I’ve been reading a few books and listening to some YouTube sermons recently which have had a common theme. That common theme is that we as Christians are called to change the world. Now, there is a sense in which yes, what the Church does together as the body of Christ by witnessing to him and living for him does change the world around us, turning it upside down.
However, this teaching is going further than that. What it is arguing for is a form of prosperity teaching and so Christians are guaranteed to succeed. It’s highly motivational and its targeted particularly at young Christians, that they should expect to lead in the church, business, media, education, politics etc, to invade and capture those strongholds and exercise dominion. That’s how, according to such teaching we will bring God’s kingdom on earth.
It all sounds wonderful and appealing. I can see how it would attract people to it. I know that it plays into my own temptations, my desire for status and significance. I would quite like to be one of those people. Indeed, arguable I’ve had three opportunities to achieve it in three stages of life. I could have pursued a political career. I know people who did, people who I helped get onto the first rungs of the political ladder and ultimately achieved high office. I then had the opportunity in industry to pursue ambition and seek promotion. However at the very point when my career could have took off, I quit to study theology and then pastor a church. We saw significant growth. Perhaps the pay cut could at least be compensated for if I built a reputation here? However, there was a ceiling on that growth and from a human perspective things didn’t work out. Maybe all three of those experiences count as failure? Maybe I lacked faith or had failed to lean the special secrets in those books. Certainly I get the impression that this is what the authors would tell me. Although some would seek to encourage me and tell me that those failures have been my “wilderness years” where God has been training and preparing me. They will tell me that there is still hope, that God has big plans for me, to give me a hope and a future. I f I just finish their book and put everything into practice, maybe if I sign up and pay some money to go on one of their courses, then I’ll experience the release of power and prospeort in my life.
Maybe, but I don’t think so. Have another look at the New Testament and what do you find? Have a look at Ephesians 5-6 or read 1 Peter 2-3. What do you find? You find that Jesus, through the apostles speaks to husbands and wives, parents and children, slaves and masters and encourages them to get on with the ordinariness of life. The power is not going to be discovered in prosperity, power and influence. In fact, Paul tells us that God chooses weak and foolish things.
Our daughters have a little game they like to play where they demand “put your hand up if…” The other day our youngest was playing that game. “Put your hand up if you are weak.” I put my hand up. It was just me and her playing. She said “you shouldn’t put your hand up. You are strong.” And yes, I know all the parenting training tells you that you have to be strong parents for your kids. And of course, yes, I am strong enough to pick her up and stick her on my shoulders. Strong enough to open a jar of goodies. Strong enough to hide her Christmas presents in the loft and get them down again. However, there is much that I’m not strong enough for. So, I wanted her to know and get an insight for one brief moment that yes, Daddy is weak too but he has a saviour who is strong and kind. He has one who says “my strength is made perfect in weakness.” She needs to know that and it’s good news for her.
You see, the New Testament doesn’t tell us that we are going to be great, strong, prosperous, successful, world changers. That’s just the stuff of after dinner motivational speakers. You can get a ton of books telling you how to do that from secular authors. And guess what, that stuff does work. The world can teach you how to be successful and influential. I know. I could have followed those leadership manuals in my secular career and could have even used much of it in my church vocation. However, what the Bible calls each of us to is something different.
The gracious invitation of our Lord is to live ordinary lives. Our significance will not be in our achievements. That’s not where we find our worth. No, our worth and significance is found in the Cross, the place where the Father chooses to call us sons, the place where The Son welcomes us with outstretched arms as brothers. Whatever our achievements here, whether we lead churches of thousands or faithfully serve 50, whether we rise through the ranks to senior leadership, get that recording contract, play for a premier league club or whether we serve out our time on the factory floor, told we probably are best in the congregation (miming) than in the worship team and play left back (in the changing room) for Sunday League, God’s love and grace to us does not change. He will still welcome us home with those words “Good and Faithful servant.”
Faithroots 