At the risk of sounding repetitive, I want to once again bring up the idea of contextualizing the church from the culture around us. “No culture-free expression of the gospel exists, nor could it,” we are reminded by the book Missional Church, edited by Darrell Guder. Culture was described to our class as the water in which we swim, as though we are fish in a tank or an ocean. We cannot divorce ourselves from our water.
My question is a bit more personal, although I acknowledge the possibility that some of my fellow theology-major-classmates may find themselves facing the same deliberation. For almost as long as I can remember, I have felt a “call” to church leadership. But the charges of Guder, Hirsch, Newbigin, and others remind us that our mission field is wherever God has placed us at this moment. I wonder: what does this mean for my future? What is true church “leadership” and is it something I should be actively pursuing? A major like theology doesn’t produce tangible, marketable skills, whatever definite benefit it may give. Is there a better pursuit to be taking? Certainly these issues encourage me to take part in my direct community, but what does that mean if I am looking at pastor-“ship”?
David Bosch calls the church a body of people sent on a mission, saying that the church has a common calling and vocation to be a sent people. Traditionally, those in church “leadership” are often those who get outside the church the least! So what does this mean for me, for us? I am wrestling with God’s “call.” Certainly I feel compelled to share the Gospel, but I am realizing more and more that this isn’t something limited to someone who wants to be a pastor. Russ Davis, pastor of New Community, once said that perhaps those sitting in the seats were more fully equipped to share the Gospel than he. So what is proclamation? How does one with a desire to lead translate that into the culture?
Danielle E
I think that this is an excellent question. What role do we have when we are called to proclaim where we are. I have absolutely struggled with the same question.
I question these things too -being a theology major. But I also believe that it was God who called me into being a theology major. Whether this major will be how I earn a living or not, either way the gospel will continue to be the center piece in my decision making and in the way I live my life (ideally).
Very compelling questions, it is hard because I have found myself stuck with these thoughts towards leadership and have struggled with the where and what. I feel that this is almost something that we can’t worry to much about because God is going to be doing the placing. We do have to seek his will as Jack seems to be portraying and it won’t be easy because we wont understand what he is doing, but knowing this helps me know that where ever I go and whatever I do will be where God has placed me. There are multiple good decisions out there, but God will lead you to the right one.
I’ve wrestled with this a lot myself. I’ve also heard sermon after sermon about vocation and calling and learned nothing conclusive. I don’t think that God will set the answers in our lap. If He did that, we wouldn’t have to listen or follow. In all honesty there aren’t many undergraduate degrees that actually do look marketable anyways, so don’t get stressed. At the end of the day, leader or not, every Christian has the ability to live missionally and intentionally within any cultural context. We all have that call…it’s just a matter of how you live that out and follow that call.
Danielle! You have really blessed me with your honesty here–you have no idea. Those are courageous and scary questions that I can’t answer, but I think the Holy Spirit will guide you into a place where he can use you best, with your skills, which may be in leadership or not. Whatever it is, it will be beautiful.
-Lauren