Jesus said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..." and, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." We call those words the "great commission." Was Jesus speaking to all the Church or primarily to the Apostles? I'm not sure because I've heard those words preached but seldom taught. However, Peter seemed to hang out at Jerusalem most of the time and the Church was persecuted and scattered everywhere. Ready or not, the new Church was heading to "all nations" and "every creature." It was as if Jesus' words in the "great commission" blew them there.
I remember wanting to make those words real in my life. We may try to work our way into God's will but God often works beyond our asking and thinking. I went to Rhema Bible Training Center against my parents' wishes. I practicably ran away from home. I took a bus from Athens, Ohio to Tulsa, Oklahoma. From there, I took a cab to the Rhema parking lot in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. I arrived as the late people were arriving for church. Mike Korszak saw me get out of the cab, walk up to me, introduced himself, and offered me a place to stay. That was not God corroborating my decision. That was undeserved grace.
I met many sincere and zealous young people but made few lasting friendships. It turns out, the "faith message" preached there had unintended consequences. You couldn't tell someone how you were feeling if you felt bad. Conversely, you never asked someone how they felt. You didn't live in your emotions. I noticed people substituting chatter for personal conversation. I think faith teaching lead to shallow relationships and loneliness. My relationship with Christ began to feel the same way. My zeal turned to silent despair even while my family came to terms with my being there. In the end, I simply longed for a church where I could invite someone, and know the people there knew how to care of them.
I remember wanting to make those words real in my life. We may try to work our way into God's will but God often works beyond our asking and thinking. I went to Rhema Bible Training Center against my parents' wishes. I practicably ran away from home. I took a bus from Athens, Ohio to Tulsa, Oklahoma. From there, I took a cab to the Rhema parking lot in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. I arrived as the late people were arriving for church. Mike Korszak saw me get out of the cab, walk up to me, introduced himself, and offered me a place to stay. That was not God corroborating my decision. That was undeserved grace.
I met many sincere and zealous young people but made few lasting friendships. It turns out, the "faith message" preached there had unintended consequences. You couldn't tell someone how you were feeling if you felt bad. Conversely, you never asked someone how they felt. You didn't live in your emotions. I noticed people substituting chatter for personal conversation. I think faith teaching lead to shallow relationships and loneliness. My relationship with Christ began to feel the same way. My zeal turned to silent despair even while my family came to terms with my being there. In the end, I simply longed for a church where I could invite someone, and know the people there knew how to care of them.
From Ohio, and places in between, I'm in Columbia, SC, working on a temporary job assignment because necessity brought me here. Columbia is a nice city. I visited the cathedral a few times. At first, I wasn't sure about the suits and formality. However, I've started to feel peace there. Now after everything, I stumble on the words, "Consider yourself sent." It seems like an odd phrase but here is what it means to me. Instead of looking forward trying to be something, God is allowing me to look upon a gifted present bearing his fingerprints.
Paul paints a beautiful sweeping picture.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.I'm a new creation. I've been sent to the simple here and now. My day to day life is my ministry.
Do I think God spoke to me? I don't know. Did you ever have a dream that sticks with you that you feel compelled to consider? Staring at documents for 12 hours can wind you up and make you tired at the same time. All I know is a thought passed through my tired mind as I was leaving work that I felt drawn to consider.
 |
| Grounds around the South Carolina state capital. |
No comments:
Post a Comment