A Contrarian’s Guide To Knowing GodSýnishorn

We Don’t All Need to Be Spiritual Bravehearts

As a new Christian, all my faith heroes were mountain-moving, charge-the-hill warriors for God. Somewhere, I picked up the idea that the godlier we become, the more we’ll be transformed into spiritual Bravehearts, serving God and marshalling others to do the same. 

That’s motivational, as long as you’re the kind of person who dreams big dreams. But what if your idea of a great life is a quiet life?

Many Christian leaders project their passion for advancing the causes of the kingdom onto everyone else. Since they’ve heard their own call so clearly, they assume anyone who doesn’t share the same passions and vision must not know God very well.

That’s exactly how I felt until God brought two remarkable people into my life. They weren’t remarkable for what they accomplished; they were remarkable for who they were. Both were as godly in character as anyone I’ve ever met, and neither had a leadership bone in them. 

I’m not talking about cold and lukewarm Christians who practice casual spirituality and openhanded disobedience. I’m talking about wonderful people of integrity and obedience who simply don’t register much on the intensity scale. 

That caused me to start wondering if my definition of sold-out Christianity was seriously flawed. What if God didn’t want everyone to be turned into a leader and a hill-charging spiritual warrior? 

The dangerous result of the you-can-do-anything-with-God myth is that those who score way above average on the giftedness, intensity, or influence meter often become puffed up with pride. While they may say they give God all the credit, most don’t really believe it. They think they had a great deal to do with it. 

My parents lived a life of obedience with grace and dignity. All they did was love and know God, model a quiet life without hypocrisy, and bear the fruit to prove it. In my mind, they were not only spiritual, they were spiritual giants. 

Each one of us is vital to the future of the church and God’s kingdom. But we need to work hard not to project our personality and calling on everyone else. 

The goal of spirituality is not to lead—it’s to know and please God. 

What are your primary spiritual gifts? In what ways does the church invite and celebrate your gifting? In what ways do you sometimes feel passed over for someone with more obvious gifts?