What Really Matters

I read a great letter on the web today from Michelle Perry, a missionary in Sudan. Here's an excerpt (I edited it slightly to make it more readable here). She is discussing the debate over how best to "do church".

"...after nearing two years in the war torn bush of central Africa, I don’t really give a rip whether it is house church or traditional church or cell church or open church, a sitting room, a sanctuary or a stadium - as long as people are growing in Jesus, walking in love with one another, and being the face of His love to the world around them.

I don’t want to have to figure out whether I should embrace, conform to, reform or vacate the system. I don’t have the time. Other things are too precious. I just want to do what He is doing and love people. I don’t want to debate what is the right way to have church, because it all can become a box and a prison if not filled with His life. Why can’t we all just focus on Him and fall in love with Him and love the people around us?

I don’t want to figure it all out — I can’t. I was just holding a dying woman in my arms in the hospital here whose family will not feed her or help her because the stench of rotting flesh is too bad and she soils herself - and people are arguing about whether they should meet in homes or buildings. Last week a blind woman saw, this week a woman lay dying in my arms. I cannot figure it out. I don’t even want to try anymore. If I can’t embrace His mystery and love Him beyond my little understanding, I will limit the place I give to His majesty being revealed in and through my life.

Meet under a tree, rent a cathedral, go on a hike with your family- but love people—learn about love.

Learn of Him.

Live in Him.

I met him face to face when I was seven and He walked into my room. He is the One who captured my heart as a little girl.

I don’t have any answers. I don't have anything except a heart cry to love each person he sets in front of me, and to stay in his presence because I love Him more than I love anything. He is my life.


(Michelle's website can be reached by clicking on the title of this post.)