The call of God is not restricted to the church. God is not out to make everyone devoted to him into an apostle, prophet, evangelist, teacher or pastor. There is diversity in the operations of the Holy Spirit. As it is written in 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 ESV, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” Therefore you need to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “the gospel is the only thing God is interested in”. God trains and equips people to be a salt and light of the world. He calls people to play a role in religion, culture, economy and governance. There are divine missions beyond the church.
If you trace back some of the greatest advancements and inventions of all time, you find Christians at the heart of it. From the biblical era, to the modern world, you find Christians shaping the culture. They are redefining religion and mode of worship. Christians improving the productivity of nations, and stimulating economic growth. You also find the imprint of Christians in the evolution of governance over the centuries. It is disrespectful for anyone to claim that only Christians working within the religious sphere are doing God’s work. Joseph in ancient Egypt served in government, and oversaw an economic boom during a time of unprecedented global crisis. It would be hilarious to think about Abraham, Isaac or Jacob as people who did the work of God within the confines of a church mission.
Only a religious bigot will insist that preaching and teaching from the Bible is the only mission from God. Jesus asks that you be a salt and light of your world. Reading the bible shows us that God is interested in nations and cities. We see God showing interest in the productivity of nations. You are not confined to find expressions for your faith within the walls of the church. You are free to find out how you would contribute to what God is doing in your society, economy, and government. It is not every servant of God that will be sent out on a church mission. Some of us are needed to engineer new ideas. Some are needed to provide leadership and govern. While some are needed to preach the gospel to the end of the world.
