China was by far the most purposeful and challenging thing I have done in a long time. All the preparation that was done on the front side of the trip in no way compared to the challenges that lay in wait on the other side of the world. I was faced with situations that challenged me mentally and physically. I was challenged to re-think so many of my own beliefs I held so dear. Now, I don't mean this to sound like I came home from China questioning my faith in God. Not at all! Specifically, I came home questioning how we, as the church, do things. How we evangelize. How we "worship". How we act, how we...
Because I realized while over there that most, if not all, of our "churchly practices" are based solely on our culture. And if the Chinese church does things differently than the American churches - who's right? I am so thankful God pointed out my unknown-to-me legalistic attitude. I didn't think China was going to show me that... weird.
Reflection over the past month has been really good for me. I struggle with what my purpose may be now that I'm home from China... home from college. I can't be a bum and live at home forever. I'm convinced God has great things for me, I just don't know what they are yet... and sometimes... I'm a little scared to ask.
China changed my life. But not in the way most people think. I don't want to move there. And really, I don't know if I'll ever go back as long as I live. But it challenged me to look to eternity. It challenged me to take every thought and moment captive to Christ... and gave me a real-life glimpse of what that practically looks like. It gave me a humbling and beautiful picture of what it means to serve... and to be served. It also showed me just how big God really is. He is so big. He's bigger than I ever thought or could've imagined. Not even the communist government of China can keep God out. (And believe me, they're trying!) He is moving... And we, as His church, get to participate in building His kingdom.
Maybe you're supposed to go to China... or Africa... or Ukraine... or across the street... Where is God calling you to go?
