The Danger of Losing Perspective: Learning from King Solomon

Two orbital paths have been significant themes: mission and countercultural living. In some respects, mission and countercultural living are hallmarks of Western evangelical Christian youth ministry. So, chicken or egg? Are mission and countercultural living significant because of three and a half decades of youth ministry, or did mission and countercultural living help me thrive in youth ministry?

As young people travel through their middle school, senior high, and college years, the teenage years offer unique access and opportunity to share the good news of Jesus with the next generations. God's mission is critical in youth ministry. Countercultural living is vital for youth ministry. Western culture pursues the power and prominence of control, sexuality, and money. Discipling young followers of Jesus and teaching them to pursue humility, faithfulness, and generosity necessitates a countercultural worldview. What reminded me of these orbital paths? My seventeen-year-old son and I went to see the Newsboys in concert in Omaha, NE. I was bathed in over thirty years of memories as the band sampled the long history in their repertoire. The songs, the memories, the worship, and the presence of the Holy Spirit lifted me back into orbit.

What do I mean by orbit? If you picture the different elements of your life, responsibilities, issues you feel passionate about, friends, family, work, recreation, everything—it can all be a jumbled mess, or what Gordon MacKenzie calls a giant hairball. The giant hairball isn't just a mess; it's a force that draws us close. Sometimes we get too close to the hairball. When we get drawn in close, we lose perspective. We make choices we wouldn't have made if we were further out—if we had perspective.

One of my favorite Bible stories about perspective is the life of King Solomon. King Solomon had it all—riches, intelligence, and a great relationship with God, at least until he lost perspective.

Solomon was wise enough to understand the world's ways, and Solomon's relationship with God leads us to believe that he maintained a God-centered worldview. Solomon's worldview understood God's plan for shalom or peace with God and the world. Yet, slowly, one choice at a time, Solomon began getting sucked into the giant hairball of his life.

Solomon married women from other nations, as was the diplomatic or cultural custom. With each marriage, Solomon was losing his orbit and perspective. Solomon wasn't living as God had described in His Word; he wasn't living counterculturally. Solomon was not living on mission for God; rather, Solomon was making a name for himself as a man and a King. Solomon pursued wealth, becoming one of the wealthiest people who ever lived. Solomon pursed sexuality having just under one thousand wives and concubines. Solomon pursued control, growing his armies to enforce peace. With each pursuit, Solomon was drifting further and further out of orbit and away from God. Solomon's lost perspective and changing worldview created a growing divide between choices that seemed best for Solomon and obedience to God. Solomon began to live by his own understanding rather than God's wisdom. Solomon surrendered his heart and way of life to his wives and worshipped their gods.

Has the Western Church lost perspective, being drawn out of orbit by the surrounding culture? Estimating the number of Christian denominations and sects in the United States is difficult due to the opening and closing of churches and the nebulous definition of a denomination. The Hartford Institute for Religion Research gives rough estimates identifying over 300,000 churches and the number of denominations ranging from the hundreds to the thousands. Despite the number of churches and denominations, there is significant concern that the Christian church in the United States is diminishing. If the Christian church is diminishing, are we missing something? Have we lost our orbit? Are we getting sucked into the giant hairball of the world around us through our desire for control, need for security, and our weak commitments to real relationships? Our theological understanding is fueled with access to tools once reserved for elite seminarians. Livestreams, podcasts, books, audiobooks, blogs, and social media feeds flood the landscape for church leaders and laity alike. Yet, our churches are shrinking. How might we gain the needed perspective to help the Western church revive?

What in your life helps you remain in orbit and keep your perspective fixed on God?

Where is your orbit struggling? What can you do today to help you keep on mission with God?

From Revive: Leading Change – Igniting Movement Chapter 2