Roaring Lambs.
It’s graduation season, and I am reminded of this story.
Two students graduate from high school. They live in the same town and attend the same church where they are active believers.
One says he’s going to study film at UCLA. The other says he is going to be a missionary to a remote village in Africa.
Before they leave, the church throws a potluck supper and fundraiser for one of the students.
Guess which one?
That’s the premise of a book I read in the mid 90’s by Bob Briner called ROARING LAMBS.
In most communities, the church would have thrown their support and prayers behind the future missionary.
But which student has the potential to influence more people with his faith? Clearly the film student.
I’m not suggesting success is based on numbers, or that the African missionary doesn’t deserve support. I’m just pointing out the premise that Briner emphasizes: Christians that actively engage in mainstream culture can be significant world-changers on a level that Christians in the Christian subculture can not.
We’re to be the salt of the earth, but we often stay confined in our own salt shakers. We have our own schools, colleges, books, music, art, celebs and even language. And yes, our own radio stations. I worked at a few. So, I’m not disparaging this subculture.
But I do agree with Briner that we need to encourage more believers to influence the mainstream culture. It’s not without risk and pitfalls, but neither is being a missionary in Africa.
Bottom line is, students should pursue their God-given calling wherever that is, doing whatever it is. And we should encourage and support all of them.
“It is time for believing people to confidently carry their faith with them into the marketplace so that our very presence causes others to ask, ‘What makes them so different?’”
“Too many of us have become lambs who are silent when we should be roaring.” - Bob Briner
Briner says that Christians need to earn credibility in secular culture not through preaching or overt religious symbols, but through excellence and character in their work and relationships.
In that effort, we should all be students.