Both/And

There is a scene in the movie, Amazing Grace, where the main character, William Wilberforce, contemplates leaving his work in Parliament as a political activist to pursue full-time ministry. In a meeting set up by his friend and future Prime Minister, William Pitt, abolitionist leaders “humbly suggest that (he) can do both.” Why do we not think like this more, both/and instead of either/or?

I believe this is part of our enemy’s deception. If we keep our lives compartmentalized—home life here, work life there, and faith life tucked into this tiny corner, we become so fragmented that nothing receives our full attention and effort. Over time this erodes our mental, emotional, and spiritual stability. The greater impact of which reduces our capacity for joy, influence, success, and growth in every area of life. We aren’t meant to live like this.

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Everything in life finds cohesion when Father, Son, and Holy Spirit reside at the center of our being. Our identity moves from a long list of roles we play to one thing, child of God. We are not what we do. What we do flows out of who we are. We are not what we decide to be (Oh, you can try to live this way, but it doesn’t work). We are who God made us to be. We are one fully integrated person in Christ.

Why is this so important? Because, when you are searching for purpose and meaning in life, you need to know that it begins with who God made you to be. When someone suggests that you must either choose a career or choose a ministry, it’s both/and.

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