titles...

At different stages of life I might have attached "titles" to myself, if you had asked me... at one point I might have said I was a " photographer". Another stage I might have said a " naturalist", and forsure I know there was a time when I would have said "activist".

This week someone tried to give me the "title" "missionary". It made my stomach turn. I said NO thats not what I am... she didn't listen to me, being a self proclaimed "missionary" herself.

I said " I think thats dangerous, WE ALL, as followers of Christ have a "missional" calling on our lives, But that doesn't mean I will go by the title "missionary" ."

Some people think that I'm being silly. I "work for for Jesus", so that automatically makes me a missionary???? So then is a pastor in America a "missionary"? Is the church secretary a "missionary" ? Well yes if you are agreeing with my above comment about the "missional" call on our lives. But lets be honest most people "working for Jesus" in the States would NOT call themselves missionaries. I would argue that most people think "over seas" when they hear the word missionary. And if those people are not Christians... then they automatically think “negative” things.

I admit, even as a follower of Jesus I THINK negative things when I hear the word “missionary”. Being out here in a foreign land its only made my perception of missionaries worse. They are so about the “them and us” mentality! I can’t do that. I wont do that . Its not the way Jesus spoke of people (behind their backs) and it wasn’t the way Jesus loved people.

There are lots of different jobs in this world that are focused on youth and mentorship and have nothing to do with Jesus. So my “job”, in my mind, does not automatically make me a “missionary”. I have fought hard for the last 2 and 1/2 years living here in Moshi to NOT have that “title of missionary” put on me. Its been hard, I have had to face it head on sometimes and out rightly denounce it.

My heart for the world, is that everyone might know the Joy, Love and PEACE of Christ. But I’m not in the business of “converting”... in my and YL’s opinion thats the Job of the Holy Spirit not us. Thank you Jesus for that!

Sometimes thinking about getting a “real” profession ( as my mom would say) makes me feel like I will able to live a life worthy of what I desire... why? well b/c I will STILL love youth, I will still pray for their hearts and share the LOVE, Joy and PEACE of Christ with them... yet it wont be my “job”. I think that people,that have what society would consider “normal” careers, have the potential to have the MOST impact for God’s glory in this world! Why? Well so glad you asked... because just like I said they are “normal”... so IF they can do it then people have to see it, hear it and think ‘ that could be my life’. Even Paul on his missionary journeys worked. People now call that “tent making”... Well I’d like to argue that ALL followers of Christ are called to be “tent makers”! Now in the same breath I believe NGO’s are GREAT things that need finical support and could NEVER be profitable... it IS good to support NGOs (thank u supporters). I’m not saying lets do away with “church jobs or missionaries”... I’m just saying why does it have to be so “them vs us”, and like they have “holier jobs” or some crap like that....

I was talking with a friend the other day about Oxfam. He has interests in working in Washington DC as a lobbyist for Immigrants rights and such.... the internet actually cut off and I was unable to share with him my GREAT joy in Oxfam and the goodness they bring to lives. Oxfam is not a Christian organization. But they are bringing Goodness to the world! In my Beth Moore Bible study she talks about how we are called to “bring God’s goodness to the world”

“ Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be READY TO DO WHATEVER IS GOOD, to slander no one, to be PEACEABLE and considerate, and to SHOW TRUE HUMILITY towards ALL MEN.” Titus 3:1-2

WOW can we get a more awesome verse about goodness and living life!? (well maybe she listed alot) I read that verse and I’m like “ya I want my life to look like that...” I so want my life to bring justice to those in need. Beth also talked about that and this is one of the verses she had us look up...

“ Is this not the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loosen the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-.... If you do away with the yoke of oppression and with pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you SPEND YOURSELVES in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. “

Isaiah 58: 6-7a, 9b-10

Can my life look like this Jesus? Please? Can you use me to bring your glory to the nations and bring HEALING through art therapy!

It makes me so excited to think I will get the chance to do that... It even makes me excited to think for the next few years I will get to be a bit more political again about “issues” I care about- mostly about trade and fair wages.

Why do I care about those things? Well its NOT because I’m a “missionary”... its b/c I LOVE JESUS and I want to see his GLORY rising upon the nations and the hearts of the world healed with his love... just like every follower of Jesus should desire.

If I have to take a “title”... let it be “servant of Truth”, or “lover of all”.... b/c those are the titles my heart longs to have ( though they are not always true of me... sad)

I do hope that some of my future titles might ring true and be “healer and sojourner” . One day...