Bored People Are Not In Tune With Reality

I was sitting on my computer last night trying to entertain myself. In short, I was bored, looking for something to do.

Then, I came across an article that put my life on pause for a brief second. To be honest, I can’t remember what I read exactly – but I think it had something to do with the conflict in Africa. I prayed for the situation, but not before a realization came upon me.

Bored people are not in tune with Reality.

We are distracted. Our vision of how things really are... is dimmed.

When I was in San Diego five years ago on a summer project with Campus Crusade, we did this thing called an International Dinner. Each of us were placed in a different “country” atmosphere – although all of us were in the same room next to each other. I was, thank goodness, placed in “China” where I was given a small cup of rice for dinner.

The "American" group, in the middle of the large room, was given a feast. During the evening, the Americans had the freedom to walk around and share their food with the other surrounding “countries”. But they didn’t. Why?

They were distracted!

The staff team gave them video games to play, free back rubs, and an unending amount of food. The entire night, not one student in the American location stepped out to view the needs of those around them. While in their bubble, they lost their sense of Reality.

I think all of us were designed to be heroes. But because of our ability to distance ourselves from the sin of the world, our vision is dimmed and we default to do doing nothing.

It’s troubling to me that I find myself bored way too often. I choose comfort rather than mission, and it only decreases my view of God and leaves me spiritually lethargic.

What if we were given better alternatives to the things we do when we are bored?

Play video games all summer VS. Go to Africa and wire a town for internet

Read books every Friday night VS. Tutor a few kids so they can learn how to read

Go to the movies every Saturday VS. Make a documentary about an injustice in the city

Sneak around town and graffiti VS. Design pieces for an art show and give proceeds to the poor

Shop at the mall VS. Find a local refugee family in the city to give away clothes to

Spiritual Movements for Dummies: How Did Jesus Do It?

A “come to us” approach has been used by Christians for hundreds of years. But did Jesus use that approach?

Most churches and campus movements have struggled with becoming less attractional (come to us) and more missional (go to them).

It is kind of ironic that Jesus was a skilled carpenter, yet he never used his skills to build a temple and invite the masses to him. It is true that people were attracted to him and followed him around, but he was always on the go.

So, what principles can we learn from Jesus’ movement launching strategy?

1) Leave “Home”

Jesus left home his home in heaven to enter our territory.

Have our churches or students left home? Do they have a dwelling beyond their Christian community? If multiple movements are going to happen, people must first be told to “Go”. I’m not talking outreach events and one-time conversations. I’m talking about doing life with other people in other communities.

2) Embrace Middle Spaces

Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch would say that these middle spaces are “places or events where Christians and not-yet-Christians can interact meaningfully with each other.” Some of Jesus’ middle spaces would include the synagogue, peoples’ homes, the beach, boats, etc. Middle spaces on campus might include intramural sports teams, the dorms, Greek Houses, clubs or organizations, etc. Jesus didn’t pass around sign-up sheets for bible studies, but he did enter into middle spaces and began teaching there.

So perhaps we should not ask “What people can we get to join our community?” but rather, “What community can I join and participate in?” to incarnate the gospel.

Middle spaces for adults might include a Parent/Teacher Association, sowing club, book club, town hall meetings, neighborhood association, the workplace, hunting trips, political campaigns, etc. You have the opportunity to bring Jesus to where people do life (missional) before you try bringing people to your church or bible study (attractional).

3) Identify With Others

As Jesus left home and began dwelling in these middle spaces here on earth, he began to identify with the people he hung out with. He chose to live like them, with all the struggles and problems that they faced.

As we dwell among the artists, the Greeks on campus, the fellow dorm students, the minority students, we begin to take on their pains, their struggles, their joys. We enter into their lives to identify with them. It is in this identification process that we find the redemptive window through which the gospel can most effectively come into this community.