Opposing Culture

“It’s so exhausting!”

That could be said for a number of things, but in this instance, it was groaned by one of my small group girls. We were discussing applicable ways to be better friends, and I made a comment about wanting the youth group students to see the school year as a nine-month mission trip.

I mean, she’s totally right. Mission trips are exhausting. And that’s without homework and other responsibilities. Having that missions mindset in the daily grind is exhausting.

But.

Isn’t that how life should work? Once we choose to align ourselves with Christ, shouldn’t our lives take on a “mission trip mindset”?

I’ve had the opportunity to go on two mission trips, both to South Africa. The preparation for both trips took the better part of an academic year, which makes since. International travel isn’t cheap, and it takes some foresight to schedule flights and other accommodations for a large group.

But it wasn’t just the financial and logical preparations that were taken seriously; our spiritual preparedness was often the main focal point. For months before our departure, we spent hours preparing for the spiritual aspect of the trip. Newsletters were sent out. Presentations were made. People educated us about the culture. Guys, there were even Bible studies. You know things are legit when Bible studies are involved.

Seriously, though. We spent so much time making sure we were as ready as possible for the people we were going to serve. Prayer was huge. Every meeting consisted of a solid chunk of time devoted to prayer, specifically prayer for the people we would be serving and for our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s leading.

Hold up.

Aren’t those things we should be praying for on the daily?

I think we’ve lost sight of the mission mindset in our everyday lives. Everyday we are surrounded by people who desperately need Jesus. Everyday we have opportunities to show the hope we have because of Who we follow. But we could do better at taking advantage of that. Instead of loving on those around us, we engage in political arguments on Facebook and bemoan the depravity and hopelessness of the world around us.

Guys, if we’re losing our minds now, we need a wake up call. Have you read Revelation? It’s just going to get worse.

When we throw up our hands and sigh, “What is this world coming to?” what does that say about our faith? It makes us look a little unsure about whether God is really in control or not. If we still need to be convinced that God is forever on His throne, how can we assure those around us?

What I think we need to do better at is taking our perspective of missions and applying them to our daily lives. People who don’t know Jesus are going to have a different culture than people who do. Sometimes that is going to look vastly different, but our responsibility is not to serve as a judge. We can’t expect people who don’t follow the Bible to act like they do. Instead of adamantly opposing culture, we need to pray for an understanding and seek to empathize.

America’s culture is one built around instant gratification and busyness. Rather than falling into that culture, our lives should look different. They should reflect the values and the promises we claim to believe, that God is in control, that people are the most important, and that Christ’s yoke is one of peace and rest. It’s hard to expect people to want what you have when it’s not anything different.

Ultimately, we need to be done with trying to save people and trying to convince people that we’re right. Our job isn’t to “save” people. God’s doesn’t need us to “win people to Jesus.” I don’t know where that terminology came from or what theology was at play, but that’s not how this works. Peter isn’t up there handing out some super-spiritual punch card that gives you a free latte for every ten souls saved.

Our job is to just love people. Love God; love people. It’s pretty simple. It’s about loving people so much you would do whatever it takes to keep them from hell. I mean, isn’t that what Jesus did? But we can’t do that when we’re constantly up in arms about what’s wrong with our society and at each other's’ throats about political opinions.

It is hard. It is exhausting. It’s difficult to constantly work against culture. But God promises us daily grace. All that’s ever asked of us is that we’re faithful with what we’ve been given. Were you faithful with what you were given today? Were you available when the Holy Spirit nudged you about talking to your co-worker? Or were you too busy? Did you roll your eyes when you heard about another protest? Or did you take time to empathize with those behind the demonstration?

A true God-glorifying mission mindset acknowledges that we’re all created in His image and that there are people who need a little help getting introduced to their Creator. Judgement and hate and contention aren’t going to help with that, but love and empathy and understanding will.