Raising Support

What am I doing? Am I crazy? Why in the world would I go up to people, many of whom I have not spent any reasonable time with (at least in a while - if ever), and ask them for money. What could possibly justify this?

Well, here's the answer, as I see it. I have a task/mission that I believe has been given to me by God; to go into the mission field. Specifically, for now anyway, to work for Adventures In Missions. In order to do this, I have to raise support - half of my salary, $2112 a month.

On the surface, it seems painful. Slightly beneath the surface, it is painful. A little beneath that, I stop and think, 'Would I want to be asked? If it was someone I knew?'

It might be best to say that, if it was me being asked by someone who I didn't know that well, I wouldn't mind at all being asked. I might be more inclined to say no, but I wouldn't mind.

Yes, I know that I am giving them an opportunity to share in the blessings... This just sounds so trite to me. It sounds like another Christian cliche - saved, It's a God-thing, I covet your prayers, I challenge you.

How about, "I'm doing this really cool thing that I think God wants me to do. Would you like to help?"

Does this take God out of it? Is it necessary for me to make them aware that they may be blessed by this also?

Two years ago, I didn't give a flip about missions. I had never (I think) contributed to anyone's support. I sort of wanted to support them, but never spent enough time thinking about it to get beyond the 'doesn't the Bible say something about tent-making?' phase.

Why has my perspective changed so radically? Because I was laid off? Because I now have a personal stake in it? Because God has done a tremendous work in my life? (Cliche!!!) Because I think it's cool?

The answer to all those questions is yes.

Because I was laid off, I had an opportunity to reevaluate my life and where it was heading. I've always thought missions were cool, just not something I could do right now.

Did God do a tremendous work in my life? Absolutely. He gave me the chance to be unencumbered by the workaday world and to look at what was really important - serving him. (Can you serve God in the workplace? Of course you can. Do you?)

You know what's really cool? I now have a chance to go on mission trips, serve people, represent God in foreign countries, and build web pages - all directly for the God of the Universe. And I'll get paid for it!!!

Does God want me to do this? I think so.

Do I know it beyond the shadow of a doubt? No. But we're going to find out. I will ask as many people as I can if they will support me. Will they get a blessing? It says so in the Bible - II Corinthians 9:6, 7. If God really does want me to do this, then the support will be there. Yes, I know that I can't just sit and wait for it to come in, but it's really been amazing how many people have offered to support me without my asking. Then again, the majority of them have supported me because I did ask...

Does this mean that people must support me? No. All I want to do is present them with this opportunity and let them make the call. Pray about it. Just like I can't save anyone (the Holy Spirit has to convict/talk to them), I can't compell anyone to pony up support. Nor do I want to. Why would I want a supporter that doesn't want to be a supporter? Ok ,that sounds silly.

So, what do you think?

The Law

I have been learning/thinking about the Law. Much of this comes from my discussions with Josh Proctor, with whom I am going through the LifeBuilders Curriculum. It also has some parts thrown in from BSF, Acts of the Apostles.

First, for purpose of this monologue, let's make a distinction between two different kinds of law.

The Law is the ten commandments. These laws where given to the Israelites by God to make them (and us) aware of sin. See Romans 7:7. This was, estentially, a standard of behavior that one could never measure up to.

The law, small case, is a standard of behavior. These standards are imposed on us from all kinds of different sources; our parents, the church, school, friends, government, and ourselves.

Prior to Jesus's birth, death, burial, and resurrection, all men lived by the standards of the Law (read Romans 1:18 - 3:31). If one did not meet the standards set forth in the law (sin), one (a Jew) had to offer a sacrifice to cover their sin before God. These sacrifices, by the way, did not clear one's conscience (Hebrews 9:9).

So, before I became a Christian at age seven, I lived according the the standards imposed upon me by my parents, school, and church.