Missional Living

Recently, I was tabling on a college campus for the ministry I work for. I was sitting at a table, handing out popsicles, and talking to students about Jesus. A guy came up to me and asked for a popsicle, so I gave him one, and we joked and talked for a few minutes. Then, he started to ask me about morals, whether they come from God, if God would mislead him, and if God really wanted a relationship with him. I told him God would never mislead him and that God really does want a relationship with him. Then, he asked me why God is so “obviously evil” in his eyes if all of the things I said were true. I didn’t know what to say because I didn’t realize the conversation was heading in that direction. We ended up having a long, hostile conversation about why he thinks God is evil because of the things God does in the Old Testament. I disagree with a lot of what he said, but that’s not what I want to share. 

The last thing he said to me was this: he said “tomorrow, you’re gonna go to Starbucks and order a matcha, and the barista is gonna give you your matcha, and you’re gonna know she’s going to burn in a lake of fire in hell, and you don’t care at all.” After that, he walked away. Pretty intense, right? I didn’t get a chance to defend myself, but the only thing I could think was how wrong he was. First off, I don’t even drink matcha. Secondly, I wouldn’t know if my barista was going to hell or not, because I can’t search people’s hearts. Lastly, if I didn’t care about people’s salvation, why would I be tabling on campus when I could be at home doing nothing? Why would I be on staff to minister to college students? I felt like my life choices proved that he couldn’t be more wrong. I tried to move on and let it go. I tried to pray for him and remind myself that he’s lost and angry and doesn’t know what he’s talking about, but I couldn’t get over it. His comment bothered me for days, and I didn’t know why. It took me almost a week before I realized why it bothered me so much. It bothered me so much because, in some ways, he was right. 

It’s true that I work in ministry. It’s true that I love ministering to people and sharing the Gospel. It’s true that I really love God and His people. However, it’s also true that I interact with lost people every day and don’t give it a second thought. I’ve never actually wondered if my barista knows Jesus or not because it doesn’t directly affect me. So, that guy was right. I have gone to Starbucks, gotten my coffee, and not even cared that my barista may be on a path to destruction. I’ve sat next to lost people in class and never tried to tell them about Jesus. I don’t live with the urgency I should live with, knowing that so many people around me could be separated from God for eternity. 

That guy doesn’t know it, but God used him to convict me. The world needs Jesus, and it’s my job to tell people about Him. The question is, though, what do I do about that? Do I launch into a Gospel presentation with every stranger I pass on the street? That would be great, but it’s not practical. What I can do is live on mission where God has me right now. If God has you at work, make it your goal to share Jesus with everyone you work with. If God has you in school, share the Gospel with your classmates. If you’re a stay-at-home parent, raise your kids to love Jesus and make disciples. Pray for your barista after she gives you your coffee. Invite the person next to you in line at the grocery store to your church. You can even get crazy with it and go share the Gospel in another country. The options are endless.

The bottom line is, if Jesus has saved you, you have the best news ever in your back pocket. Why wouldn’t you share that with everyone you know? The world is our mission field, and Jesus has commanded us to go and make disciples of all nations. So go and share the Gospel with people as if their lives depend on it, because they do.