Creating A Culture Of Non-Missionaries

Jesus told his disciples to GO! into all the nations baptizing and teaching people to follow God. Now perhaps I am too much of a literalist, but Jesus' words seem very clear - Go! Not, "Go or send." Not, "Go unless you have something else to do." Not, "Go unless there are other Christians in your area who are going." Not, "Go until the turn of the first century." Not, "Go unless you are not a very bold person." Not, "Go unless you are an adult because only adults are truly equipped to preach Jesus and be missionaries."

Whole books are written on the premise that some are called to go and some are called to send others out. Teachings are proclaimed that only evangelists are called to go. Some live in such a way, though they would never teach this, that going is for those younger folks who are zealous and full of energy. Many excuse themselves from "going" for a whole myriad of excuses.

When someone comes to Christ, we train them up in a culture of non-missional living. In other words, we expect them to so turn their back on the world that they have no contact with the world because we are so afraid they will turn back away from following Christ. But the Bible dismisses this notion emphatically. Jesus said, "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they malign those of his household. "So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."

Jesus preps his disciples in order that they might be warned from falling away from him. He said they would be maligned. But he said, DO NOT FEAR. Do not fear man. The church is anemic in a lot of places because we teach young men and women to fear man. We are afraid and so by default we teach those we disciple to be afraid.

Paul said, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes." One of the reasons we fear man and teach others to fear man thus retreating to the "Christian bubble" is because we reject the notion that God saves.

If I believe, and I do, that God saves, what fear of the world, man or the devil ought I to have? NONE! God saves. He will keep. God will hold the new Christians for it is the power of God for salvation. God held the blind man in John chapter nine. Day one of his conversion he preached boldly before the world. Same is true with Paul. Were not these grown men "infants and babes" in Christ on day one of salvation? Could they have possibly fallen? Yes, but not apart from the hand of God.

Let's take my son for example. He is a year and a half. My wife and I pray and discuss how we might train him up to follow the Lord. Now knowing that God has called us to Go!, how will we teach him this? Should we accept the notion that it is best to wait until he is eighteen years old like so many parents have adopted? Will this really keep him from the world? Will this really keep him following Christ? NO! In fact, it does the opposite. Instead of the children growing up knowing that mommy and daddy are living for something bigger than themselves and actually have a divine call upon their lives to spread the good news of the kingdom of God come, then they too as children will have this false doctrine reinforced in their own hearts, only to grow up believing that life is all about keeping themselves and their children safe from being maligned like Jesus said we would.

So we have indeed created a culture of non-missionaries. The only missionaries now are those who are called, those who are evangelists, and those who go overseas. But Jesus will have none of this false philosophy. He said, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Jesus also said in a prayer to his Father, "I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world." We are not of the world by the mere fact that Jesus has called us and lives in us. We are "not" of the world if we live "among" the world, including children and those who feel they are not called to be missionaries. The Lord will keep us from the evil one even while we live in the world, among the world and as we are missionaries. He promised it and now we must trust by faith that God will do this. Notice that Jesus said that he kept his disciples, except Judas who went to destruction as he was predestined. So then Jesus said to his Father, "Keep them as I kept them." And now we have the blessing of the Holy Spirit to help us. And shall God now not help us be missionaries? Shall God not now help us live in and among the world? Shall God not help my son as he attends a public school in a few years to come? Shall God not keep my son from the temptations to worldliness? Shall I retreat to the Christian bubble unless I see a sign in the sky to Go!? Shall I fear man? Shall I not take Jesus literally here when he says he kept his disciples and that his father would too? How could I malign God this way? How could I not trust such a faithful God?

Now I know that all who read this will affirm these verses but only those who believe them will apply them and be the missionaries God has indeed said through these verse that we should be. Amen.

Where In The World Have I Been?

For the last five months, there's been a few things that have kept my fingers from writing. This is quite a bummer for me because writing helps my heart to communicate. I learn when I write. I think when I write.

So what have I been up too?? I have finished my basement!! I'm pretty excited about that. Also, a group of people have teamed up with my family to work as missionaries in the Northern KY region. One young man has already believed in Christ and so quite a bit of time has been spent overseeing his spiritual growth. Aside from that, we have been spending quite a bit of time with non-Christians in the hope that they might turn from their sins to Jesus.

Will I start writing more soon? I do not know, but I hope too. We now have another child on the way and being a husband, father, missionary, and pastor demand all my time so we will see. For now, I am enjoying the life God has given me as an elect exile in this world and am setting my hope fully on the grace of God that is about to be revealed in the return of the King, King Jesus.