What I've noticed is the culture of complacency that we happily abide in as Christians, a culture that is even encouraged from the pulpit and in Christian counseling, both professionally and between friends.
We see this complacency every where we look, but we don't really see it. We don't see it because we are conditioned to believe that the status quo is ok, even good. It's as though the Calvinistic mindset that prevails in Christian culture has morphed into a doctrine that ties the hands and feet, and blinds the eyes, deafening the ears, of believers under the pretense that "You're right where God wants you to be." Whether we are or not.
When we are struggling-- whether in relationships, finances, work, parenting--we are told, "God has you here for a reason. Remember, He's in control." These words are intended to comfort, and comfort they may. It indeed eases tremendously that uncomfortable sense of personal responsibility and unsettling questioning of the possibility that what we are experiencing is the consequence of our own actions and choices.
I see so many families that are struggling. Parents who live to work in order to provide the things they crave for themselves and their children, running on the treadmill they can never seem to escape regardless of how destructive they realize it is; while their children miss out on the most important things in life: their parents' love, guidance, and teaching, and time.
I see Christians in un-fulfilling jobs that they hate, looking across the fence to the 'greener grass' of ministry and missions, wishing that they could somehow make more time in their schedules to serve, or have more money to give...not recognizing that their debts and insatiable appetite for possessions is enslaving them to work that monopolizes all of their time, leaving nothing left for the Kingdom work their hearts desire to do.
These questions prick at peoples' hearts.
But then they hear from the pulpit, or from Christian friends, that "God has you right where He wants you." As though it's not possible for us Christians to make poor choices, or to ever be outside of God's will.
We forget that God is the same today as He was yesterday.
We forget that we serve and follow the same God that planned to bring His people into the promised land. That was His will, His plan for them. But for so many reasons, the people chose not to trust and follow God into the land, and subsequently wandered the wilderness outside of the land for the rest of their lives! God did indeed provide for them and protect them during this time in the wilderness, and yes, they were right where God had them...but they could not be comforted by the notion that 'they were right where God wanted them'. No, sir. They knew that they had failed to step out in faith and follow His leading. They knew they had missed the boat.
We serve and follow the same God that called Jonah to work that he didn't want to do. Work he tried to avoid. Avoidance that landed him the the belly of a whale. Was the whale "right where God wanted" Jonah? Certainly. God wanted Jonah to experience a consequence for his actions! But that wasn't His original intention for Jonah, was it?
We serve and follow the same God that promised us through Jesus that He would provide all of our needs if we only seek first His Kingdom and not our own. The same God who tells us to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven, not here.
Those who are working hard for menial pay may not ever think that they are seeking a kingdom of their own, or that they are laying up treasures for themselves on earth; but if they are sacrificing the Kingdom work that God has for them in order to meet their own financial needs, they are failing to TRUST in His provision!
In my own life, in the life of my family, I DO NOT want to find myself within this culture of complacency. I NEVER want to settle for the status quo, or assume that 'I'm right where He wants me' without question.
I want my eyes to be open to His vision, I want my ears to be open to His words for me, my feet to be ready to move and go where He leads me. Never do I want to stop questioning whether or not I am building my own Kingdom here on earth. Even when what I'm doing seems good and right. Even when the choices that I'm making seem "righteous" and biblical...
I MUST always remember to trust in God's provision instead of putting that responsibility on myself and neglecting to follow Him, seeking instead comfort, safety, security, or all the things this world has to offer.
God has not called only those in remote mission fields to forsake everything to serve Him.
While He may want us to remain here in comfortable western civilization to serve Him in our homes and local communities; while He may want us to serve Him in a business or work setting, He still wants our hearts. For "Where our treasure is, there our hearts will be also."
We should NEVER, EVER stop questioning whether we are where we are for us, or for Him. Whether the choices we have made were made for us, or for Him.
Are we where we think we need to be, or where He's called us? Are we doing what we think we need to do, or what He's clearly called us to do?
Whether we are called to Africa, or to corporate America, we need to test the grasp that we have on our possessions, on life as we know it. Our comfortable homes, our cars, our clothing, the security of our income, our families and the way we raise them...all of it.
Whether or not we've heard God tell us, as He told the rich young Israelite, to sell all we have and give to the poor, we should constantly question
x
We see this complacency every where we look, but we don't really see it. We don't see it because we are conditioned to believe that the status quo is ok, even good. It's as though the Calvinistic mindset that prevails in Christian culture has morphed into a doctrine that ties the hands and feet, and blinds the eyes, deafening the ears, of believers under the pretense that "You're right where God wants you to be." Whether we are or not.
When we are struggling-- whether in relationships, finances, work, parenting--we are told, "God has you here for a reason. Remember, He's in control." These words are intended to comfort, and comfort they may. It indeed eases tremendously that uncomfortable sense of personal responsibility and unsettling questioning of the possibility that what we are experiencing is the consequence of our own actions and choices.
I see so many families that are struggling. Parents who live to work in order to provide the things they crave for themselves and their children, running on the treadmill they can never seem to escape regardless of how destructive they realize it is; while their children miss out on the most important things in life: their parents' love, guidance, and teaching, and time.
I see Christians in un-fulfilling jobs that they hate, looking across the fence to the 'greener grass' of ministry and missions, wishing that they could somehow make more time in their schedules to serve, or have more money to give...not recognizing that their debts and insatiable appetite for possessions is enslaving them to work that monopolizes all of their time, leaving nothing left for the Kingdom work their hearts desire to do.
These questions prick at peoples' hearts.
But then they hear from the pulpit, or from Christian friends, that "God has you right where He wants you." As though it's not possible for us Christians to make poor choices, or to ever be outside of God's will.
We forget that God is the same today as He was yesterday.
We forget that we serve and follow the same God that planned to bring His people into the promised land. That was His will, His plan for them. But for so many reasons, the people chose not to trust and follow God into the land, and subsequently wandered the wilderness outside of the land for the rest of their lives! God did indeed provide for them and protect them during this time in the wilderness, and yes, they were right where God had them...but they could not be comforted by the notion that 'they were right where God wanted them'. No, sir. They knew that they had failed to step out in faith and follow His leading. They knew they had missed the boat.
We serve and follow the same God that called Jonah to work that he didn't want to do. Work he tried to avoid. Avoidance that landed him the the belly of a whale. Was the whale "right where God wanted" Jonah? Certainly. God wanted Jonah to experience a consequence for his actions! But that wasn't His original intention for Jonah, was it?
We serve and follow the same God that promised us through Jesus that He would provide all of our needs if we only seek first His Kingdom and not our own. The same God who tells us to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven, not here.
Those who are working hard for menial pay may not ever think that they are seeking a kingdom of their own, or that they are laying up treasures for themselves on earth; but if they are sacrificing the Kingdom work that God has for them in order to meet their own financial needs, they are failing to TRUST in His provision!
In my own life, in the life of my family, I DO NOT want to find myself within this culture of complacency. I NEVER want to settle for the status quo, or assume that 'I'm right where He wants me' without question.
I want my eyes to be open to His vision, I want my ears to be open to His words for me, my feet to be ready to move and go where He leads me. Never do I want to stop questioning whether or not I am building my own Kingdom here on earth. Even when what I'm doing seems good and right. Even when the choices that I'm making seem "righteous" and biblical...
I MUST always remember to trust in God's provision instead of putting that responsibility on myself and neglecting to follow Him, seeking instead comfort, safety, security, or all the things this world has to offer.
God has not called only those in remote mission fields to forsake everything to serve Him.
While He may want us to remain here in comfortable western civilization to serve Him in our homes and local communities; while He may want us to serve Him in a business or work setting, He still wants our hearts. For "Where our treasure is, there our hearts will be also."
We should NEVER, EVER stop questioning whether we are where we are for us, or for Him. Whether the choices we have made were made for us, or for Him.
Are we where we think we need to be, or where He's called us? Are we doing what we think we need to do, or what He's clearly called us to do?
Whether we are called to Africa, or to corporate America, we need to test the grasp that we have on our possessions, on life as we know it. Our comfortable homes, our cars, our clothing, the security of our income, our families and the way we raise them...all of it.
Whether or not we've heard God tell us, as He told the rich young Israelite, to sell all we have and give to the poor, we should constantly question
x
I see people questioning their priorities, their goals, how they're spending their resources of time, energy, and money. People are dissatisfied with where they are, and for good reason.
"Would I?"
