Boring Christianity

"Radical discipleship is not adventure tourism." -Andrew Byers


I recently read an article on discipleship.  The writer begins by telling a story that happened to him a few years ago.  His story is that he was asked what he was doing for his summer break, he replied "working as electrician."  He then returned the question to his friend and his friend said that he was going to Kenya to work in an orphanage.  The whole article is an encouragement pointing out that just because you are not travelling the world does not mean that you are spiritually inferior to those who are. The one word that the writer uses over and over again is "radical." He says that radical discipleship is not always needed; however, radical service is. There is nothing wrong with staying at home and serving and there is nothing wrong with travelling the globe. ...Well...maybe there is...


I will go ahead and admit it, I love mission trips. They manage to put two of my absolute favorite things together into one...traveling and Jesus.  I had made plans to work back at Camp Longridge this coming summer, but those fell through.  I then planned to spend a little over a week in Cleveland with BCM's from all over South Carolina, but God has closed that door as well.  Like many Christians I have talked to recently, I began to ask why God didn't want me to go. I was ready, I was willing, I was excited, much like a child ready to go to Disney World, and then I get a firm "no." Although it was somewhat disappointing, I just assumed God wanted me at home. I guess I could just serve in my church and just help out wherever I am needed, but that just sounded so...boring. It was then, that I ran across the article entitled "We Need Boring Christians." And the quote above struck me hard.  I realized that the tourism was too much a part of why I was wanting to go places. Now don't get me wrong, I so badly wanted to go for the ministry as well! I figured that being a radical Christian was all about packing up everything you own and making an immediate decision to go somewhere else, but it is not. Being radical is not always an action, being radical is a state of mind. A friend of mine, in referring to missions, said "be intentional."  It is as simple as that; no matter where you are or what you are doing, we must be intentional and radical in our discipleship and on the mission field. 


If you have every read the book "Radical" by David Platt, you know the scenario I am talking about when I talk about dropping everything for a life worthy of a cause. Even though I loved the book and I would be willing to change something in a skinny minute if I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to do so, I just wasn't feeling that this summer. Why? Honestly, I don't know. What I do know is that God must have something spectacular planned for me in the near future. By spectacular I am not referring to a phenomenal or mind blowing job; it may be background work.  Maybe He has a role that will be full of humility (which I know I need a touch of), that would be spectacular in my book. The writer says, "Following Jesus is not to be romanticized through impressive Facebook status updates or photos of exotic places on our blog. Discipleship is often ugly, messy, and painful.  Faithful service will regularly lead us into dull labors and bewildering struggles that would make unexciting press." As lame as some people thinks that sounds, I look forward to doing these things for the rest of my life. I want to serve. It may or may not be in some desolate country, it may or may not extravagant, but I can promise you that it will be impactful nonetheless. Maybe being a "boring" Christian isn't so bad after all. 


I challenge you to live the lifestyle we are all called to live as Christians.  Whether it be extravagant, "boring," or a complete 180 from where you are now, make sure to serve wholeheartedly (Eph 6:7) and to be intentional.