Right before Stanley dropped me off at the airport on Saturday night (heading to Florida for an agricultural training) we were talking about the mission of the Church. I had just finished reading When Helping Hurts, so my social theology was in high form.
Literally, right as we drove up the arrivals ramp, Stanley told me: "Write this down, Laura. That way you can remember why you do what you do."
So, here it is:
God calls the Church His bride, His hands and feet. He commissions us to bring His hope and healing to the world.
How does that effect my calling, my purpose, my mission? As worship to Christ, I am called to love my neighbor. Sometimes that neighbor shares my roof. Sometimes that neighbor speaks a completely different language and lives on another ocean. Either way, my role is the same. Live as a reflection of Christ's love.
When I was 15, I heard about how many people in Burkina did not have access to adequate food. I learned how many people were walking in darkness, not knowing the reality of God's love.
Over the last 11 years, I have traveled to many places and learned many things about how Christians are making a difference on the global scale. I've learned that God did not intend poverty. Rather, the Gospel is the promise of total restoration. (Don't worry, I haven't converted to a prosperity gospel.) Instead, the Gospel is the restoration of broken relationships, broken systems, and ultimately a broken Earth.
God didn't create a world where children die of preventable diseases. He created a good, perfect, holy world. It breaks His heart to see injustice, oppression, and inequality. There is enough food for everyone on earth. Global hunger is a problem of human greed and distribution. God created a sustainable world that provides adequate nutrition for every person.
The Church is Christ's bride, working on behalf of her Husband. If we claim Christ's name, we claim His mission. That means that children with broken families are welcome in our life. That means that the hungry are welcome at our table. That means the needy are welcome in our bounty.
Some seasons, that means I teach American teenagers that they are valuable. Other seasons, it means I travel to developing nations to train teachers, farmers, and families. Who knows what the next seasons will bring...
All in all, I choose to follow Jesus. It sounds cliche, but it is the only legitimate option. Trusting Him is our required response of obedience. That means, I trust that He knows the end game. I take risks within His holy framework, not needlessly putting myself in reckless danger, but neither living in fear.
So for now, this is what I am writing down. Thanks for prompting me, dear.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
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Ephesians 5
Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – and find out what pleases the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:
“Awake, O sleeper!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you!”
Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
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