I wrote this Seattle Assignment after our LTS Fieldtrip to Seattle, Washington. There, while staying at Bethany Community Church, we had classes by Richard Dahlstrom about things certain aspects of living in the world today. In many ways, it was like the “Dating the World” classes that we had with Lawrence. But in this instance, we also had immediate opportunity to put what we learned in class to practice as we went on to do various activities around the city of Seattle.
I can’t say that Seattle was my favourite LTS Fieldtrip… I really don’t have a favourite. But it deffinately has had the most impact on me, just with regards to the the circumstance that I am in now, living in the culture that I am in: the post-modernistic, “academic”, liberalism of University life in Toronto. In fact, during the field trip, I was on the perfect street-evangelism mission to prepare me for University – with Kristine Brown at University of Washington.
In classes, we learned to accept our world for what it is, and to settle in, and not to disengage – only when we do so would we be truly effective. It is again, being “in” the world, yet not “of” the world. Kristine helped me really see this, saying to me during our time at “U-Dub” that everyone we saw as we walked around campus seemed to be walking around with so much purpose.. they had to get to class.. they had to get somewhere. Yet we, while walking around with no “purpose” at all, really were the ones with the only true purpose, bearing the testimony of Christ. She pointed out to me how disconnected those people were, how lonely they must be.
The temptation there is to do just the same. To disengage from them, safe in the knowledge that I have hope in the truth. But is that even what having hope in the truth means? My calling is not to just have hope, but to also be hope. I am Christ’s ambassador for reconciliation to the world.
Anyway, I’ve said enough already…
Seattle Assignment
Lecturer: Richard Dahlstrom
By Chris Evangelista, February 24, 2005
In a world that has increasingly become meaningless, we are called to have meaning. This world, and the culture it has adopted expresses diversity, though in the midst of anonymity; connectability, while remaining lonely. The world professes an attitude of apathy and selfishness, which altogether eventually lead to hopelessness. Within this, we are called to be the hope that is missing. We are called to be a testimony of the joy for which they are longing. In John 17:15, Jesus specifically asks God not to take us out of the world, but rather to protect us from the evil one. The reason for this is found a few verses earlier in John 17:13 where Jesus prays, “and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves.” The meaning of life is this, that we may be an outpouring of love and joy, so that people may see the hope which is found in Jesus Christ.
God is calling us to live a godly life in Babylon – that is, the culture we are living in, by being faithful in the little things. As it says in Zacheriah 4:10, “for who has despised the day of small things?” In Jeremiah 29, God is addressing the false teaching that some prophets were falsely teaching to the Israelites living in exile. They were being taught not to settle into Babylon because they were going to be restored back to the Promised Land within a few years. Correcting this, God instructs the Israelites to settle down and live out their lives. In verse 6, God says, “take wives and become the fathers of sons and daughters; and multiply there and do not decrease.” God is telling them to stop being anxious about the future and disengage from the present, but to prepare themselves for a lifetime in exile – they will have sons and daughters who themselves would have sons and daughters before they return to the Promised Land. We, in the same way, are being called to settle down on earth, and in our present circumstance so that we may live for the joy found in every “today.” And then on top of this in verse 7, it says that we should also concern ourselves of the welfare of the world and to pray for it. We are not only called to settle down, but also to become involved. We are not just called to not disengage, but also to engage ourselves and concern ourselves with the concerns of the world.
The three main things that I have observed people striving for are all pretty much connected: youth and beauty, wealth, and companionship. It seems like youth and beauty is being sold through different means that lead to a “bettering” of one’s body. There are many ads that promote healthy living and fitness, which are good things. But the image or message that is being sold is that fitness gives way to beauty just as much as a liposuction or other plastic surgery does. Other ads sell products that provide a status symbol of shows of wealth. This is seen in material possessions. Finally, there is seen a seeking after companionship and intimacy in ads that sell opportunities for people to meet or date. Some range from simple phone calls or encounters, while some advertise relationships, even marriage, or just sex.
What people truly want – and even need some times – in the end is to be satisfied. They want to be satisfied physically, emotionally, and spiritually. They want to be recognized and loved. They want to be satisfied by a purposeful life. These things that people seek after, youth and beauty, wealth and companionship lead to what gives their lives purpose and meaning. And so, this is what God provides for them and us. For coming out of the meaning that God gives to our lives, is the satisfaction that He provides for our every need. It says in Philippians 4:19, “and my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
He gives our lives meaning. He purposes for us to be the testimony of His glory. He is seeking to show His deity through our humanity. We are to do this by simply submitting our lives to Him.