As I sit and think about the missional church discussion, I feel the compulsion to bring it home. Am I living it? I’m expounding it as the necessary next step of the church, but in what ways am I living it? My church family is truly my family; I love them just as dearly as my own mother, sister, and father. And with my family, I can sense and feel the cries for ever deepening relationships, connection, and love. But, like my family, my church is able to easily dismiss the advice and inclinations of an inexperienced 22 year old, because I “lack wisdom.” This is true, I do not deny that I’m about as experienced as a boot camp graduate is in combat. But, I feel this deep sense of longing for a mission, something that I can rally behind and fully trust and interact with. I sense that I have found something in the Incarnational/missional mentality that seems to present itself in the Bible. Something within me longs and yearns for this message to be presented to the church and to the world. But, then I face reality and have to admit that a 22 year old theology graduate’s voice is one of literally billions crying out millions of messages in the world. How is mine heard? Or yours? I don’t think it can be; it has to be lived. My church is struggling to find a rallying message, what if I lived one? I can yack on a blog all day long, but aren’t actions what we remember? Try to retell the beatitudes and what the point to all of that is. Now try to retell Jesus’ raising of Lazarus and what the point is. Tell me about yesterday’s class message or the last sermon you heard on Incarnational ministry. Now tell me about when the God of the universe incarnated himself in your life and became real to you. If this missional mentality is truly biblical and Godly, we don’t need to change our churches, we need to change our lives. God will cause the rest will follow.
From my heart, with love,
Aaron
Aaron, it seems as though the comment I tried to post did not go through (user error no doubt). I can really identify with this post, particularly with finding my youth as a discouragement. A dear friend and I found some encouragement in 1st Timothy 4:12, I think it may lighten your heart and inspire you. Keep heart!
i agree with the point of this post. I feel that you can have all the knowledge in the world and if you produce no action behind that in serving Christ, then that wisdom is wasted. If you truly believe something you will live it out in every action you make.
I think what’s important to remember is that is is not about who we become or what we do that matters, instead we need to focus on who we serve. Our actions and words are always forgettable; no matter how great we become, no matter how much of an impact we make all that might happen is that we get recorded in a history book or have a holiday dedicated to us. One thing that brought me joy this past semester were the accounts of missionary men and women who simply found joy in service, many of them had (at the time) unsuccessful ministries, but they loved serving nonetheless. In our own lives our focus should consistently be on who we serve, then the reality of that love and devotion will spill over into our other relationships. Love you Aaron, thanks for your honesty!
Wow, sorry, that was awfully long! 🙂
Aaron, I really appreciate how, in this post, your words gently draw the focus for me away from criticism of the church, to a deeper and more honest self-examination.
Also, I think the interaction between actions and words is an interesting dynamic. Maybe it’s just me, but I can think of just as many times where words – whether they were particularly powerful or beautiful or personal – have moved me, as have actions or deeds done than I have witnessed.
There exists just as immense of a chaos of human action in the world, as that of our words. Billions of lives being lived out every day. Billions of actions.
Maybe what we need is not one or the other, even exemplary versions of them, but the two together. Consistency – so that our actions demonstrate the truth of our words, and the words we use function to illuminate our deeds and claim them for Jesus Christ.
Also, and probably more importantly, we need God’s orchestration and sovereignty…even if our words and/or lives may not be particularly profound on a given day…when God guides them to a particular person and place, then, and only then, they will surely and truly be heard.
Thanks for your thoughts (and honest angst) Aaron. I think you are one to something. God using a humble 22 year old. Hmm. I think he wants to you use you.
BTW – how old was Athanasius when he wrote, “The Incarnation?”
Shalom