I became a Christian in January 1969. I was 22 years old. Shortly after, my wife Viv and I traveled back to my hometown in NYC to look for a job. We arrived in March, and then in June I found employment. We moved to New Jersey where we joined a local church. Almost immediately, I was urged to participate in a house-to-house visitation trip. I didn’t pray about it. I didn’t even know at the time that I should. It was embarrassing. I knew nothing other than Jesus was real. At some stops, no one was home. I was relieved. At others, the response was something like: “Not interested, go away!” That was okay too. We complied. At least I didn’t have to say anything. Then came the one where we were invited to come in. I don’t remember much of it. Perhaps the experienced visitator shared some tracts and described programs that our church had to offer. I don’t know. I do remember sitting on the couch speechless. I don’t think there was much gospel sharing. Finally, we left. “Whew!”
In a recent Barna survey, participants were asked whether they agree with the following:
You have a personal responsibility, in appropriate situations, to share your religious beliefs with those who believe differently than you.
94% of those who hold a biblical world view answered yes; 66% of those with other views responded: “no.” This, to me, indicates a major divide in our culture. What are we as Christians to do? I think that it comes down to being authentic. As I described above, I was not. Instead, I was nervous, unsure of myself, and scared. I never did that again. I often wonder. What if I prayed? What would the Holy Spirit have indicated? Perhaps the answer would have been: “Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect (1 Tim 3:15).” How would I have responded if that verse came to mind? I guess I’ll never know for sure. I just figured: “The Church is asking, so it must be right.” I definitely was not myself on that day.
For years after my visitation experience, I lived a life typical of many believers. I went to work, supported my family, and did my best to live according to Christian principles. It felt lacking. I felt a sense of guilt. I don’t know why. Maybe, it was the general attitudes coming through the church environment. If you are not in full-time Christian service, you are JUST a pew-sitter. Viv’s family were missionaries. They were at the top of the holiness chain. Under them came the pastors and church leaders. These were followed by those going on part time mission trips, and others who had time to volunteer lots of their time to church programs. My life was hectic. I couldn’t do any of these things. You could say, I was less valuable to the Church and to Jesus.
Why did I feel this way? Was it true? Was that my destiny? In this article, I plan to wrestle with these things. Acts 2 describes a situation where believers shared everything in common, helping each other, and generously meeting in homes. There was no hierarchy of value, no indication that one’s life work was less important than another’s. The passage does not even indicate any of their occupations. Jesus brings this home more dramatically in the parable of the laborers in the field. The ones who worked little were rewarded the same as the ones who labored much. He caps it off with the verse: “The last will be first, and the first last (Matt 20:16).”
Another of Jesus’ teachings deals with those who expect to hold special worth in his eyes. They complain:
On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ (Matt 7:22)
To which he answers: “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.”
I guess that it all comes down to motivation. If one becomes a leader in order to earn points with God, it won’t work. Or even worse, if one seeks for the recognition and approval of people: “They have received their reward (Matt 6:5).”
Value assessed according to Church activity is deeply ingrained. I know its effect was planted firmly within my spirit, even if it wasn’t always conscious. How did this originate? Actually, it began at least 1700 years ago. The originator was the church father Eusebius. Some 300 years after Jesus, he distinguished between the “perfect life” and the “permitted life (Proof of the Gospel, Book. 1, chapter. 8).” The former was that lived by bishops, priests, and monks. The rest of the community had lives that were permitted. They were not sinful. Yet, they fell short of what was perfect. Their role was reduced to providing for the perfect ones, so important work could continue. The vocations pursued by lay persons were unimportant and unrecognized by God. Prior to this time in history, secular and spiritual activities were indistinguishable. All of life was spiritual.
This perfect/permitted concept directly contradicts the teachings of the New Testament. A couple examples follow:
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever (1 Tim. 5:8).
Paul taught that there was no difference between slave or free, rich or poor, Jew or Greek, man or woman. Let me say this in a different way. There is no difference between missionary or carpenter, mega or house church, pastor or psychologist, leader or follower. Paul also wrote, “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31).” Our value comes from God; he desires that we live in his presence. It does not relate to our vocation.
Okay, so are all occupations equal? Does it matter what we do? Of course, the answer to these questions is: “Yes!” How do we decide? This is where the Holy Spirit comes in. We can trust that, one way or another, we will know. It could come through an inner voice. We might receive encouragement from our close friends and relatives. It may be obvious when we recognize our natural abilities. In any case, we can trust and be sure that whatever it is, it will certainly appear before us. There is an important caveat to this. We need to be alert and willing to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit. I’m sorry to say that I have not always been very good at this.
This brings us back to the original question. How do we share the Gospel? Of first importance is to know our role. Our job is not to save anyone. We are not obligated to close the deal. One plants, another waters, but God gives the increase (1 Cor 3:6). We are each parts of the body of Christ. We are bound together, each of equal value, comforting one other, and loved by God.
The command, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel” is directed to the Church. It does not necessarily point to individual missional responsibilities. We don’t have to view our neighbors as targets. It is enough for us to remain authentic and faithful. We demonstrate Christ to the world with our behavior, our manner of speech, our good will, and how we interact with others. When we do these things well, God will open opportunities when he sees fit. He will also give us the words that we need to say at the time. Even the answer “I don’t know” can be okay in some cases. Often, a listening spirit goes further than spewing out a litany of facts. At some point we may well be able to confidently proclaim, “Good News! Jesus the Christ is Lord.” This, in my opinion, is what is needed in our time.
Thanks for listening,secondlooknow.com
Great post, Dan. I think the collective witness is something we miss because of our cultural proclivity to individualize everything. The door-to-door evangelism may have a place, but the overall impression left by the Church is something much bigger.
Agreed.
22 in 1969? Man, you’re old.
“Our neighbors as targets”? Yes. I remember this feeling. Shame on Eusebius.
I know a couple who had their hearts set on the perfect life of overseas missionaries. But their group accepted only people who did not yet have children. Oops. They got pregnant, so they had to step down from the perfect life.
She so obviously resented the baby growing in her womb that her husband tried to warn her she was ruining the child.
But she could not overcome her disappointment, and I watched that child in adulthood strive to achieve but never able to arrive to what he thought was the level expected.
OH my!
GOD bless you Dan for this article!!
I REMEMBER those days….those right after you “became’ “accepted’ or.. however you put it…turned towards Jesus in faith believing..
and that neighborhood witness event….i didn’t go on it… but my insides were churning and I was sweating…
in fear and hope that you’d be Ok…..
yes, I have lived in that “good performance” place……. in fear of not pleasing Holy God… which actually has nothing to do with relationship.. just performance, and “earning a golden crown for good behavior”
I was wrapped tight in the knots of being “good enough”…I felt ” I should have gone”…but was really Glad I didn’t..
I LOVE your statements ” .. we don’t have to view our neighbors as targets…but to remain faithful and authentic..( I got it backwards..) and “we are not obligated to close the deal”.. do you know how Freeing that is to me???
I am so glad our value comes from God and He actually wants us to be in relationship … I LOVE the verse 1 Cor 3:6
You are courages and authentic…I ‘m so glad you are posting what issue GOD puts on your heart …
Viv
Dave,
I am so sorry for that child you mentioned…
What a terrible weight to carry ….