Are we running from the Mission of God

Far too often as Christians we think our main goal in life is perfect church attendance. We miss the larger calling and ability of the mission God actually set out in the Bible. One thing I love to think about is our ability as people in the workplace to change the course of tide of life itself. This is introduced biblically as redemption.

A redeemer is one “upon whom fell the duty of acting to protect the interests of the family or another member in it who was in need… especially in situations of threat, loss, poverty, or injustice” (Wright, The Mission of God). It’s a possibility and a suggestion for more than just sitting around complaining about the things we see- it’s a invitation to get up and go change them.

As a random example, I love the movie Sister Act. It’s a cute story about a singer who accidentally sees a murder and needs to go into witness protection where she gets placed in a convent pretending to be a nun. And well, let’s just say, she is not very nun-like! But I love the movie because she actually takes the initiative in that position to break down the walls that exist between the community and the church. In a few simple steps, the convent is not only befriending, but also reaching out to and serving the community that they otherwise have nothing in common with. But just that desire and willingness to serve speaks mountains to people who are then able and willing to hear the gospel truth because they have been loved and accepted by the church itself. Far too often, we sit completely segregated from the very people that need our love, our support, our encouragement, and out faith the most.  

But what I love even more about the movie is the line of redemption. The choir takes these songs that are literal pop songs and have no substance or purpose in the church. But instead of throwing them out as worthless, they take what existed and redeemed it into something that worshiped God. My favorite song in the movie is “I will follow Him,” and though it is a great pop song, it really does give you goosebumps when you watch the nuns praising the Lord with these beautiful lyrics. Those lyrics were meant for something different, but were redeemed back to our original Christian focus- to serve, and honor, and love God in everything.

This doesn’t mean I hope to see secular songs at your church next week, but it is a great example of redemption. And that’s what God gives us the ability to do in our own lives. To take our broken, crazy jobs with their sometimes warped goals and methods and services, and redeem them into something even more incredible. To take the broken relationships in our lives and show them what true love really is. To take that which seemed so lost and so far gone and so unsavable, just like you probably were back in the day, and incredibly create brand new life, and purpose, and value. That’s exactly what Jesus did for us, and exactly what we now get to do for the world. That is a mission of God worth getting on board with.

 

How are you doing looking for and stepping into the mission of God for your life?

1 Corinthians 15:58- Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”