That Missional Stuff...

Over the past several weeks and months, I've been struck by how other-focused Scripture is.  I mean, I've read much of the 'missional' church information out there, and I agree with nearly all of it.  I fully believe that we (the church/saved/ redeemed/chosen/elect/ christians/etc) exist to be Christ's hands and feet in serving others, that we have been given salvation not for ourselves, but to take that salvation and hope to those that do not know.  And I've seen the scriptural support given for these premises.

But it's something different when, in your own study, you begin to see it for yourself.  Again, that sounds kind of weird to say, because I've seen it in Scripture before and have preached it several times myself.  But recently I've come across two passages that particularly stood out to me for their missional focus.  One is obvious and I should have expected it, the other I didn't.

The latter passage is Romans 1:5 (emphasis added):

Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.

Through Christ, and for his glory, we have received grace and been called to serve as his apostles.  Why?  So my life might be better?  So I can overcome sin and live victoriously in him?  Well, maybe.  But that's not what Paul says.  Paul says that we have received grace so we can call others "to the obedience that comes from faith."  To offer to others the life we have received, a life that is "more and better life than you have ever dreamed of" (John 10:10).

The former passage is the one from which our Maundy Thursday celebration stems (John 13:34-35):

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

There are two things that particularly stand out to me in this verse.  The first is the past-tense nature of the command.  Love as I have loved you.  Since he hasn't died on the cross yet, he can't be talking about that.  He's pointing back to how he began the evening - by washing the disciples feet.  It was a very practical, visual, tangible example of how Christ had lived his entire life - as a servant, come to meet others where they are in the midst of the messiness of their lives and to clean them up, both inside and out.  Christ came not to raise himself up, but to pour himself out into the lives of those he came in contact with.  We are called to love others the same way.

The other aspect of the command that stands out to me is the command itself.  Love one another.  The very nature of love is one of self-sacrifice and putting others first.  I've grown fairly tired of the song, "And They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love," but it is so true.  And perhaps that is why so many young adults are so disillusioned by the church, & therefore Christianity, today.  They know just how Christian we are by how much we have loved.  And the truth is, we haven't loved very well.  We haven't loved those outside the church very well for a very long time, and we haven't loved those inside the church very well either.  We love those that fit in our "box," but not so much those outside our box.

We must get out of the box, we must move beyond ourselves, if we are going to be faithful to this new command, to what is a consistent message throughout Scripture.  This Holy Week, we need to make a concerted effort to truly follow in Christ's footsteps.  This week isn't about what Christ has done for us, but rather what he has called us to do for others.