The "Holy Dissatisfaction" of Missional Living

I haven't had a Susan B. Anthony dollar in my pocket for quite a while, but she said something which people who want to live for Christ's mission might find challenging:

"Cautious, careful people always casting about to preserve their reputation or social standards never can bring about reform. Those who are really in earnest must be willing to be anything or nothing in the world's estimation...and bear the consequence."

Paul said something similar: 1 Corinthians 4:10-13 We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! {11} To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. {12} We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; {13} when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.

Missional Living in individuals and local churches creates a "holy dissatisfaction" in followers of Jesus that creates a willingness to be "anything or nothing" as Susan B. Anthony said which often does lead to being "dishonored...cursed...persecuted...slandered...the refuse of the world" as Paul said.

"Holy dissatisfaction" is the unwillingness to stand by and feel OK while people without Jesus are destined for hell. What does that "Holy Dissatisfaction" look like?

Paul put it so well when he said 1 Corinthians 9:22-23 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. {23} I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

On the bottom of all of my Emails is the following: "Without Jesus Christ, people will miss the best in this life and everything in the next." I really believe that and I pray that God will continue to cultivate in me a "holy dissatisfaction" for those without Jesus. I pray He will do that for you as well.

Like Paul, we need to do whatever it takes to reach lost souls.

• not to be edgy, but for ultimate Kingdom purposes
• willing to risk failure in order to reach people
• willing to be misunderstood or criticized even by fellow Lutherans or Christians
• fully committed to the concept that "Eternity Matters Most!" (from my friend Patrick Miller, Mission Planter at Water's Edge, Frisco)

That takes prayer and ultimate action to go beyond feelings and words. Each of us individually needs to be ready to "give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." 1 Peter 3:15. Each congregation needs to be ready to say as Paul did in 2 Corinthians 10:15-16 "Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand, {16} so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you."