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Why many of us can’t live “radically”, with abandon, in pursuit of the Great Commission
May 20 | Heather | 12 Comments |
Over the years I have noticed that when I call people to live sacrificially and radically for the Great Commission, many people respond immediately, but out of a sense of guilt or obligation… and it rarely lasts. My stirring sermon about the needs of the world or the demands of discipleship did not succeed in producing a genuine heart change that resulted in a permanent change of behavior. Not only that, I found that my own heart gravitated quickly away from commitment to the Great Commission.
I believe that is because most of us are held captive by “the American dream.” We can preach against pursuing the American dream, but until we deal with why we are held captive to it, our sermons will not produce permanent, lasting change. Like a moth to a flame, our hearts will be drawn back to the lure of the dream.
The definition of the American dream, I think, is that money is essential and the optimal way to security and to pleasure. Jesus dealt directly with the American dream in Matthew 6. He explained that most people who live for money do so for 1 of 2 reasons: (1) some think is a source to beauty, significance, and pleasure; (2) others because they think money is a source of security.
Jesus addressed these 2 kinds of people with 2 examples. To those who find beauty and significance and pleasure in money, He said, “Be like the flowers… they don’t worry about beauty, because God makes them beautiful.” To those who find security in money, He said, “Be like the birds. They don’t worry about money, because God makes them secure.” In other words, God is a better way to both beauty and security than money is.
When Jesus has become your beauty (when knowing Him and pleasing Him has become your greatest delight) and when He has become your security (you know that He will take care of your future and all you need to do is obey Him today), then you will be free to follow Him wherever He tells you. You will no longer require nice things and creature comforts to enjoy life; you will no longer require huge sums of money in saving to feel secure. And as your heart is overwhelmed with the grace that God has shown you in the Gospel, you’ll find that there’s nothing you’d rather do with your money than help people find Jesus. That is what will give you the greatest pleasure, and that’s what you’ll consider to be the wisest and most secure investment.
Most people can’t follow Jesus because they are held captive by the American dream, and can’t free themselves of it until they disabuse themselves of the lies and idolatry it is built upon. When Jesus, not money, becomes your God, you will follow Jesus with abandon.
I thought my friend David Platt, whose new book Radical just came out, answered that question well here.
12 Responses to “Why many of us can’t live “radically”, with abandon, in pursuit of the Great Commission”
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JD, glad to see the post on Radical – Platt’s book – NOT AN ‘EASY READ’ – so challenging – your blog today says it all – I frankly don’t know of any of us who may measure up – AMAZING GRACE….but we try…..thanks for the challenges………Platt gives……..
Carl
Yes, and the hard fact of the matter is many pastors issuing such challenges are living the American dream (or Australian dream, where I live): they have respect from peers, better than average cars, better than average homes, and a job that they are passionate about (I’m not talking about the not so well known pastor, paid poorly by the church because that can’t afford more or are stingy. I talking about the pastors in the established and affluent church)
There is a radical disconnect between the words of our leaders and the lives they lead. Until “the flock” see radical discipleship, how much harder it will be to heed the challenge and go to work on their (our) hearts.
I’m not calling for asceticism, or making a virtue of poverty. But rather, such a disregard for what the world treasures and such a love for what God values, that the natural result will be a materially simple life as church leaders sacrifice the American dream that money might be poured into practically loving the saints both locally and globally.
Where can one find such a leader?
I definitely agree with you JD. The American Dream is so alluring for so many reasons. But I don’t think that our pursuit is just for security and beauty, but also power. I think that many people also have the need to “be a somebody” and to have a name for themselves. It in many ways parallels the money = beauty/security paradigm except it flows more along the lines of money = power/regard.
We in America don’t want to live radically because, in many ways, this doesn’t help us in our pursuit of power and self glorification. Its not inherently self serving, it is quite the opposite! Yeah, we may do it out of guilt like you said, but it will dissolve away quickly because our heart hasn’t changed. This knee jerk reaction does nothing to solve the underlying condition. Only when we see that our pursuit for more me is hollow, a sick parity. Only after Christ has redeemed our heart, can we hope to be freed. Only then we can see that this American dream is really an American nightmare.
However, we have to be careful because this same heart that desires approval and fame can easily adapt to use even sacrifices to serve itself. It can easily use our “sacrifices” to puff itself up with pride and become a heart like a Pharisee. One that sacrifices only so those around can see the great lengths we have gone to and how holy we have become. All the while doing it all for our own glory and authority and none for God. The human heart is so jacked up, it can take anything and twist it to be self serving.
Who will save us from ourselves?
Thank you JD for your insight. I agree with micah concerning a desire for power. I’m in the process of going overseas and the alluring aspect of the American Dream for me is power. I think about serving in a country and perhaps not seeing any fruit for several years (or ever!). Then I think about how I could more easily get plugged into a church in the US and probably see fruit from my labors right away. Not many will see my labors overseas, but many could see my labors in the US. I desire power, praise, and influence. Living in the US will more easily meet those desires than living overseas. But just as you said, “When Jesus has become your beauty…and when He has become your security…then you will be free to follow Him wherever He tells you.”
Stu White said: “There is a radical disconnect between the words of our leaders and the lives they lead. Until “the flock” see radical discipleship, how much harder it will be to heed the challenge and go to work on their (our) hearts.”
I agree you completely Stu. What the flock needs is to see a great display of radical humility from their leaders. David Platt is a great example of that humility. I am so challenged by his new book. We do not need superstar personality pastors who chase the American Dream but those who daily die to themselves for the sake of the Gospel.
This post has really made me think. I am finding that I have the desire for both and maybe we have a different definition of the “American Dream” since you have stated the dream is when “money is the optimal way to security” and I don’t see it that way. I guess I don’t see why I can’t pursue both God and money? Maybe that means I’m weak in faith or maybe in time I’ll find that the American Dream is flawed? At this present moment though,from where I’m sitting, I think I can spread the Good News and be rich. Of course if one is going to occupy my thoughts and my time it would be to spread the Message, but could they not work in conjunction with one another? I guess my question is, can God offer the American Dream up to someone and then it be Godly and not sinful? Because I’ve always felt I was blessed financially and I like pursuing business. It’s like a hobby, but if it was all gone tomorrow, I’d still love God.
[...] Platt, whose new book Radical just came out, answered that question and today J.D. Greear provides some more great insight stating: We can preach against pursuing the American dream, but [...]
[...] Greear says this about finding one’s pleasure in Jesus: When Jesus has become your beauty (when knowing Him and [...]
Regardless of how it is preached, or how the pastor lives their life, the truth is it takes money for fuel to get from one place to another, money for food to feed the poor, money to buy the clothes to cover the naked, money for medical supplies to care for the sick, and money to publish bibles to bring the word to the lost. Money in a rightous man’s hands can do a lot to carry the Great Comission to other’s. I would like to see every member of every church be obedient to God’s word and tithe and give offerings out of the great bounty God has supplied to them and brought to the storehouse, given to those that are called to “go” so that every need would be met. Money can be a tool used for good in the right hands, whether “American” or not. My pleasure is in Jesus, and being obedient to Him to meet the needs of others (including my pastor) and still be able to have a roof over my and my family’s head. I am a cheerful giver. God is my source and supplier. All that I have is His. I have what I have pressed down, shaken together, and running over. I give because He gave to me. What if we all did that, couldn’t the Great Commission be carried out if we never stop giving to others since God never stops giving to us?
So very true. And living overseas, I’ve found that the “American Dream” is really the human dream. People here can be just as caught up in money as we are.
Great post! It’s so easy to buy into the “dream”, but when the exterior “glossiness” is wiped away we start to see what a lie it really is.
It’s so hard to fight, but I think what you’re saying is spot on – we need to see the beauty and greatness of Jesus!
Keller talks about the solution to stinginess being a reorientation back to the gospel – how Christ poured out his wealth for us!
A good word, JD. Even living overseas, I am surprised at the depth of my desire for more tangible security than the promises of God.
This can be a difficult discipline if you have made steps to follow God with abandon and have significantly suffered for it. As Jesus’ example (and that of his disciples) shows us, complete obedience to God may cost us our very security and lives. But they knew ultimate value and beauty: what good is it if a man gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?