“Not everyone is called to lead a big ministry or go across the globe as a missionary. That’s OK,” Gross says. “In fact, most of us our called to serve God in our everyday lives. If every Christian committed to serving God wholeheartedly right where He places them, our world will be a much better place.”
The Ice Bucket Challenge proves that little things can add up to a big difference, Gross explains.
“Just like one person dumping cold water on his head won’t make a difference for ALS. Serving God in your everyday life—from grocery shopping to carpooling to work—can feel small. It’s when we all come together and commit to the cause—or the whole nation decides to dump water on their heads—that we see a change,” he notes.
Gross’ latest book, Go Small, released from Thomas Nelson in August, explains that God doesn’t keep score the way we do, and He desires for us to serve in our everyday lives. Each Christian has a unique calling on their lives, and in God’s eyes they are equally important.
