I opened the latest newsletter from an organisation I support. The contents page included “NAME… looks back on a life-time of discipleship”. I turned to page 26.
Would I be greeted by the story of someone who had served God in a secular environment, been excellent in his job, produced something of worth and acted with integrity there; someone who had spoken fearlessly of Jesus “in season and out”; also perhaps someone whose marriage and family had brought glory to God?
No. My prejudices were confirmed. Pages 27-30 told the story of a medical student who went to Rwanda as a medical missionary and served and planted churches there.
Now, don’t get me wrong. No, please don’t. I am not saying that (later to be Rev) Dr Medical Missionary was a bad person. I have no doubt that he will hear “Well done, good and faithful servant”; I imagine the reverend Doctor was only too aware of his own failings; he was the husband of one wife for 66 years. These are all good things.
Also, I am not saying that no-one should ever go overseas to tell others about Jesus – and I am painfully aware of my own shortcomings in evangelism.
But why is this type of “life-time of discipleship” the one that is nearly always held up as an example? Could it be that our teachers and leaders are not preparing “ordinary” church members to be fruitful and faithful in their everyday lives? Or, even more frighteningly, our teachers and leaders believe, deep down, that ‘ordinary’ church members have often missed God’s will for them.
Lord, have mercy.
April 13, 2010 at 7:39 pm |
Here is a thought: perhaps our difficulty is that we do not sufficiently understand our own mission field. Correspondingly, when people think of ‘notable examples’ of Christian living they look to traditional patterns, whether this be missionary work abroad, or church planting or service at home. What will change us, is a fresh understanding of the ‘mission’ component of mawwamfc.
This, I think, goes beyond the raising of a god-fearing family, or witness in our secular employment – because whilst we may be doing a good job of this, it isn’t sufficient to the task in hand.
The recent BBC broadcast, ‘Are Christians being Persecuted?’ I believe, gives a pretty accurate picture of what we face today. Secularisation, politicism, post-modernism, the ‘human rights’ agenda. And we have Muslims saying that Christians need to stand up for what they believe – what an endictment! And yet the Muslim community, is, in the positive sense of the word much more militant in defending its beliefs than we are – much more politically aware and politically involved.
I am reminded of Michael Griffith’s portrayal of the Church as a sleeping giant. Perhaps, it is time for more mature Christians, such as ourselves to stand up, to raise our voices, to start to lead. Perhaps we have been cosy bedfellows with secular society for too long.
April 19, 2010 at 6:10 pm |
As one with personal experience of said organisation, I can tell you that your worries from the final paragraph aren’t true of it, and that one of their staff was instrumental in getting me to think seriously about a secular career! Perhaps the article in question does betray an attitude in our particular subculture. I’d be interested to hear any response you get from the writer.
April 23, 2010 at 7:41 am |
The comms director of the organisation graciously took the time to respond to this, saying, “… it could just have easily been someone who worked in a secular environment. We happened to know NAME, he lived an interesting and fruitful life (I’ve just yesterday been informed he’s with the Lord now) so we told his story. That’s really it.”
April 23, 2010 at 7:42 am |
Hello, Darren
I certainly think you’re right: we don’t understand our own mission field.
February 8, 2011 at 2:00 pm |
hi Alan,
being in a church fellowship which is very focused on raising up men to preach and go into all the world, we can be very dismissive of those who aren’t called to that ministry. It dosen’t come from our leaders’ example though, when my husband was talking to him about this topic ( we are aware that it is people working secular jobs who are financing us missionaries to be able to do what we do !) Pastor Mitchell said it takes as much devotion to stay in your church and be a faithful member of the congregation as it does to be a missionary .
hahaha… our secret is out ! being a missionary doesn’t mean you are the creme de la creme !
well, the bible gives us Jesus who spent most of His adult life as a carpenter, only three years in His ministry, and Dorcas who was resurrected to make some more clothes, and those who were financing the gospel being spread. The little kids who weren’t doing anything were commended as having the kind of heart it takes to get into the kingdom.
the trouble with us sometimes, is that we think we have it all sussed, just like the pharisees and sadducees did.
God help us !!