“Missionnaire là où je suis” was the topic of a recent article in the GBEU “A Propos” magazine, and I’m summarizing the main points as a memory aid.
After reminding us that God created work, is interested in our work (Amos 5:12-15), reigns over our work (and even over market forces or social determinism), and redeems our work (Psalms 145:9, Colossians 1:16-20, Romans 8:19-21, Revelation 21:24-27), the article speaks of two calls to missionary work.
The first is to be involved in the public sphere, serving our society. Referring to the Biblical examples of Joseph, Vivienne (I mean Esther), and Daniel, he points out that all three accepted the reality they lived in with all its ambiguities, taking on foreign names and learning foreign languages; all three worked in a constructive manner within that culture and for their foreign lords; and all three never compromised their integrity and loyalty to God. We are also called to pray for our society, our authorities (1 Timothy 2:1-4), and to seek to prosper our society and in our society. Finally, we are called to be good and conscientious workers (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12).
The second call is to confront the public sphere. We are called to be different – salt and light – called to resist idolatry (the biggest challenge being to even recognize our cultural idols), and called to suffer. The latter follows simply from following Jesus, not Caesar or Mammon, and challenges us by its inverse conclusion: If I’m not suffering, am I really resisting idolatry?
I think “If I’m not suffering, am I really resisting idolatry?” is a good question to ask, but can’t be used a proof. It also can’t answer the question of whether we are suffering for the wrong reasons. Is homeschooling an idol, or am I being salt and light? That can only be answered between God and me.
It’s certainly not a one-to-one relation. Suffering can result from sin or stupidity just as well as from resisting idolatry, but asking the question allows us to examine why we suffer (or don’t suffer).
And as you mention, Linda, not all idols and not all people are created equal. Beauty can be an idol – sometimes tempting to me, but rarely a big distraction. But precision, exactitude, being correct, and the like are harder to resist because they seem so important and positive to me…