In her recent book, Almost Christian, author Kenda Creasy Dean describes an African’s understanding of Christianity. She quotes: “You American think of Christianity as a farm with a fence. Your question is ‘Are you inside the fence or outside it?’ We think of Christianity as a farm with no fence. Our question is ‘Are you heading towards the farm or away from it?’” The African’s concept of the Church is an important challenge for us, for many Christians seem to spend most of their energy judging the spiritual fitness of others, rather than looking at their own journey “toward the farm.” Our understanding of discipleship should move us away from a focus on the fence itself, concentrating us instead on our journey with and toward Jesus. Dean makes an important distinction about our faith; she says “The Church’s identity is not defined primarily by its edges, but by its center: focused on Christ, the sole source of our identity…” Because our identity is found in Christ and not in the color, shape, or location of the fence, we are free to focus on our relationship with Jesus and with the world. Although the “border” may be fuzzy without a fence, it means that God sets the dimensions of the “farm,” not us. This distinction means that all those who seek Jesus, disciples or not, will move back and forth, toward the “farm” and away from it, during the course of their lives. We engage the world, and the world engages us, without either of us being impeded at a fence. The freedom of no fences can be both life-giving and dangerous at the same time. As disciples mature, we learn where we choose not to go, even though we are free to go there. As disciples grow their identity in Christ, we learn how to work and play without a fence. With Christ as the center of faith, and without worry about putting up fences to keep others out, disciples of Jesus become less “guardians” and more “ambassadors.” Without fences, we invite others to journey toward the farm, that is, toward Jesus, rather than hoping they’ll figure out how to hop the fence. As Dean says, “Disciples are people who participate in God’s movement toward the world and are empowered by the Holy Spirit to represent Christ in the process.” Does a fence surround your Christianity? Are you more concerned about the fence or the farm? How might you move from guardian to ambassador?