With ever increasing regularity I can’t help but think that the culture is conforming the church into its own image. In our individualistic culture, we have the ability to tailor-make our lives to our liking. Go to a restaurant and order a meal exactly the way you want it, order a car, clothes, or a house with the precise features that you want. Even in seminary education, most institutions allow you to take on-line courses so you can undertake your training on your schedule, according to your own timetable. How does all of this negatively affect the church?
Is ministry supposed to be customized to our personal tastes and preferences? In the Bible there is a very different pattern than what we find in the surrounding culture. God called the prophet Isaiah to preach to Israel: “Whom shall I send, and who shall go for us” (Isa. 6:8)? The prophet didn’t give the Lord a list of desired ministry areas but simply responded, “Here I am, send me” (Isa. 6:8)! He didn't ask for a customized ministry tailor made for him—he simply stepped forward and volunteered for whatever the Lord called him to do. The same pattern unfolds when Christ called the disciples—Jesus called and they immediately dropped their nets and followed Jesus—no questions asked (Matt. 4:18ff).
I do find some people who are willing to go wherever the Lord calls, but on the other hand, as of late I’ve been running into a lot of people who have very definite plans regarding where they want to serve. I once knew someone who would only consider a pastoral call in two or three states in a particular region of the country—everything else was out of bounds. I know of others who have received offers but because they only want to remain in their home state, they have turned down very promising ministry opportunities. If you’re unwilling to go wherever the Lord calls, then are you pursuing the right calling? Can you imagine the Lord saying to the prophet, “Whom shall I send?” and the prophet responding, “Here I am . . . well, that is, if you keep in mind that I only want to serve in the Southern kingdom of Israel, and only if you call me to preach the good news. I’m not particularly called, I think, to deliver a message of judgment. That’s way too negative for my particular calling. Plus, I’ve got a bunch of family and relatives in the Southern kingdom, so a call to the North really isn’t what I'm looking for”?
If we allow our culture to tell us that we can have our lives exactly how we want them, will we be less or more inclined to drop our nets and immediately follow Christ wherever he calls? My hope and prayer is that anyone who is considering serving Christ and his church would be open to serving anywhere and to anyone regardless of their personal preferences. Sure, you can hope to serve in a particular region or state, but in the end, pray that Christ would give you the courage to serve wherever he calls.
