Calling and Church History

This is a post that fulfills a requirement for a class I'm taking on the Early Church.

I generally don't like to teach topically. My happy (and safest) place is sticking tight to Scripture. It's just too easy to imply doctrine from piecing together a string of verses on a topic all the while pushing the boundaries of context.
Sometimes, however, seeing the bigger picture requires drawing from several sections of Scripture and in this case the history books. Since I am not attempting to discuss doctrine, but calling, I feel my shaky feet are on solid ground...we shall see though : )

I may not be able to speak for everyone, but I can certainly confess that my heart has always yearned for purpose. Not to be famous, rich or powerful (though I won't pretend I haven't imagined that life as well) but meaning, to have an impact in the lives of the people around me that leaves them (and myself) better somehow.

It has been hard for me over the years to reconcile my desire to have impact and purpose with always being new, or packing up (we move a lot). Don't get me wrong, I have had amazing opportunities to serve in churches. I've lead Bible study, started new ministries, written studies, and mentored, but my opportunities are always short lived. Its seems just as things get going, I'm moving and passing the baton to someone else. I struggle with finding footing and a desire to offer more than whatever quick, fleeting service I am able to offer. My heart still yearns, in fact lately its been aching...but isn't it in the yearning the God so often whispers.

I just got back from a mini vacation with my family. It was less then a 3 hour drive but my brother had given me a CD set (I know how old are we!) of Chuck Swindoll's Daniel. My daughter was busy reading and playing her tablet in the back seat so I started listening. Part way through the 3rd cd I heard something I hadn't remembered from all the times I've study Daniel before. In the famous dream of King Nebuchadnezzar's great statue, I'd never paid much mind to the Rock that demolishes the statue and creates a vast unshakable mountain in its place (Daniel 2). The emphasis always seems to be on the meaning of the statue and the prophecy but not this time. I don't honestly remember much of what Chuck said the rest of the cd, but the thing it seems I'd glossed over in that chapter suddenly became the Thing!  The thing that made sense of my life, and tied everything I've learned about Church History to Scripture and to me!

Of course Jesus is the Rock, and the mountain? His immovable, eternal Kingdom! The Kingdom of God, the one that Jesus spoke so often about, will one day take the place of all the earthly kingdoms that have been and are yet to come! Yet Jesus talked about this Kingdom, His Kingdom, as already existing. Many of His parables were about what the Kingdom is like, or who the people were that were entering it. This future Kingdom of Daniel 2, this Eternal Mountain built on the Rock is here, now and the most amazing thing is that we, you and I, believers in Christ, are part of the building of it!

In Christ we not only have identity but we have purpose! We are the children of God, called to join in the labor of making disciples, spreading the Word, building the Kingdom. It has been over 2000 years since Jesus told Peter that He would build the Church and that is our lineage. You and I will never write Cannon, but we can be counted among the great builders of the Church.

Polycarp is a famous martyr from the 2nd century, but it was his encouragement of others who were persecuted for their faith that made him a great leader in the Kingdom. Do you encourage other in their faith? You're a Kingdom builder.

Origen was passionate about studying the Word of God and teaching others. Do you share God's Word with people? You are a Kingdom builder!

Eusebius was a historian in the early 4th century. Much of what we know about the early Church is from his writings. Do you want others to know what God is doing in your Church? Kingdom builder!

The Benedictine Monks set up monasteries all over medieval Europe in order to bring the Gospel to un-reached people.Do you have a heart to reach the lost? I think you get the picture :)

You don't have to be a martyr, a monk or in ministry full time. You simply use the gifts and passions that God has given you in a way that further His Kingdom (not yours). When we look for our eternal purpose, the way we get to contribute to God's Kingdom, we find the significance, that lasting contribution that makes others (and ourselves) better.

I am so grateful for God's eternal view, and overwhelmed that He lets me work to build His Kingdom (and can use my crazy lifestyle). Over the last 20ish years, from a world view, I have not accomplished much, I am pretty ordinary, but is God's eternity, I am a Kingdom Builder! Thanks to a little nudge by the Spirit, a Chuck Swindoll cd on Daniel and a class on Church History, I am confident of my purpose and sure of my call.

How awesome that we can be counted among the great Church builders, Polycarp, Ireneaus, Augustine, YOU and me!