I believe this brief excerpt and the questions below from Francis Chan’s book, “Forgotten God”, force us to think long and hard about our purpose for living, why God has placed us where we live…
“A lot of people in my church and in my travels tell me, “I believe that God has called me to Simi Valley.” Or Wichita. Or New York. Or Greenville. Or wherever. And that very well may be the case, but it could also be a cop out because you like where you live. You have a good job. The school district is safe and has high ratings. Your family lives close by (or perhaps far away, depending on your relationship with them). It makes sense that you are “called” to be there, right?
“And maybe you are called to where you live, but if you say you are called to be in the place where you are a few questions need to be considered. For example, how would you be missed if you left this place? What would change? Basically what difference does your presence here make? Or as my youth pastor once asked me, what would your church (and the worldwide church) look like if everyone was as committed as you are? If everyone gave and served and prayed exactly like you, would the church be healthy and empowered? Or would it be weak and listless? …
“It is true that God may have called you to be exactly where you are. But it’s absolutely vital to grasp that he didn’t call there to settle in and live out your life in comfort and superficial peace. His purposes are not random or arbitrary. If you are still alive on this planet, it’s because he has something for you to do. He placed us on this earth for purposes that he orchestrated long before we were born (Ephesians 2:8-10) Do you believe you exist not for your own pleasure but to help people know the love of Jesus and to come fully alive in him? If so, then that will shape how you live your life in the place where you are.” (90-91)
“We are most alive when we are loving and actively giving of ourselves because we were made to do these things. It is when we live like this that the Spirit of God moves and acts in and through us in ways that on our own we are not capable of.” (96)
I love the last line, “We are most alive when we are loving and actively giving of ourselves because we were made to do these things.” I resonate with this and find as I, my family, my church are on mission that I feel most alive as a follower of Christ. Living for the good of others can be addicting…
Your thoughts? Your stories?
Michael,
Good thoughts. Makes me wonder how many people can honestly answer the question, “What were you made to do?” How many know their strengths? How many are hesitant to serve because they perceive their contribution to be of little value compared to another believer with a larger presence or visible ministry? Certainly a personal challenge to encourage others who are timid in reaching beyond their comfort zones.
Agreed! For some it may be apathy, busyness, they think the “church” will do it…but for others they might fail to understand how their small acts of love can make a big difference. I love to think about being on mission with others in my church family, strength in a variety of gifts and abilities.
Thanks Donna!
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I love that question: ‘if everyone was as committed as you are? If everyone gave and served and prayed exactly like you, would the church be healthy and empowered? Or would it be weak and listless?’
It turns the usual challenge on its head and probes my motivations. It’s so easy to feel called to a place where we feel comfortable and fit in, where we’re surrounded by people like us and instinctively understand the way things work round here. The trouble is that we risk blending in with the background and no one notices we’re here at all.
I feel somewhat exiled in the suburbs – having come here from the inner city – and that feeling of discomfort that comes from exile possibly sharpens my ability to see things differently from other people in my church which might enable me to bring insights that my congregation might otherwise not have access to.
The trouble is that the longer I’m here, the fuzzier my feelings of exile become because I begin to feel at home, settle in, find my way round, blend in with my neighbours as I find things we have in common. These are all essential if I am going to be able to share my faith in a language my neighbours will understand. But the more I blend in, the more I lose my edge, my ability to bring a fresh perspective that might appropriately shake people up.
great response simon! you have descrbed the way i and many others feel…we lose our focus, our mission, we lose sight of the command to seek first the kingdom of God. it is usually gradual, and before we know it we are just living the way everyone else is living…
good to hear from you…