Missional Living Is Unmistakable

The military is full of what’s known as "cultural Christians." They have been to church; they have said a prayer; they have been baptized; they own a Bible. But apart from these few truths, no one would ever mistake them for a disciple of Jesus Christ. So as a man who has been bought, redeemed, forgiven, and then given a mission, what does it look like to be a missional believer while serving in a job where you can’t call in sick if you have a migraine, take vacation whenever you feel like it, walk in and give your two-week notice, and are surrounded by enough porn to be considered on par with Primetime TV?

Missional Living Is Grace-Centered

More often than not, we as believers emphasize what we’re against—drinking, smoking, cussing—instead of whom we are for and what he has done. And just like any other profession and walk of life, we need to refocus our gaze on the only perfect man to ever walk this earth—Jesus Christ.

Missional Living Sets an Example

One of the clearest ways to be missional in an environment with many eyes on you as a follower of Christ is through your job. Work was given to us by God before the Fall (Gen. 2:15). Before Jesus began his earthly ministry around the age of 30, he was a carpenter (Mark 6:3). During seasons of Paul’s ministry, he worked night and day as a tent-maker (Acts 18:3) in order to support himself and to give an example to others of what it meant to engage in work (1 Thess. 2:9; 2 Thess. 3:7-9). That is one reason he could say that if a man doesn’t work, he doesn’t eat (2 Thess. 3:10), and if he doesn’t provide for his family, then he’s denied the faith (1 Tim. 5:8).

Missional Living Serves Excellently

As men serving in the military, we should be striving towards being the best at whatever job we have—sniper, submarine officer, tank commander, chaplain, or cook (1 Tim. 4:12). This does not come from a sense of earning our righteousness—as our righteousness rests completely on Jesus—but rather from the fact that we are walking and talking reflectors of God and his glory—Imago Dei (Gen. 1:27). And that is a joyful responsibility.

Missional Living: Your Thoughts

I’m asking men from any walk of life for input on what a Missional Joe looks like in the military and on the job site. How are we in the world, but not of the world? How are we salt and light without becoming judgmental hypocrites? I’ll be exploring some of the aspects of what it looks like to be missional in the military without transforming the gospel into either a license to sin or a call to separate. It is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe (Rom.1:16). If you are interested in finding out more, email military@marshillchurch.org.