LEAVING HOME

 

As much as I love the idea of “Home” the truth is I still find it necessary to leave now and then. That’s normal. Some people have a fear of the outdoors or the unknown and they end up spending their entire lives cut off from the outside world. That’s not what we’re called to do. As followers of Jesus, we are commanded to go out into all the world and to make disciples who will follow Jesus and obey everything that Jesus commands. (See Mark 16:15)

Staying at home where it’s safe and comfortable isn’t an option for us. Not if we’re serious about following Jesus and putting His words into practice. This is part of our individual calling or mission. Jesus has made each of us to be uniquely gifted and qualified to go. He’s strategically placed each one of us to have the maximum impact on our world, on our street, to our neighbors, in our workplace.

This means our lives are not accidental. We are who God made us to be. We have the strengths, and even the weaknesses, that God placed within us. We are created with a special purpose in mind, and the only way we can truly discover what our mission and purpose is involves getting outside of our comfort zones to go.

This doesn’t mean that everyone is an evangelist. Far from it. Scripture is clear that:

“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” (Eph. 4:11-16)

And:

“Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?” (1 Cor. 12:29-30)

The assumptive answer here is “No,” we do not all have the same gifting or ability. That’s the point. None of us is expected to do it all alone. We need one another. We need you. You need the rest of us. Together we make up the Body of Christ in this world and act as His hands and His feet at His command.

Sadly, some of us have found it easier to retreat from the world and to create a Christian version of the world where we are safe and comfortable. In this fantasy world we call the Christian Subculture, the only way people on the outside can find their way in is if they come to us. We lower the drawbridge on Easter and Christmas and we ask them to come over to where we feel the most secure. But that’s not what Jesus commanded us to do. He not only said to “go”, He also prayed that we would not be taken out of the world:

“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” (John 17:15)

Yet, our Christianized version of reality essentially removes us from the world and prevents us from going out and taking the light of the Gospel with us.

To fulfill our mission and follow Christ, then, we have to leave home. We have to let go. We have to venture out into the unknown and cling tightly to our Lord every step of the way as He leads us, and empowers us, and helps us to bear fruit for His Kingdom.

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.” (Luke 18:29-30)

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” (John 15:3-5)

 Leaving home can be scary, but that's where life - and ministry - happens.

-kg