Well, in a single blog, I’m going to give you what you’re looking for. What Rick Warren never delivers, and what your purpose-driven-pastor vaguely aludes to.. your purpose. Why you are here.
Ready?
And Jesus came and said to them, “All
authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and
make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that
I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of
the age.”
(Matthew 28:18-20 ESV)
Salvation? Got it, thanks. What else you got
for me, God? What do I get to DO? What am I supposed to do with my
life? What’s God’s plan for my LIFE?”
Live in the land, take a wife, build a
house, plant a garden… LIVE! If you’re a carpenter, work at it as your
vocation to God, giving thanks for your vocation and present the gospel
to those around you.
Wait, that can’t be it! It’s not EPIC!
What on earth would make you think it’s
supposed to be? And more epic than living as an ambassador for the king
of the universe? Don’t get it twisted, this place is temporary. It’s
going away. The kingdom is at hand, and if you confuse your mission with
the priorities of this world, you’re going to be sorely disappointed.
The Apostles were martyred. The early church
was persecuted and fed to lions. Onesimus was sent, by Paul, BACK into
slavery. Only in a prosperous, first world country like the United
States could you sell people the drivel that God wants for you an epic,
prosperous journey in this life.
So why is this so damaging?
1. Because it’s, at best, a wrong FOCUS on
us and our awesome purpose (the second apple) instead of Christ’s
atoning work on the Cross for our sins (the good gift). I hear this
constantly in evangelical, purpose-driven churches.. like “getting
saved” is a box you check and then begin to seek out this great
“purpose” for your life. This error is so glaringly obvious, only our
narcissism could blind us to it. God gave you a mission (see the Great
Commission above), and instead you’ve set off on another mission, a
mission to find your great purpose. So you’ve been given your marching
orders by your King and have jettisoned them in favor of finding your
epic purpose in life. Huh, That can’t end well.
2. Because it creates unbiblical and
unrealistic expectations. Not only are we so naturally narcissistic as
to expect this epic adventure, but when we are met with the reality that
we might be, well, average and live a life of devoted vocation… we
become disillusioned with God.
For those who misapply Jeremiah 29:11 as
their “life verse”, here’s a thought for you; The people that Jeremiah
was writing to in that verse? They were in bondage. How did they get
there? God PUT them there. He raised up the Babylonians to punish them
for their idolatry. For those who didn’t think captivity was their
“best life now” and didn’t go into captivity? God drove them out and
killed them. Huh. Not so “best life now-ish” is it? So, they stay in
captivity for 70 years. Many of the original readers of this letter
lived and died in captivity. And God’s instructions for how to live
their lives?
Build houses and live in them; plant
gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters;
take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they
may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But
seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray
to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your
welfare. For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let
your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do
not listen to the dreams that they dream, for it is a lie that they are
prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, declares the LORD.
(Jeremiah 29:5-9 ESV)
3. I see the wreckage left behind the
purpose-driven movement every day; narcissistic, self-focused “Christ
followers” who never speak of Christ, but of their latest self-help (or
church) program or the “new thing” God is doing in their life. The
latest fad-theology being sold at the christian bookstore (Prayer of
Jabez ring a bell?) Some fuzzy, warm feeling they have of a not-yet-seen
epic plan God has in store for them. I wonder what the captives in
Babylon would have thought about this? I’ve heard “pastors” talk about
“shaking off” people who aren’t helping you move toward your purpose.
If there’s a less Christlike sentiment, I can’t think of one.
So to wrap it up, stop chasing the second
apple. God isn’t doing a “new thing”, nowhere in the Bible does God say
that your youth group, or college and career group is a “chosen
generation” to do great things for God. You are never, never, ever
given the direction to “change your world” or “impact the world” in
scripture. Never. The harsh, and beautiful truth is that you are an
empty-handed beggar who was given the greatest gift of all, through no
work of your own. Your call is to spread the gospel of repentance and
faith in Christ for the forgiveness of sins, to live a life of quiet
obedience, and to ply your vocation to support your family and help the
poor. That may be in a position of great influence, or in quiet
obscurity. It may be in Babylonian captivity, or the prison cells of
persecution; Lions den, or Palace. Epic, or pedestrian.
The gospel frees us form the sin of
purpose-driven idolatry. From glancing past the greatest of all gifts to
those “treasures” of a perishing world. Christs’ atoning work on the
cross frees you to serve Him faithfully with little or much. Epic or
lame, the purpose remains the same.. The glory of His name.
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