Mission and Me

How do I decide what to do with my future?

In Mark 8:34-38, Jesus outlines the Christian’s approach to decision-making. He makes us focus on our attitude – why we want to do what we want to do – and insists that all who come after him are to die to themselves. There is to be a radical severance with the past. All pre-conversion priorities, ambitions, goals and dreams are to be submitted to God and his priorities. Our chief concerns as we plan ahead need to be revised in the light of the gospel. What matters most to God must now matter most to his followers. Often our biggest motivations are derived from what is important to this world (comfort, security, status, travel, significance, money) rather than the next.

As we decide between secular and Christian work, home and overseas, we need to put the gospel first and deny ourselves. Are we climbing the career ladder for our own glory or for the opportunities it gives to share the gospel? Are we pulling in a mighty salary to fill up the driveway or fund gospel preachers? Are we involved with overseas trips because we’re outraged that God is robbed of his glory or because we’ve always wanted to travel? We can deceive others (even ourselves) when it comes to explaining our motives. We cannot pull the wool over God’s eyes; and ‘If anyone is ashamed of me... the Son of Man will be ashamed of him.’

Further reading:
Phillip D Jensen and Tony Payne, Guidance and the Voice of God (The Good Book Company)
Robin Wells, My Rights My God (Monarch/OMF)

Who is to be involved in world mission?

All Christians are to be involved in world mission. Verses like Isaiah 48:9-11 show us that God guards his reputation with infinite jealousy. He is concerned for his name, his glory and to be esteemed above all else. God has a huge ego but deservedly so. He does not break the first commandment! He alone deserves infinite praise and demands to be seen as such. The priority underlying world mission is the fact that God has a right to be known by all people. He is passionate about extending his reputation to the ends of the earth. If we claim to follow him we must share his concerns. World mission is not optional; it is an unavoidable (yet invaluable!) part of our discipleship.

Further reading:
John Piper, Let the Nations be Glad (IVP)
Dick Dowsett, God That’s Not Fair! (OM Publishing/OMF)

How can I be involved in world mission?

One corporate slogan is Think Globally, Act Locally. Though a committee most likely conceived it with no greater purpose than advancing a commercial image, and while the formula does not itself appear in Scripture; it does summarize biblical commitment to world mission. Few of us can affect everywhere all at once for the gospel. Our spheres of influence tend to be smaller than planets! But our concern is not to be restricted to merely parochial interests. God is not tribal, and as we consider His plan for all nations to be present in heaven, we will take an interest in world mission. There are many ways to develop and act on a global perspective. We can:

Pray for specific missionaries we might have come across from home or on travels. Most are delighted to send out news and prayer needs, either directly themselves or through the missionary society with which they work. We can stand by our Christian siblings across the world in praise and prayer, as we understand their situation.
Pray for specific countries. Be aware of what is happening around the globe. One good tip is to treat the newspaper as the world’s prayer request letter.
Read books that give an account of what God is doing in other parts of the world. Whether our home situation is encouraging or discouraging, it is a tremendous tonic and stimulus to action to see how ‘All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing’ (Colossians 1:6). It puts our local scene in perspective. It is good to get to know brothers and sisters we have yet to meet!
Go on a short-term trip. Many Christian organizations run trips for teams and individuals. OMF’s Serve-Asia program offers placements from four weeks to four years for Christians of all ages, either in church based work or for professionals with almost any skill (see below).
Take advantage of living in a multicultural society. Globally, cities display great ethnic and religious diversity. It may not be necessary to travel more than a few streets to get involved in cross-cultural mission. Most universities enroll large numbers of international students – many from countries that are hard to reach with missionaries. Outreach and service to these often-lonely students must be part of every CU agenda.

Further reading:
Stephen Gaukroger, Why Bother With Mission? (IVP)
Michael Griffiths, Tinker Tailor Missionary (IVP)

Practical Issues

How do I choose a missionary agency?

The rise in missionary activity over the last fifty years has seen the proliferation of organizations and charities involved in world mission. Many of these will vary according to theological emphases or geographical interest. Others will show considerable overlap and anyone considering any form of service will need to be discerning about choosing an agency to work with. A number of factors are important in making this decision:

A commitment to the Bible has to be of fundamental importance. Only God’s gospel revealed in scripture has ‘the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes’ (Romans 1:16). No other message will save people from hell. With rising biblical illiteracy and apathy among many churches this commitment cannot be presumed.

A good mission organization will also show a commitment to their own people. It is important to examine how any agency looks after its missionaries: in terms of training and preparation before moving to the mission field; supervision and pastoral involvement while serving; and debriefing and care upon return.

Finally, it is crucial that an organization is committed to cultural flexibility. When first travelling to China, Hudson Taylor’s policy was to ‘become Chinese in all things non-sinful’. This is no more than the practice of Paul on his missionary journeys (1 Cor. 9:19-23). The goal of missions is not to plant ‘our kind’ of church however worthy our denominational or cultural background.

What other practical issues need to be considered?

Not everyone is suited to cross-cultural work; we are all different, with varying strengths as well as gifts. Certain non-spiritual factors have implications for missionary work:

Health: a number of needy missionary fields are in parts of the world with extremes in climate and low standards of living. This alone may rule out areas of overseas work for people with specific medical needs.

Temperament: Cross-cultural work can create or highlight stresses which might not normally be experienced: constant confusions over language and culture, homesickness, lack of the familiar, etc. Insecurities and anxieties that seem dealt with and controllable at home might rise to the surface in a more difficult and unpredictable context.

Partner/family: We may be suited to missionary work only to discover that our partner is not, maybe because of reasons listed above. Alternatively, many have to come back from the field to look after parents or family who are sick or elderly and dependent on others.

Further reading:
Michael Griffiths, Tinker Tailor Missionary (IVP)
Michael Griffiths, Lambs Dancing With Wolves (Monarch/OMF)
Robin Wells, My Rights My God (Monarch/OMF)

At the end of the day doesn’t all just boil down to whether or not I can afford it?

Christians must be willing to recognize two truths: that we are to be responsible financially and the fact that our God is sovereign and not bound by our restrictions. We must not be frivolous about spending or cavalier about assuming God will give us more; nor faithless in trusting a God who promises to give us everything we need. Hudson Taylor noted when founding OMF that God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s resources. In one sense missionary enterprise is free: if it is his will, God provides all the necessary means. If we are certain a trip or project is of the Lord, we must ask him to move the right hearts to give. Sometimes it is a case of praying the funds out of other people’s bank accounts!

Further reading:
Roger Steer, Hudson Taylor: A Man in Christ (Paternoster Publishing)