Hold Back. Hold On.
Have you ever felt like you were holding back…not really all in, hesitant, doubtful? Before making a big purchase, I’ve been doubtful, hesitant. I’ve even felt “buyer’s remorse” after the fact. There have also been times where stepping out in faith seemed phantasmagorical, an unrealistic - an almost unnecessary - decision to act. That momentary pause when you’re walking on a dark path and are unsure of where your foot will land…or where your body will land after you fall! Resigning from a fabulous church and community to start all over again in an unknown place, knowing virtually no one, towing along a soon-to-be 3 year old daughter. That kind of momentary pause. Is it doubt? Is it foolishness? Is it obedience? Or, to quote Mr Scrooge, “Just an undigested bit of beef?”
A few weeks ago, a not-so-obscure text sidelined my devotions (in Mt 28), thinking about me (as an individual believer) and about us (the Church and church). Arguably, the ascension of Christ is probably among the top 5 most significant public occurrences during His earthly ministry. From that mountain we hear and receive the risen Lord’s final instructions. But, just prior, Matthew records the words…
”The moment they saw him they worshiped him.
Some, though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally.”
It was that verse, verse 17, also interpreted as…”some doubted”, that tripped me up. Really?! After 3 years of walking alongside of Christ and multiple post-resurrection personal encounters with Him… Some say that those present were just the 11 disciples. Others say it was the 11, plus some other people. Either way, they were close to Him. They were His followers. After this recorded pause, the Great Commission, words included in all the synoptic gospels, were spoken by our Lord.
My sidelined mind wandered…could this represent the post-COVID fallout from evangelical churches? …could this represent the spiritual lukewarmness within our cultural form of Christianity? …does this explain the drop in perceived “calledness” within our churches? Does it describe me, willing to worship, while at the same time holding back, avoiding risk as a Christ-follower? Is this pertinent for us, today?
Are worship and a sense of calling interrelated? Maybe God isn’t calling us to worship with faith-filled steps of risk intertwined with our worship? Back in 1947, Isobel Kuhn boldly wrote: “No, it is not God who does not call. It is man who will not respond”. Rich Noble says that “People in every walk of life are called to follow Christ with equal depth and commitment.”**
The ultimate image of calling in the Bible is to follow Jesus. Scripture also shows that God does specifically call, some people at least, to a particular vocation. We could say it’s a general call to salvation and discipleship, which lies at the root of every other calling. This is a “whole life” calling, not merely a job. As Christ-followers and image-bearers, we are all called to a ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor 5). There’s also a vocational calling…which may result in full-time ministry “here, there and everywhere.” I really like the Theology of Work Project’s explanations and thoroughness in explaining our calling, while demystifying the secular and sacred.
Individually and corporately, I do think it is easy and tempting to hold back, to avoid the risk of speaking out for Christ or taking a moral stand for the faith. Or, even in living as a “called out” people. It is easy to embrace convenience and not risk ourselves totally to speak to a neighbor. Risk aversion does cause us to wilt, and avoid. It can also plug our ears, chill our hearts, blind our perceptions…so we hold back.
Since that moment on the mountain top, Christ-followers have felt like holding back…but they have been holding on! Holding on to the One. It sounds so cliché, but He risked it all for us, even to become like us - Creator becoming creature. Enduring death to bring us life. The Church continues to worship Him completely, embracing risks, for the One who is with us, even until the end of the age!
**On Mission Together: integrating missions into the local church. Rich Noble
Dave Manske
Missions Mobilizer