We act as though we have all the time in the world.
What happened to the urgency in our mission work to reach the lost with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and fulfill the Great Commission? As I read testimonies and watch the stories of modern day missionaries and their clandestine work in many of the countries of the world that have been or are closed to the gospel message, I have to wonder where would we be today if the Apostle’s had just set up coffee shops and neutral community centers and gathered to chit-chat and play games until the opportunity presented itself to get to the message of Jesus. People, we don’t have time to waste and we have a message everyone needs to hear, whether they accept it or not.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m finding myself guilty of the same thing. As pastor and church planter of an organic church I find myself being more concerned with building relationships with people to hopefully open the door of opportunity to share the good news of Jesus with them when in reality I need to be knocking on those doors a little more diligently to deliver a most important offer that may expire at any moment. We think we have all the time in the world but in actuality we don’t know how much time the world has and we need to return to the urgency we once had and get our message out. It may turn some away, it may get us persecuted or even cost us our lives, but this we should know and already take into account when we answer the call of God into His service. The time to act is now, tomorrow may be to late, quit waiting for the opportunity, grab it and make the most of it for the sake of those who are perishing.
posted by D.R. Miller | 6:49 AM
2 Comments:
Hi Dennis,
I greatly appreciate this post, because it is always good to have constant and consistent reminders of the urgency of our task - wherever our station in the Harvest Field may be.
My guess is that I am one of those "modern-day missionaries" who "set up coffee-houses" that you read about (or maybe you haven't read about us specifically, but I know that we'd fit into your stereo-type). However, I would like to add a couple of items of context that might help ease your mind, or at least understand why there may be various methods at work in C&MA missions around the world.
1. The world is the same as it was in the first century and it is very different than it was in the first century.
It is the same in that there is sill great resistance to the Gospel. People do not want to hear the offense of the Cross. This is true in Algeria and in Albuquerque, as it was true in Corinth and Ephesus. We have to be ready to face the rejection that you refer to. I take that a step further to say that we need to be ready to face suffering and death, and call others to the same. That's the reality that Jesus calls us to. We need to be ready to call new disciples of Jesus to the same Calvary road we are called to walk.
On the other hand, the world is also a very different place politically. The separation of nations (not so much geographically, but politically) is different. We are not allowed to freely travel to other countries in the way that Paul would have been allowed to travel. The areas of the world where the Gospel message is yet to be heard or take root require us to be more "clandestine" than we ever would have in the past. Sure, we can go into these countries with great passion and zeal for the Gospel ... make one glorious proclamation ... and just as quickly get kicked out. Most of these countries will not bother to even honor you with the privilege of suffering for the Gospel in prison or something ... they just kick you out. That's it. No re-entrance. No second chance. You're done. This requires us to be wise and winsome in our proclamation. Zeal alone will not have a long-lasting effect in most of the countries where long-term proclamation needs to happen.
2. There is little to nothing said in Scripture regarding the specifics of missional methodology.
Obviously, the basic principles can not be compromised. The Bible, The Cross, The Gospel ... these things must be in the center of what we do. Everywhere. I understand that in many, many areas this has not been central ... and shame on us ("us" being us all ... the church) for allowing other things (like methods!) take the place of the central things. However, it's fairly obvious to me that Bible doesn't give a lot of information about "how" we are to proclaim the Gospel. The foolishness of preaching ... yes, sound Biblical preaching should be used universally. However, it seems to me that the New Testament is quite intentionally vague about the details. I believe that's because the details change between cultures and centuries. What God uses in Mali will be different than what He uses in Michigan. What God used 1000 years ago is different than what was used 100 years ago ... and that's different than what He is using today.
3. I don't know of any C&MA missionaries who would disagree with need to preach the Gospel, including those who are setting up community centers and coffee houses in limited access countries.
I say this from knowing dear brothers and sisters who are laying down their lives for the sake of the Gospel in these places. They are putting their families and their lives a risk every day so that the Gospel can be preached where they serve. All of the servants of Christ that I know serving in these places are using these methods as a platform for the Gospel. They are looking for opportunities every day to proclaim good news. However, this must be done keeping in mind our visas and other requirements for being in the country. This is not a one-time hit and run venture. We are here for the long-haul, and we'd be seriously hindering long-term witness if we act unwisely.
4. The "great commission" is Jesus' Command to "Make Disciples", of which proclamation is an important part, but not the whole.
When Mongolia opened up in the early 1990's there were a lot of groups that came in "Proclaiming the Gospel" ... and there was a lot of initial 'fruit'. People claimed that they were now Christian. The problem was that there was little to no follow up or follow through. Sure, there were new churches planted. Sure there was a lot of Christian 'stuff' now happening. Many of these groups planted their churches and then left. See, the great commission is fulfilled, right? The problem is that the 'proclaimers' did NOT obey the "Baptize and teach" part of Christ's command. The church was a mile wide (maybe more like a half-mile wide?) and an inch deep. Today there are fewer (not more ... FEWER) Christians in Mongolia than there were 10 years ago. We must be in the country for a long time in order to do long-term discipleship. That's our goal: a prevailing church. The problem is that in Mongolia (as is true with most countries) there is no "Long-term Discipleship" visa available. We have to do other things while in country in order to justify our presence there to the Mongolian government. That's why we spend time doing projects. For my wife and I, we are working toward blessing the community with holistic community centers. We see these centers as a platform for the Gospel. If it helps, look at it this way: we are, in a sense, bi-vocational. We spend our days working in these centers ... we also spend that time (and evenings and weekends!) making disciples at every level: proclaiming, baptizing and teaching.
And all of the C&MA missionaries that I know personally would tell you the same thing.
I hope that helps your concern Dennis. For the sake of the perishing, we are seeking to walk in wisdom and boldness. But do remember that boldness without wisdom will be a flash-in-the-pan ... and can do more long-term harm than good.
Bernie, I appreciate your reply and thoughts on this subject. If I didn't make it clear in my initial post, I too am involved in a ministry and church plant that seeks to make disciples the same ways as you mention and as my post questioned. It is not that I disagree with these methods as I too do not believe the answer lies with buying a bullhorn and proclaiming hellfire and brimstone to people who don't care to listen. I think making disciples takes time and more effort than just getting them to say a prayer and get saved. We have to show them through our love and ministry, in spirit and truth, the love of God through his son and the salvation that awaits those who believe. My concern was and is that we don't understand the urgency before us sometimes and do not act in faith for fear of offending those who we are trying to reach instead of allowing God to go before us and bless the message we have to share as He draws those who will listen and accept. Also, maybe it's our reliance on our own means and methods instead of on the Holy Spirit that is our real hinderance. Are signs and wonders following those that believe on our mission fields today demonstrating the power of the Almighty God or are we depending solely on Academia to shore up our message? By the way, I love what you guys are doing in Mongolia.
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