THE MISSIONS BOUND CHRISTIAN

By David McQuel

It is amazing how many Christians are indifferent to missions. Looking closer, i notice that it is borne out of limited information on the place and need for Christian missions today. In fact, someone even dare say that the time of missionaries has passed. To assume that the gospel is already preached everywhere because there are three churches in your village is a capital deception.

To help, here are Seven things you should know as a Christian regarding the kingdom and missions.

1. Jesus envisioned a missionary Church not a corporate church
Matthew 28:19 «Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen."

The only pursuit that Jesus left for the Church was missions. It was going to be the core and foundation of the life and effort of the Church. He made it categorically clear. The Church was not a corporate organisation, was not a business entity, was not to be a profit making venture, was not to be a career pursuit and was not to be a family business.

Going into the whole world to make disciples of the nations was her primary calling.

2. The purpose of the Holy Spirit's coming is missions
Acts 1:7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

The Holy Spirit came to empower believers for service. All that God calls us to is beyond human ability. Physical and mental agility are not the requirements for God's work. It is divine empowerment.

Confronting the gates of hell, engaging the kingdom of darkness and rolling back the dominion of darkness is not an intellectual or skillful spectacular peculiarity.  

Paul said, in 1Corinthians 2:1-5 "And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 

2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 

3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 

4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 

5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power."

3. The gospel has not yet reached all nations.
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

It is amazing to discover that of the 2.5billion people identified as Christians only a billion are real "New Birth" believers. (John 3:3-5)

Three billion plus are considered to have heard the gospel. I can boldly say then that only one-seventh of the world are true Christians! And Christians are so relaxed!

Yet we are wailing that Christ should come back! No way!!!

Look at what Christ said, "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come." Matthew 24:14

4. Missions is not for a few chosen ones.
Acts 8:4 'Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word"
There are no special, chosen and endowed people assigned to carry out missionary activities while the rest of us watch them. The mission endeavour is a multifaceted effort. There are of course, those at the front lines, missionaries. We should honour their sacrifices.

However, there are other very important aspects we must all be involved in, like witness Christ in our communities, charity work, praying for the nations and missionaries, advocacy for missions and financing missionary work abroad.

Financing missions is a very important subject because 90% of believers think sponsoring missions is somebody else's business. Christians prefer to give into their own local church where their effort will be recognized.

Its important to know that God has a role for everyone on the missions project.

5. You owe the pagan nations the gospel
Mark 16:15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."

God has sent the Church to the world. God is counting on the church. He is waiting for the Church.  Angels will not come and evangelize, Guinea, Mali and Tanzania. Angels have not been sent to witness Christ to Jordanians, Chileans and the Scots.

The Church of Christ received the free gift of salvation and rejoiced. But then the Church owes the world to bring them this same good news of salvation. It is a debt we must pay. We cannot sit down arguing about our prejudiced doctrines, our likes and dislikes, our pet projects while the mission work is left all alone.

Every pastor, every deacon, church leaders should visit the mission field twice or thrice in their lifetime. Then a lot of the animosity in church boards will be forgotten. And Isaiah 2:4 will be fulfilled,
"They shall beat their swords into plowshares,
And their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
Neither shall they learn war anymore."

6. The gospel needs human, material and financial vehicles.
Romans 10:13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent?"

No matter how advanced we are in technology, technological robots, TV, radio, literature and the internet can never replace human vessels on ground. We need Christians living among the heathen.

Jesus sent people not gadgets. Although the gadgets are needful, missionaries must be there. Sometimes they risk death, persecution, mutilation, harassments and threats, all true sent missionaries can live with that.

Again, we cannot over state how costly in finance and equipment the missions is. Every ideology is heavily financed. The mission work is even more costly. Missionaries cannot self finance. They have to be sent. Not just with air tickets. They are going to live among the poor, they shouldn't be a burden to them. They are going to be strangers where it takes time to adjust to food, water and even the environment. 

I know a few missionaries whose wives or kids couldn't adjust to the nutrition on the mission field. They had no resources for alternatives and had to quit. We already have only 18% of the mission force needed to reach the world, we can't afford to lose more.

Have you considered going to the field? Is your Church creating missions awareness so that those called to missions can find their places? Is your child or relation sensing a call to the mission field? We need more people in the field if we considered the kingdom of God relevant to us.

7. Missionaries are representing your church and your faith at the front lines.
Mark 9:38 "Now John answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.”

39 But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.

 40 For he who is not against us is on our side. 

41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward."

Whether you know it or not, missionaries are like soldiers, representing you at the battle front. Whether you agree or not, if you are a Christian, the mission work is your major priority. Whether you care or not, you owe the mission field prayers, compassion and support.

You need to know at least one missionary family. You need to constantly be interested in what they are doing, the challenges they face and their needs and projects. 

You need to know how the kingdom of is spreading. 

Going to a fine church, sitting under the aircon, replacing the instrument, having more flashy cars, inviting fine inspiring motivational guest speakers are fine but have no direct impact on missions, except if that motivation leads to engagement in missions.

Get off your comfort and prosperity chair and let's spread the kingdom. Everyone should do the part God has allotted you.

Go! Tell the gospel to all nations!