The Urgency of our Mission

I have only been on a two float trips that I can remember.  On both occasions, I floated past some sorry souls passed out on the river bank after having consumed too many jello shots.  They were lying there getting fried in the sun and drooling as we floated past - laughing, splashing water on each other, and looking for the next rapid or cliff to jump off.


It struck me (deep thought time) you kind of have to be awake to enjoy the day.


Related thought (trust me, it will come together):


Darrin Patrick used an illustration once from his seminary days.  He said that one of his professors told them that there was only one thing the church could do here that it would not be able to do in heaven.  It will be able to worship, learn about God, grow in community and joy - but it won't be able to share the good news of God's grace with those who haven't yet believed. 


That is a pretty sobering thought, even for a Calvinist.  Most of us simply do not have the proper urgency about sharing Christ's love with those who don't know him.  I am not talking about the kind of urgency that fosters drive-by evangelism (the kind of approach that shoots people with a few propositional truths because they are targets instead of people made in the image of God).  We often do  more harm that good with that stuff - but we should be urgently following Christ on his mission: to make disciples from the unbelieving population around us.


And that is going to require us to wake up and shake the apathy that so easily grips our hearts.


Take a look at Ephesians 5:15-21

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

The passage warns us that we, as followers of Christ, need to be wise.  It then defines what it means by that: we need to realize the urgency of what God has called us to.  That is a good warning.  I mean it really is foolish of us to be followers of Christ and live like he didn’t actually rise from the dead.

In fact, that is the point behind the don't get drunk stuff.  Obviously, we shouldn't drink in excess and get drunk, but that isn't the real point of the passage.  The primary point is that we need to be controlled by the Spirit - the same way a drunk person is controlled by the alcohol.  When you drink too much beer, your senses are dulled.  You are stupefied (and probably acting stupidly).  But when you are drunk with the Spirit, you are actually more awake, more spiritually aware.


You are awake to what God is doing around you and are sensitive to his leading. 

This passage, then, isn't just a warning against drunkenness.  It is a warning against whatever would put you to sleep spiritually.  It is a warning against being so comfortable financially, socially, or personally that you tune out the Spirit's leading.  It is a warning against being so religious that we stop following the God of our religion.  It is a warning against whatever it is that puts us spiritually asleep.


Historically the church has become tremendously missional, focused, and growth-centered (awake!) in times of real suffering and persecution.  Why?  Because the suffering saint is reminded daily that his sainthood is as close as the brevity of life.  Those who know persecution, loss, and death are reminded daily that life isn't ultimately about comfort, success, or pleasure here.

There is so much more to live for - but we need to be awake to see it.

And that is the trouble for us.  Our prosperity, our comfort, our comfortable religion puts us to sleep.  We are like the drunk asleep on the side of the river while God is moving down stream where the party is.  We simply are not aware of what an incredible thing God is doing as he works out the redemptive power of his gospel through his church.  We are not awake to the promptings of the Spirit to jump into the rush of the redemptive flow around us.

Let's wake up.  Let's shake off the drowsy hangover of our comfort, power, and attempt at control.  Let's jump in to the fast moving water of joining our God on mission and enjoy the ride.