I've got to get out of the church. If I stay within the confines of my cubicle that somewhat resembles OfficeSpace (only with windows) I truly believe I will suffocate. I need people. I need to be in touch with the reality of the lives I want to help with the light and hope of the gospel. I've got to get out of the church.
Some will argue there's plenty of that in the church...I'll give you that. However, I think that is where pastors face the problem of becoming sterile and impotent...when they only have second-hand experience and knowledge of what's going on outside of the congregation. It's a great temptation to get so heads down trying to lead your church and solve everything that you loose touch with the larger picture.
Don't get me wrong, I love the church and am devoting my life to serving it, but for me the best possible way to serve the church with any sort of reality and hope is being intricately connected with what's outside of it. It's what we encourage of our people, but it's something I'm convicted I need to do as well.
So I'm taking a few small but significant steps. I'm getting connected with something called Systems of Care...a piece of social services that reaches out to the faith (notice not Christian) community. I'm also looking at serving as a contracted worker with a social service organization that looks to empower families in making decisions that will reunite them. Those are short term things.
Long term my goal is to see Christ all over the world...to see what He is doing in places I only hear about. I pray for critical relationships to be built in order to make this happen. My hope and my dream is to become involved with a few key people and places...to support their mission from here and to be a part of it there...and to be a part of a global Kingdom. That's a long term thing though as my life situation with three kids under four makes it a bit difficult to do now...but at least the relationships can begin.
I want to have a global perspective in preaching the gospel. I actually want all my presuppositions about everything to be challenged by the reality of the things I see and experience. I know there are key truths to hold on to. But I also know there's a lot I don't know. The mysteries and works of God are endless and I guess I just want to spend life seeing, experiencing, and being a part of as many as possible. Takers?
