Fallen and Flawed

I get very frustrated with religious pressure toward “full time Christian service”. I think it’s a shame that missionaries and pastors are regarded as better Christians than engineers and linemen and lunchroom ladies. Pastors and preachers who want everyone in their audience to sell their house and move to Zimbabwe aggravate me excessively.

Why?

Because without Christians who go to work every morning, none of those would have two nickels to rub together.

Without those of us who are accused of being materialistic and selfish, those who “gave it all” would have nothing to work with.

I love missionaries and pastors, and I DO appreciate their sacrifice, but I do NOT believe any of the nonsense that “every good Christian” should be full time “Christian workers”.

We are ALL full time Christian workers, or we are no Christians at all. Every moment of our lives is a testimony to the Gospel, either positive or negative. We have no choice.

We should learn how to LEVERAGE everything that God has given us, both in time and possessions, to give it to Him, rather than just saying that we are supposed to “give it up”. There’s a big difference.

Demian,

An interesting premise. And it seems like you’ve been looking over my shoulder as I’ve been working on your guest post!

While bringing people to Christ is indeed important, and the role of evangelists and missionaries is a vital one, what happens after that?

The great commission is to make disciples, not just converts.

We often forget about what happens after the new birth. We forget that Christians need to grow, need discipleship, need to be weaned from milk and become mature, meat-eating Christians.

While getting people in the “doorway” is vital, we simply won’t grow on a diet of doorway theology.

Each of us is called to those areas and fields that God has ordained for us.

When we pray “thy kingdom come,” we are essentially asking God to rein in every area of life and in every aspect of our lives.

As the body of Christ, we can’t all be the mouth.

Each of us functions as God has called and gifted us.

And each and every function is no less a glorious and radical calling.

Bach’s and Van Gogh’s included.

And that goes for all the current Bachs and Van Goghs in the making!

And I must disagree with the statement about our culture not being any less without their contributions.

I believe our culture would indeed be a bit less beautiful without the contributions of these two artists. We need the gifts God obviously blessed them with. Our lives are richer for them. And that goes for the gifts of today’s writers, painters, composers and veterinarians… callings that are no less noble than that of evangelist or missionary.

While I think it’s great that folks like Platt get us thinking and praying about what God may have for us to do, and to seek Him deeply for direction, for many of us that may simply mean that God confirms that He has us exactly where He wants us, doing exactly what He wants us to do for His kingdom and His glory.

And then, yes, I believe we can indeed know if that’s enough, particularly if God says it is.

Well said, Bernard, especially this line: “We are ALL full time Christian workers, or we are no Christians at all. Every moment of our lives is a testimony to the Gospel, either positive or negative. We have no choice.”

Looks like Bernard and I hit the submit button at the same time. Both of us thinking the same thoughts.

Only I got more soapboxy

I finished Francis Chan’s Crazy Love recently and it sounds similar maybe. It’s hard to argue with the premise that as long as there are children hungry in the world that I shouldn’t have satellite TV and air conditioning. I don’t have an answer but I think you’ve summed it up great. I wonder how does 2 Cor 9:7 fit into that?

I have one of those jobs that nobody would see as spiritual. But the 2nd of 3 times I “heard” the voice of God it was telling me to go to this school, marry this lady, and enter this profession. None of those had occurred to me before but all have been a blessing. I see my job as a legitimate calling. Truth is I’m okay being a pancreas instead of a mouth and feel like I am gifted as such.

A good book on this topic is “God Cares About Your Work”. It has a chapter about the fallacy of secular vs sacred work and seeing “sacred work” as being more valuable or important than “secular work”.

I am speaking to myself more than anybody, but for a Christian, there should be no secular vs. sacred in regards to our own lives. We are Christ’s, bought and paid for. All we have, own, or capable of purchasing is his. This includes our time.

If we are working a job making six figures with the time and talents he has given us, or working with the homeless, we are his.

If we keep this in the forefront of our mind as we make EVERY decision, every purchase, say every word, then let no man judge.

The world would be a different place if all who call him Lord actually lived like it.

Gary, you sound a lot like my husband! In fact, I thought that your comment was one of his until I saw your name. Please tell me you live in Texas!

Um, Demian….what Gary said.

@Denita no I live in the Portland Oregon area. I lived in Houston for 2 years when my wife and I were taking care of her father.

Hey Richard, to Platt’s credit he is all about MAKING disciples, burning the midnight oil to mature believers.

By the way, I was so hoping you’d respond. I’m always curious to hear your thoughts about this topic. And I agree with you…our world wouldn’t be the same without works of art like Back and van Gogh.

Gary and Jonathan: Yeah, a book that was helpful for me to tear down that sacred-secular wall was Piper’s Don’t Waste Your Life. Actually it was the chapter on your work. [I admit, I only read that chapter.] But it was profound.

Matt Chandler has also been enormously helpful to me in this regard. As well as thinking about our “cultural mandate” and subduing the earth. [In fact, I it was him who prompted me to dedicating this year to focusing on that topic.]

Love you guys. In Christ.