Friday, April 24, 2015

It's Time to Get Out There!

"The Church is like a salt shaker," said Ravi Zacharias in one of his RZIM broadcasts, "and we are the salt crystals all warm and cozy encircled with shiny glass windows..." He goes on to say how no one wants to acknowledge the fact that the purpose of being salt is to be dissolved into this boiling pot of soup we call "The World." It's a scary prospect, because as Ravi puts it, "...you know that when we get into that soup it's going to gobble us up."


Ever since I graduated from college with a degree in Pastoral Studies, I've wondered why I haven't felt particularly compelled to pursue a full-time pastorate. Everyone says I would be great at it. I can preach a good sermon, I have the "Pastor's Heart," I love to serve and counsel, but I've experienced something that has caused me to think about that pot of soup. I now look around and realize that I have been in this pot of soup for three years. Now full-time, vocational ministry seems to have fallen short of something.


From what I have observed, church ministry has unfortunately become more so a service unto the saints, rather than to the lost. All of our media Bible Studies, our preaching from the pulpit, the techy sanctuaries are all well and good, but there is a restlessness in my spirit that I cannot deny. It's time to get out into that soup! I am convinced that if we stay in our shiny, warm salt shakers too long that we will lose our saltiness, that is our effective purpose!
For now, I am in full-time vocational service for the Saints of God and it has been a wonderful source of provision. Oh, but I cannot shake off this desire to get back into the world and be used of the Holy Spirit much like the Apostles were in the book of Acts. What might that look like in today's 21st Century America?


The dream I am pursuing may look something like this: I have found that my skills work well in the coffee shop/cafe environment. I love pulling shots, steaming milk, making sandwiches, and waiting on tables. Even more so, I love building community with people from a variety of backgrounds. Therefore this cafe will be a safe, public environment where everyone would feel welcome. It will be a place where my loudest witness for Christ will be how I run the business. At the same time, I will always be ready to verbalize my witness whenever the opportunity arises.


There will be risks. There must be risk, otherwise why would we need faith? I am talking to people who are already doing this same type of thing. The more I visit them, the more excited I become. So join me as I pursue this dream that God has given me. I invite you to keep me accountable. Ask me how it's going and keep me in prayer. Ultimately, the words of Ravi Zacharias rings in my ears, "...remember, that once we get into that soup, that soup will never be the same again!"
So come on Church, it's time to get out there!

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