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)
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5 comments:
Yes!!! Right on, Paul--this is exactly what being a Christian is all about!!!
Being misunderstood or criticized for our witness happens far more often than we'd like, especially in our modern society which attempts to shun religious expression and treat Christians as dangerous nuts. This makes it all the more satisfying to see the "change to faith" happen, often slowly but beautiful when it happens.
great post!
I love your post, and I've seen how powerful this idea of "Holy Dissatisfaction" can be in terms of creating real change for the kingdom of God. And that's both on a personal level as well as on a corporate level.
I have also seen this idea used in a way that strikes me as coming from a spirit of negativity, of frustration, even anger and bitterness. In those instances especially, the Holy Discontent seems to be driven by a spirit of law rather than gospel.
How do you balance the language of discontent, dissatisfaction, disappointment with the gospel language of joy, excitement, gratitude, love?
Thanks PC. That is a good reminder. Negativity never draws anyone to Jesus. Bitterness pushes people away.
Holy discontent is only holy when it is discontent with Satan and what evil has done in the world.
Martin Luther speaking about "hungering and thirsting for righteousness" in the Sermon on the mount said "The command to you is not to crawl into a corner or into the desert, but to run out, if that is where you have been, and to offer your hands and your feet and your whole body, adn to wager everything you have and can do...If you cannot make the world completely pious, then do what you can."
It is only "holy" when the discontent is about the status quo of of people heading for eternal destruction and then seeking the privilege of acting as the hands and feet of Jesus in sharing God's Good News of salvation in Jesus.
This is so challenging! Jesus had a huge passion for the lost.
Thank you for sharing! Those passages are excellent.
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