The other day a good friend put this question to me:
"If you could do ANYTHING in the church, what would it be?"
Some qualifications to that question were a part of our discussion: the word "church" does not refer to the particular building where one might have worship/fellowship/teaching, but to the Kingdom of God in general; and the word "anything" means to have any kind of purpose in the Kingdom, your perceived education or other religious "qualifications" notwithstanding.
This friend was quizzing me on the state of my relationship with the Lord. On occasion, she makes me articulate "where I'm at", since I'm not attending church "proper". This is good for me, it's an evaluation of sorts. It's true that not attending church can lead to a lack of accountability at all in matters of faith. My conversations with this friend force me to hear myself outloud. Sometimes she corrects me or tells me why she disagrees with whatever train of thought about church or faith I am on. Mostly she encourages me. She never judges me, knowing that I trust the Spirit of God in her enough to give careful thought to what she says. And she's not "concerned" about my faith because I'm out-of-church, she only desires that I continue to experience spiritual growth and have fellowship with other believers. She says "I think God has you right where He wants you."
So back to the question. How do I view my purpose? What do I feel called to? At first I gave her a series of rehearsed answers...you know, the standard stuff. Then I got to really thinking about it.
I typically get hung-up on the whole "purpose/gifts/calling" thing. (See A Letter to a friend Part 6, point # 5) I understand the need for us to know "why we are here", but really...does it even matter? What I mean is...should it even matter?
The church I am out-of puts so much emphasis on gifts calling and purposes that it confuses me. With this focus, we easily become self-centered, not wanting to work with people, not wanting to be told what to do by leadership, worrying constantly about being recognized for our gifts, hoping to be allowed to work in the area of our "purpose", being seen as qualified to do what God has "called us to do". etc. We want everything to line up with our "calling", and if something doesn't, we don't want to do it.
So what's my purpose? I don't really know. I don't like to focus on it. It will fall into place as God wills it. I know the things God shares wisdom with me about, the ways in which He sometimes likes to use me, and the lives He likes to touch through me. I am secure in the fact that I am beloved of God, and I'll do my human best to go when He says to go, to follow where He leads me.
I don't need to know the specifics. It moves my focus off the Leader and onto the destination. And I think getting there is half the fun.
"If you could do ANYTHING in the church, what would it be?"
Some qualifications to that question were a part of our discussion: the word "church" does not refer to the particular building where one might have worship/fellowship/teaching, but to the Kingdom of God in general; and the word "anything" means to have any kind of purpose in the Kingdom, your perceived education or other religious "qualifications" notwithstanding.
This friend was quizzing me on the state of my relationship with the Lord. On occasion, she makes me articulate "where I'm at", since I'm not attending church "proper". This is good for me, it's an evaluation of sorts. It's true that not attending church can lead to a lack of accountability at all in matters of faith. My conversations with this friend force me to hear myself outloud. Sometimes she corrects me or tells me why she disagrees with whatever train of thought about church or faith I am on. Mostly she encourages me. She never judges me, knowing that I trust the Spirit of God in her enough to give careful thought to what she says. And she's not "concerned" about my faith because I'm out-of-church, she only desires that I continue to experience spiritual growth and have fellowship with other believers. She says "I think God has you right where He wants you."
So back to the question. How do I view my purpose? What do I feel called to? At first I gave her a series of rehearsed answers...you know, the standard stuff. Then I got to really thinking about it.
I typically get hung-up on the whole "purpose/gifts/calling" thing. (See A Letter to a friend Part 6, point # 5) I understand the need for us to know "why we are here", but really...does it even matter? What I mean is...should it even matter?
The church I am out-of puts so much emphasis on gifts calling and purposes that it confuses me. With this focus, we easily become self-centered, not wanting to work with people, not wanting to be told what to do by leadership, worrying constantly about being recognized for our gifts, hoping to be allowed to work in the area of our "purpose", being seen as qualified to do what God has "called us to do". etc. We want everything to line up with our "calling", and if something doesn't, we don't want to do it.
So what's my purpose? I don't really know. I don't like to focus on it. It will fall into place as God wills it. I know the things God shares wisdom with me about, the ways in which He sometimes likes to use me, and the lives He likes to touch through me. I am secure in the fact that I am beloved of God, and I'll do my human best to go when He says to go, to follow where He leads me.
I don't need to know the specifics. It moves my focus off the Leader and onto the destination. And I think getting there is half the fun.
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