Sometimes (okay, a lot of the time actually), I see posts on social media sites that make me cringe. The thing is, a lot of these posts are made by well-meaning people, usually embarking on missions trips or something equally do-gooderish. You probably know the posts I’m talking about: the ones that feature the individual(s) who are off to do some good in the world, often accompanied with warm, fuzzy captions with phrases like “Off to change the world!”, or “So excited for this world-changer!”.
I hate these posts. Honestly I do. Don’t get me wrong, I think missions and humanitarian trips can be beneficial things, and the good Lord knows the people of the world need love. But I loathe the term “world-changer”. This has become a phrase that’s been popping up on my social media feeds more than I care to see it.
Because, you see, you can’t change the world. And it’s foolish, and even dangerous, of you to think you can. People around the world do not need you to save them, or tell them what you think is the ‘right’ way to do things. In order to change the world, people need to change. And you cannot change people, you can only love them and watch the Lord work.
I think we often feel like doing missions will change us, that we will magically become bolder or happier or that we will struggle less with things once we’re on the field. This is a lie straight from the pits of hell. The World Race does not change you. YWAM does not change you.The Peace Corps will not change you. The things you struggle with now will follow you abroad.
In my head it’s kind of like this: you know those ropes from gym class? The ones you had to climb up and ding the bell? Okay. Imagine one of those. It’s like we’re all trying to climb up the rope, with our sinful selves at the bottom and the best versions of ourselves at the top. Thinking that leaving home will eradicate your struggles is like thinking that planes are like elevators straight to the bell at the top of the rope. Which is ridiculous. What I feel like is really happening here is we are still trying to pull ourselves, hand over hand, up the rope. Just in a different place than we’re used to. The rope goes with us wherever we go. The problem is that every time we make progress up the rope, the evils that lurk near the bottom grab at us, trying to drag us back down, or at best get us to let go of the rope altogether.
Grab higher on the rope with one hand. Envy grabs an ankle. Pull yourself up. Comparison latches on. Grab higher with the other hand. Self-worth locks its arms around your waist.
My point is, every single one of us is on a rope. Granted, we’re all at different points on the rope, but we’re all on it nonetheless. So who are we to think that we can pull others up their ropes while we’re still working on our own? We can’t. We can call encouragements to our fellow climbers, we can egg them on on their journey, but we ourselves can’t change where they are.
Jesus is exempt from this. He sees us all on our ropes. When the things dragging us down threaten to break our hold, He takes our burdens. He invites them to come hang on Him instead. We need only ask. He can change our position on the rope. He can pull us up through hard spots or sticky spots.
Jesus can change the world.
He invites you to be His hands and His feet, He welcomes you along on this adventure, to see Him lifting the other climbers to remind us that it’s possible for us too. But He does not need you. He does not ask you to pull the others, only yourself. So while missions are a beautiful thing, please keep in mind that you are not the one changing the world. We cannot save people, we can only love them. Be careful where your glory goes.
Sidenote:
Next week we are having what’s called a “Parent Vision Trip”, where our parents can come and experience life on the Race with us for a week. Which is awesome, because I haven’t seen my family in six months. But it’s also kind of scary because I haven’t seen my family in six months. I’m not sure where I am on my rope compared to six months ago. Have I progressed towards the top? Have I slid back towards the bottom? What kind of person am I compared to half a year ago? And how do I communicate those changes to my family? So as fun and exciting as this is, I would like to request your prayer. Please and thank you. I love you all.
