Lighthouse Keeper

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31)

One of the main challenges of the Christian life is the constant draw into church life or ministry or whatever you choose to call it. There is an assumption that “church work” or “church activities” are somehow superior to everyday life. 

I constantly get asked by people why I’m not in full time ministry and the simple answer is “because God wants me out and about”. I see Christians getting around in little “saint’s clubs” who don’t have any interaction with non-Christian folk from work to school and social activities. 

I was talking to a church person the other day who was having relational issues in a church environment. I said to them:

“Go and join the gardening club–you’re getting too church-y”. 

It wasn’t that well received but I really meant it. We are called to “let our light shine before men” (Matthew 5:16) and that’s all men (and women), not just the ones who profess Jesus. Echo chambers have destroyed our news media and information online and they can destroy our lives as witnesses as well. If you can’t be a Christian at the garden club, then perhaps your faith needs re-assessment. 

Please don’t think that being asked into church leadership or pastor roles or what I call “Christian-flavoured things”...is somehow superior. The apostle Paul is very clear that everything we do is unto the Lord. I can listen to Christian worship music on my daily river walks or I can listen to drum and bass music and all can be unto the Lord. There is no secular and sacred.

Now where people get tangled up is in Old Testament theology about holy objects and holy things. (Leviticus 20:7). We are to be set apart to be holy. In the New Testament, we are made holy and clean by the blood of Jesus so have the freedom to approach the throne of grace with confidence (Hebrews 4:16). Being set apart is a position that you take as an image-bearer of Jesus and is not a call to be cloistered necessarily (I say necessarily because I love reading about the old monks and I have no doubt they were called by God into their fields) but my point is, you can give God glory in your everyday life without having to put on a cassock. 

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” (Romans 12:1).  Yes your body at church but also your body at home or in the car or at the supermarket. Your everyday being human.

Do everything “unto the Lord” and you will find this worship is very pleasing and acceptable to God.