Living for More Than Ourselves

“Our great need is to fall before an almighty
Father day and night and plead for him to show his radical power in and through
us, enabling us to accomplish for his glory what we could never imagine in our
own strength. And when we do this, we will discover that we were created for a
purpose much greater than ourselves, the kind of purpose that can only be
accomplished in the power of his Spirit.” – David Platt, from Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream

 

 

I think I could post
this quote as a blog without saying anything else and it would be enough. This
quote summarizes what I have been thinking about lately. I’m currently in
Ireland (in case you didn’t know), and I have learned some things that I just
can’t get out of my head. The first few days we arrived, our contact, Jimmy,
gave us some cultural training to help us understand the context we are working
in. He told us that we are working in a postmodern/post-Christian Europe. Many
people think of religion, specifically Christianity, as a thing of the past. He
said that Christianity in Africa is growing 50 times faster than in Europe and
growing 43 times faster in Asia than here. That’s astounding and unacceptable!
Why didn’t I know this? Why have I never really thought of Europe as a needed
mission field?

 

The other day,
Stephanie and I had a great conversation with a French couple who were the
epitome of postmodern Europe. We talked for a while about religion in France as
a whole and on a personal level in their lives. They both seemed completely
indifferent to religion as a whole. Neither of them seemed to have any real
interest in God, but they simply lived for themselves and happiness. They
didn’t try to argue with us at all; they simply said that’s fine that you think
that but we don’t agree. I asked them if
they ever thought that there was something more to live for. I told them that I
feel like there is more to live for than me. Again, they simply said no. They
just didn’t seem to be interested in the thought that there could be more to
live for beyond themselves.

 

This kills me. I
simply can’t understand how people can have no desire to even consider
something more. How do you reach people who
don’t acknowledge that there is something missing? I think the answer to
this question goes back to the David Platt quote. We have to live in such a way that the power of the Spirit is obvious in
our lives. We have to live with the kind of purpose that can only be
accomplished by his power!

 

The early church did
just that. Just read through Acts and it becomes abundantly clear that people
were added to their number daily because they lived in a way that the power of
God was completely evident. People were astonished at their boldness (Acts 4:13).
People noted that they were ordinary men who had
been completely changed through their relationship with Jesus.

 

Programs and
entertainment will not reach people here in Europe or at home in America. These people don’t need more amusement. They need to see a true demonstration of the power of
Christ. If we live our lives exactly like everyone around us minus going
to church a few times a week, being nice, and giving money out of our
abundance, why would anyone be interested in that type of Christianity?

 

I feel like people
look at our lives and see people that say they are followers of Christ who live
their lives occasionally going to church. They see me (and us) living in such a
way that our highest aspiration is to be good – good enough to make our conscious
feel okay. What kind of faith is that? Where is the sacrifice? Where is the
fruit? Where is the “dying to ourselves”? Why is comfort my number
one desire? These are all the things that I am asking myself. This is where I’m
at.

 

I seem to be posing
more questions when I write a blog than answers; sorry about that. I want to
move into practicality. I don’t want to just be saying these things or throwing
up some random thoughts on a blog. I’m just trying to figure out what exactly
it looks like to truly live like this in everything. Angela, Kris and I were
just talking about this and I was just saying that I’m a little frustrated
about this whole thing. I have the head knowledge. I know the right answers.
But why can’t I figure out what this looks like practically in my life? What
does it look like here on the Race? What will it look like at home? I know what
to say, but I just don’t feel like I know
what to do. I want to live a life that
points people to Christ, and that kind of life is not one of just being good.

 

We always talk about
how people should be able to look at our lives and see something different
about us. They should be able to look at us and see something they want. In the
spirit of vulnerability, I have to say that I don’t think I have led that kind
of life. People could look at my life and say that I’m generally a good person,
but that’s about it. And that’s not enough.

 

I’m tired of living
a life of mediocrity by my power. I want to live a life accomplishing great
things by the power of God.

 

So again, those are
my frustrated/random thoughts. I’m frustrated with the lack of practicality. If
you have any thoughts, words of wisdom, or instruction for me, please share.

 

 

 

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