As someone whose passion in life is seeing people effectively engaged in bringing glory to God and building his kingdom, I am often focused on challenging Christians to do that. However, over the last few weeks, I have been struck by how even those who are not followers of Christ can build God’s kingdom and bring him glory. Kind of a tricky subject; so let me start with two examples from here in Ube:

On Tuesday night, we met again with the Tamuras. They are enjoyable language helpers and are also some of the founding members of the “Angelic Shout” gospel choir that meets here at the Lighthouse Church. The choir performed a few songs at Lighthouse Church’s Easter service. Not only did they clearly sing praises to the Lord for everyone in attendance to hear but they were also a special blessing to Christians in the church as well. Tamura-san was also a vital resource in helping us arrange transportation for the work team that came recently from First Baptist, Atlanta as well as helping our teammates who recently returned to the US dispose of their car.

Konoike-san was here again this morning helping us with the renovations to the ministry center. He owns his own home remodeling business and his wife and daughter participate in the Lighthouse Church’s English classes. When he found out we had a building we needed to renovate, he offered to come help us on a volunteer basis. Over the last two months, coming to consult and assist few hours a week has turned into coming to help three or four days a week – basically, anytime he isn’t needed at one of his other job sites. He can often be found not just answering our many questions, but right alongside of us cutting boards, laying carpet, or hanging wallpaper. At this point, we can’t imagine how we would have ever gotten the renovations done without his help.

So, the rub in all of this… none of these people are Christians. I won’t pretend to understand what motivates them and am keenly aware that their work is not earning them any sort of favor in the eyes of God.  But, none the less, the point is that they are helping to advance the work of God here in Ube and thus indirectly building God’s kingdom.

My take… well, I am yet again reminded about how God works outside of the boxes that I often put him in. While only those who are filled with the Holy Spirit are sensitive to his working, God is still able to work in the hearts and minds of everyone. While it may only be those who are filled with the Holy Spirit who honor God in the way he desires, even the fragments of his image that are in every person and every culture can be seen bringing him glory. While those who are filled with the Holy Spirit are specifically called and chosen to serve God and build his kingdom, it will be built whether they (…whether you and I) participate or not. He can and does work through any means possible.

Next time you interact with someone who is not a Christian, resist the temptation to write them off as outside the kingdom of God. Even if they have not yet responded to it, God could still be working in their heart and life. They deserve to be respected as God’s creations, and as such (even if in small ways) still reflect his glory.

Pray for Theresa and me as we interact with the Tamuras and Konoike-san. Pray that their hearts would be open to the truth they are encountering and that they would respond to the call of God on their lives. Pray that they would come to know God and serve him, not for their own reasons, but as his children.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 14th, 2009 at 3:54 pm and is filed under Life in Cross-Cultural Ministry, Thoughts & Musing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.