I love that Dr. Bradley uses the word legalism to describe this new trend, because it really can be burdensome. There is a difference between seeking the comfort of normalcy because we are afraid to heed the gospel call, and ignoring the reality that, for many of us, heeding the gospel call is right there in our next door neighbor -our spouse -our employer. If legalism can be defined, simply, as supplanting the truth of the gospel and the prompting of the Holy Spirit with law-dredged performance anxiety, and the call to live a radical life has become the millennial “law,” what term could be more accurate?

 
“So a master of religion. What do you want to do with that?”

I live in a world full of lofty aspirations.

When I decided to transfer from my liberal arts graduate program to a degree plan at the local seminary, everyone assumed that I had decided to doff the quiet life of a part-time schoolteacher for more radical aspirations. Female pastor? Missionary? Liaison for refugees?

It is with quizzical looks that they respond to my simple answer: I just want to increase my knowledge of the Word, aid in my dad’s ministry, and better equip myself to serve in the local church and in my present and future household.

I add jokes about being terrible at languages, and, therefore, not much use on the mission field, or being awkward with foreign customs and, therefore useless as a liaison. And my complementarian bent easily explains why I’m not eyeing the pastorate. But, honestly, I spent my teen years on the quest for radical, world changing pursuits, and it’s only since the tender dawning of my twenties that I’m okay to own my simple life without any kind of explanation as to where else I’m trying to go.

My answer is… nowhere.

This evening, I read an excellent article from Dr. Anthony Bradley called “The New Legalism.” Dr. Bradley states:

I continue to be amazed by the number of youth and young adults who are stressed and burnt out from the regular shaming and feelings of inadequacy if they happen to not be doing something unique and special. Today’s millennial generation is being fed the message that if they don’t do something extraordinary in this life they are wasting their gifts and potential. The sad result is that many young adults feel ashamed if they “settle” into ordinary jobs, get married early and start families, live in small towns, or as 1 Thessalonians 4:11 says, “aspire to live quietly, and to mind [their] affairs, and to work with [their] hands.” For too many millennials their greatest fear in this life is being an ordinary person with a non-glamorous job, living in the suburbs, and having nothing spectacular to boast about.

I know exactly what he means. I am a millennial who has felt the drive to be radical, to figure out how to hone my gifts for a gigantic platform that will bring glory to God, and a millennial who now feels the awkward silences when she confesses that she’s okay being ordinary, living in the suburbs, and having nothing spectacular to boast about.

And it’s not because my world is painted in shades of gray.

I live at home with my parents and six of my seven younger siblings, ages eight, six, four, three, two, and one. I work twice a week at a university model private school helping to educate sixth graders from a classical, Christian perspective. My summer job will be helping my pop with his ministry, and my day-to-day means helping my mom run our busy home. My seminary education will be applied to all of these areas and possibly little more.

No, it isn’t glamorous at all. Nobody but me would even think to write a book about such a life. But this day-to-day simplicity, though not highly visible or immediately glorious to the naked eye, is full of a vibrant spectrum of sanctifying gospel opportunities. Talking to a third grader about where her hope lies while she’s crying over missed Latin homework -taking three of my younger siblings and a preteen from church to a local play from a Christian theater company -cooking dinner for our fellowship meal tomorrow at church -folding laundry as unto the Lord… these are the little tasks that I’ve been called to.

These are the little niches where I get to serve the Lord.

These are my contributions.

And because I’ve been called to them, they are glorious. They’re enough.

Have you been called to go forth to unreached people groups, whacking through bush and translating the Bible in a language people have never heard before? Praise the Lord. Go forth, and please don’t hesitate to tell me what I can do stateside.

But don’t pity me for sitting stateside in suburbia. I’m right where I’m supposed to be.

I love that Dr. Bradley uses the word legalism to describe this new trend, because it really can be burdensome. There is a difference between seeking the comfort of normalcy because we are afraid to heed the gospel call, and ignoring the reality that, for many of us, heeding the gospel call is right there in our next door neighbor -our spouse -our employer. If legalism can be defined, simply, as supplanting the truth of the gospel and the prompting of the Holy Spirit with law-dredged performance anxiety, and the call to live a radical life has become the millennial “law,” what term could be more accurate?

Living coram deo, before the Father, might mean being Gladys Aylward, going overseas to save orphans, or being Corrie ten Boom, living a quiet life until social upheaval pushes you to bold resistance, or being Mrs. Jones, who no one has ever heard of, but who blessed those around her with her singular focus on doing all things as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23) until she died a quiet death after living a quiet life. She may have followed the Lord by doing the radical things she was called to -adoption, perhaps, church planting, education (all things that are part of my life) -but she did them because she was called to do them… not because she felt compelled by a loud and lofty guilt trip.

In the rush of lofty aspirations that surround me, being content to live faithfully in that simple way, serving in the niche the Lord has called me to serve, may be the most radical decision I could make.

So I still get to be a bit of a radical millennial in my own right.

Read Dr. Bradley’s article in full here.

Jasmine Baucham is a graduate student, author, and pastor’s daughter. This article first appeared on her blog and is used with permission.