Bet you're wondering what the heck I'm on about. Am I crazy? Well, probably, but that's not the point...
Recent life experiences have been showing me there are some elements to the missional lifestyle that need some tweaking. Some responsibilities are mine, some are not. Here are some thoughts...
1) I'm done defending God. He doesnt need me to fight a battle He's already won.
My idea of being a good witness involves knowing the truth (check!), believing it (check!), living accordingly (trying to!) and telling others about it (whenever I get the opportunity). But when I get a chance to talk about it, I will no longer jump on the defence (or worse, the attack) as if I have something to prove. God can and will do the proving for Himself.
"Sometimes the idea of mission seems like a gathering of an army to go and conquer something. It seems goal specific, like the default is about us achieving something for God. Gaining some kind of authority." (Some thoughts from my friend and teacher, Tim Hein)
But we're not actually called to do something for God and establish His authority - He has plenty of that all by Himself. There's a difference between those who bear witness to authority and those who carry it.
2) I'm done trying to impress people with my theological understanding. (Like I know that much anyway...)
When I was recently faced with the truth that one of my friends had a terrible time growing up, do you think I had some deep theological answer for them? Nope. I was speechless actually. I just wanted to cry and give them a big hug.
I've realised now that my 'training' was about shaping my heart, mind, character, & aligning my life with Gods purpose for me. It's not about my spoken language. All too often I find that there are no words to say when someone shows you how deep their hurt goes, how broken they are. Instead I think about James 2:14-20 where it says "I will SHOW you my faith by my DEEDS." (NLT, emphasis mine)
Note: It says deeds. Not bible college degree...
Deeds. Behaviour. Attitude. Lifestyle.
(Seems more action based than spoken word, no?)
3) I'm done telling God where He needs to go.
I wonder what God thinks when we rock up in someones life and say to Him, "Righto God, lets get to work!" I imagine him rolling his eyes and thinking, My dear beloved, bless your cotton socks, but do you not realise I love this person like I love you and have been here since the beginning of time?
Perhaps instead of trying to lead God and inviting Him to work with us, we need to get behind Him, and see what He is already doing in the hearts and minds of people. That is the message I am to carry, not one I create myself, expecting God to turn up and support whatever I'm doing. (How obnoxious!)
4) I'm done working in isolation.
A large part of my job involves me managing a project that sees 6 different teams, each operating on different Saturday nights, serving and helping all kinds of people in need on Hindley Street, Adelaide.
The individual teams may not know each other or cross paths much, but when we gathered all the team leaders recently, we heard so many stories about the same people each team were encountering and supporting from week to week. Amazing!
I sat back and thought to myself, what an incredible example of what it means to be a part of a mission that is bigger than just your individual activity.
Isn't that what the Church is meant to be? A global movement of believers, who by a seemingly unintentional system of seed planting, are in fact impacting the world through God, for God.
So...
I'm done defending God. He doesn't need me fighting His already-won battle.
I'm done trying to make an impact with my words when our actions speak louder anyway.
I'm done trying to make God move somewhere when He just wants me to go where He already is.
I'm done working in isolation and I need to better represent the global movement I'm actually already a part of.
Instead, I will continue to dedicate this life to becoming the person I was created to be*, partnering with what God is already doing, bearing witness to a growing movement of Christians awakening to what it means to BE the Church, not GO TO church.
Just saying.
J xo
*I am so far from perfect, thought life was worthless, until You showed me who I am. Not here by mistake, no luck, only grace. I'm on my way to who I am. Not who I was. Not yet what I shall be. (Sample of lyrics from "I Am" - by Kirk Franklin)
