CALLING
I am called to the city. I am called to a people group that is not like my own. That is what God taught me on Wednesday. It was a big day.
The day started with John Piper preaching on Ephesians 3 in which he said and asked the 4,000+ if we could all agree to this statement: “As as Church, we care about all suffering, especially eternal suffering.” Other highlights were: A woman, Mrs. Little, who’s husband was killed while he was providing medical care with 5 other people in Afghanistan, was murdered in August. Some of you probably heard the news. She spoke of his faith and his deep love of these people…in a remote village where they had to hike on a treacherous path. I think it hit me. That’s not a comfortable situation for anyone. No one wants to hike through the pouring rain, with nasty blisters on their feet, no running water or flushable toilets and have to eat food that is not great tasting (at least at first). But he, and others, were drawn because of their love of Christ. It’s that simple. Their comfort really didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things and they would rather have the opportunity to be Christ’s ambassadors in places where it was difficult to get to, than to not go their and have Christ be absent.
Another gentleman shared his experience about what the Church has done wrong in sharing the gospel with Christ in the Muslim world. I know me and other volunteers were very much challenged by his 5-minute explanation. Basically, mistakes can be summed up in three main points: 1) Viewing Islam as monolithic; that it is one thing all throughout history 2) Refusing to leave 20th century and mission movement it spawned 3) Conversion instead of discipleship and wanting grand “conversion” stories instead of recognizing the reality of the struggling church in the Middle East.
More discussion was had about what this guy said in later sessions. I heard from people who are in the church in these areas and how they are sharing in their communities, and it was so interesting!! I will have to share with some of you in person about some of what they said.
I also got to attend a lunch session where Tim Keller and Michael Ramsden discussed being salt and light at work. Tim Keller made a couple points. 1) Don’t be sleazy. 2) Don’t be ruthless 3) Don’t be stingy. 4) Be unflappable. 5) Be spiritually grounded. What hit me though was that as Christian, I should be the best at what I do. That’s really important, for credibility and for others. And I should surround myself with people who are awesome at what they do - that we look out for each other, and that I (because I am not stingy) stick up for my team members and even take the blame for their mistakes when necessary.
I have so much in my head right now, and I can’t even explain. The Lord is continuing to show me that we are all one body, with many parts, which all have different roles. More on that later.
