MODERN UNDERSTANDING OF MISSIONS

 

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

 

MODERN UNDERSTANDING OF MISSIONS

 

A recent poll found that mission givers can be classified as:

 

Yeppies: Activism fed by social media. These give to food banks, Red Cross, Etc. Good works and good workers driven by emotion.

Rapid Responders: Project giving on an individual basis - they relate to the need. These respond to disasters but are not as interested in long-term solutions to on-going problems.

The mission-minded: Older Americans who are faith-driven. These understand that a structure needs to be built to sustain a Christian culture where none previously existed.

 

Jesus outlined the difficulties of mission endeavor in these following verses.

 

Luke 10:2-7

2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.

5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.

6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.

7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire.

 

In a nutshell, this is what Jesus said.

 

1] The opportunity to present the Gospel and to reach people is much greater than those who are willing to actually go and to do the work.

2] Mission workers are the result of prayer. Imagine that!

3] The work is dangerous – “lambs among wolves” – this requires caution and wisdom – there will be some casualties.

4] This is guerilla warfare. Don’t carry too much “stuff.” Provisions will be made available along the way.

5] Don’t become distracted – “salute no man by the way.”

6] Go where you are invited.

7] God will lead you to those prepared to receive the Gospel.

8] Don’t spend too much time grieving over those who reject – “if not, your peace shall turn to you again.”

9] Be satisfied with the results your culture provides – “eating and drinking such things as they give.”

10] Receive your “pay” matter-of-factly – the laborer is worthy.

 

Mission efforts are expensive and dangerous. Mission giving does not appeal to quick fix, soothe-your-conscience people. Mission involvement is for those who understand it is a long-term investment.

 

Dear Lord, today please protect and provide for our missionaries. Help me to have both the heart and the resources needed to partner with them. AMEN