Life Decisions: To Stay or to Leave

There is a great body of literature targeted at those who should go - those who are taking up the call to leave their homes, leave their comfort zones and go out to other countries. There is a great emphasis on going, or in at least supporting those who go. This is well and good. This is the great commission. And yet, I feel that a part of the great commission is being unfulfilled. Yes, the Bible states that we are to go to "Judea, Samaria and the uttermost ends of the earth". And yet it seems to me that the emphasis is always on the uttermost ends of the earth, and sometimes Samaria (neighbouring countries/states). To the most part, Judea (our home ground) is forgotten.

I think this has to do largely with the fact that when we think "go", we think of going somewhere. The picture that comes to mind is of us packing our bags, uprooting ourselves and leaving for somewhere else. It doesn't make sense to our limited human minds that going may also involve the places that we already are. Instead, we put guilt trips on ourselves about how or why we're not good enough to be "missionaries in foreign countries" or how we don't "have a call" to do those kinds of things. Sometimes we think, 'if I were [insert some other place], I would be able to [insert all the things you dream of doing but aren't doing]'.

One of the topics we discussed during our HeadStart meeting was about choosing our jobs or our workplace according to where we intend to serve, rather than looking for a job and then only look for a place to serve there. It doesn't sound like much of a difference, but it's really a difference in terms of priority. The thing is that we often think of "choosing" as in choosing to go elsewhere. Funny isn't it?

What's to say that we can't "go" or be sent to where we already are? What's to say that we can't "choose" to stay? It's as if we have blinders on our eyes that prevent us from making the most of what we have, where we are. If we always think in terms of 'going' elsewhere and 'choosing' for something else, we will never think of 'going' and 'choosing' the here and now. It makes us forget Judea, or at the least, play it down.

Yes, reaching the unreached peoples is important. Yet it isn't everyone's calling. And just because you may not be called to the uttermost ends of the earth doesn't mean that you aren't called right where you are.

For those who would stay, it often seems as if they are choosing the lesser, the poorer, the more selfish and cowardly option. In the lack of a conviction otherwise, it is easy to think that they are settling on the 'second best' as opposed to the 'great adventure' of cross-cultural missions. I would like to propose otherwise. I believe that those who are called to stay are just as important as those who are called to leave.

Without those who would stay, there would be none who would go. If no one were called to take up the task here, who would support those who have been called to leave? Who would be the ones to build the church in your town or city? How would God's kingdom ever come to your boring old town if everyone with anything worth giving is trying to make it in the exciting city lights?

A change in perspective is sorely needed if we intend to build. Rather than feeling left behind, remember that you have chosen to stay. Remember that it was a choice made, it was a decision made, and not one that came from just muddling along and hoping for the best. Whether it was a willing choice, or a decision made after sweat and tears, you are here because you have chosen to stay.

And with that intentionality in mind, build.