One of my favorite quotes is from David Platt. He says, “God has not redeemed you to dwell in a Christian bubble; He has redeemed you to spread the Christian gospel.”
Wow, how challenging is that? We all know what it feels like to experience that “Lakeside high” – to experience the bubble that is Lakeside. We show up on Sunday afternoon, reunite with all of our friends from other youth groups, eat some Sloopy’s pizza, and get pumped for the House Band. Throughout the week the chaplain challenges us, our heartstrings are tugged as we watch videos from the mission focus that week, and we have deep conversations during our evening devotions. We leave that week feeling changed, feeling closer to God, and feeling empowered to go change the world for Jesus.
But then reality hits. We go home to our dysfunctional families, to our jobs, to our coaches and our teachers that push us to our limits, to our friends that haven’t experienced Lakeside and don’t share our same beliefs. We long to be back in the “Lakeside bubble” where all is right in our world and in our hearts.
As much as we desire to live in a Christian bubble where everyone loves Jesus and our beliefs are never challenged, that’s not the world we live in. And that’s not what God has called us to do. He doesn’t call us to stay comfortable or to only surround ourselves with things and people that make us feel good. He calls us to GO. He calls us to SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS. He calls us to speak up for those who can’t speak up for themselves. He calls us to love, to serve, to be His hands and feet.
One of the best parts of my job is getting to take people to Haiti. Some of my favorite teams to lead are teams of teenagers and young adults. I love seeing them experience a world outside their norm and to watch them wrestle with what material poverty looks like. More than that, though, I love watching them experience what spiritual richness looks like. Throughout the trip, they’re constantly challenged to lay down their own comforts and serve. They get dirty, they get sweaty, and they are surrounded by an unfamiliar culture and a language that they don’t understand. They’re forced to lean on God, and God alone.
So my challenge to you, as a Lakeside leader or camper, is this: ask God what He’s calling you to do next. Ask God to get you out of your Christian bubble and give you visions on how to spread the Good News of the Gospel. Ask Him to give you faith to step out on the waters of the unknown. Be willing to be stretched and to step out of your comfort zone. Is God calling you to be the hands and feet to the people in Haiti? I am taking a team of Lakeside campers to Haiti in July and would LOVE to have you and/or your youth group join me. Wouldn’t it be awesome to have some of our Haitian brothers and sisters join our Lakeside family? Let’s go make some Holy Ghost noise!
-Rene
If interested, please email [email protected] for more information or to continue this conversation!
