I run a street outreach to women and men involved in prostitution in Los Angeles. I'm also a waitress, a daughter, a sister, a friend, and possibly my favorite role...an Aunt. Most importantly though I am a child of God. As I stepped into this ministry in LA I found that with it came a certain amount of undeserved regard and dare I say... fame? I am not some sort of super Christian, I'm not even a "good" Christian, if you can be one of those. I wrestle everyday with the sacrifices I have had to make and often beg God to change my circumstances. But I choose obedience, I choose it again and again and again and by the grace of God I will never stop choosing it.
I often wonder what people would think of me if I stepped out of the ministry and "just" waited tables and babysat my nephew. Would I still be held in such high regard? But I remember that it's not what I do that gives me my worth or value, and it's certainly not what others think of me... it's who I am in Jesus. So if everything is stripped away and it's just me and Jesus, my worth will be the same and I will be loved the same by my God.
It does feel like we make celebrity Christians out of those who do things we consider radical and it also feels like there is some pressure to strive for that status. I think the main point is that we are called. That's it. Called to love kids, refugees, grocery store clerks, women who are prostituted and women who live next door. It's interesting because I can walk up to anyone on the street and share Christ but I tend to keep to myself at home and don't think you'll find me evangelizing the guy on the plane next to me or the grocery store clerk, it's not likely. But my best friend is a stay at home mom of six in the suburbs and every darn store clerk in town hears about Jesus if not from her then from her kids...and I think that's radical! So at the end of the day each one of us needs to ask "What is God calling me to do?" and then, we need to do it. We ought not compare it with our neighbor because God has given them a different calling and purpose in God's kingdom. And more importantly than asking God "what should I do?" we need to stop and remember that it's not about what we do but what He did and who He is...those things will never change.
Some days I feel more connected to God and more fruitful for His kingdom when I rock my nephew to sleep and pray over him or share a latte with one of my co-workers from the restaurant than when I'm ministering on the street. But I honestly don't really know the impact I'm having in any of those places and might never...it's simply mine to obey... to love God and love others.
Now to switch gears a little let me say this, I believe that purposefully living for Jesus in the city, vocation, family, etc. that He places you in... IS missional living. So by that definition it doesn't matter what we're doing it's whether or not we're making the choice to honor God where He has placed us. That seems simple enough to me.
Let me play devil's advocate here for a minute and say this, there is, I believe, an equal tendancy in the conservative American church to glorify stay at home moms who home school their kids, have organic farms and sew their own clothes. Really, there is A LOT of pressure to live up to this standard from where I stand. I've seen families criticized and rejected by other Christians who move to the city and put their kids in public school in answer to the call of God. I've seen moms homeschool their kids more in response to community pressure than a genuine calling from God. Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE my homeschooling mom friends and admire their hearts for and commitment to their families, and I might even like to be one someday, but it's not because I think they are better Christians than city-dwelling moms who put their kids in public school. So, it seems that the true issue is that often, we, none of us, are satisfied or confident in the position God has given us (eye, elbow, armpit...) and we desire, strive even, to be like others more than we are strive to be like Jesus, to be accepted by others rather than resting in our full acceptance in Jesus.
The last point I'll make before I wrap up is a response to this quote from the author, "I actually know of a couple who were being so “missional” they decided to not procreate for the sake of taking care of orphans. ". I don't really understand why Mr. Bradley felt the need to say this but if he was going where I think he was, I am offended for those people. It is an INCREDIBLE sacrifice to choose to give up having your own children to answer the call of God to care for the children of others. There are some who are called to care for the orphan and often times on such a great level that to have their own children would impede their ability to obey that calling. It doesn't make them a better Christian than you or I, but there is no need to minimize the sacrifice they have made in making that choice. It is choosing to live in obedience and full surrender, this is what God has asked of each one of us and it looks different for each one of us.
And one more time let me just say that what truly matters is your relationship with Jesus...The things you have, the things you do...may all be gone tomorrow... but what you will have, is Jesus and that will always be enough.
Postscript
Several years ago I heard a teaching that forever changed how I thought about my relationship with God. The pastor used two portions of scripture to make a point that has had a lasting impact on my life.
"If you keep my
"And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." Mark 12:30,31 Want to obey His commandments? Love God. Want to love God? See above... Welcome to the circle, Love God...it's that simple.
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