The Stakes of Engaging in Jesus’ Mission
March 17, 2010
This week I received alarming e-mails from three dear missionary brothers serving in sensitive Muslim contexts. These brothers minister in different capacities with different agencies in countries that are separated culturally and geographically. Yet the updates they sent were startlingly uniform: the work of the gospel is being threatened by push back from the host country. Ex-pats are being kicked out of the country for proselytizing, our friends are being told they must fire nationals working for them who have converted to Christianity, and known Christians are receiving interrogation visits from “High Crimes” detectives. The gospel work is under attack.
These reports of persecution were an ice-cold bucket of water in the face to my rather comfortable experience, reawakening me to the stakes we accept when we engage in the mission of Jesus. Our Lord gave a plain command in Matthew 28: make disciples of all nations. This is the mission we see carried out immediately following in the book of Acts, and it is the mission we continue today as we send and go as gospel laborers in places where Christ is not yet named (cf. Romans 15:20). Accepting this mission as the mission of our lives necessarily changes how we view our lives in this world. Consider these three changes:
1. The mission of Jesus changes how we view suffering
Suffering is not a virtue in and of itself. Yet Jesus’ own teaching leaves no question that suffering is part of the territory of following him and proclaiming him in an age that crucified him. When Jesus appeared to Saul/Paul in divine splendor and called him to join the very cause he was persecuting, he stated explicitly from the beginning, “I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name” (Acts 9:16).
Paul modeled suffering centered on Christ’s mission. More often than not he avoided suffering, whether by escaping the city that was threatening to kill him, appealing to his rights as a Roman citizen, or by other means. Presumably he knew that there were enough remaining cities that needed to hear the gospel that he could carry out his mission elsewhere. At the same time, when he knew God was directing him to proclaim Christ in Jerusalem, he unquestioningly went to Jerusalem, despite the fact that “the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me” (Acts 20:23). The mission overshadowed the accompanying sufferings. Even more, Paul would argue, the sufferings became part of carrying out the mission of the crucified Savior (Colossians 1:24-25).
2. The mission of Jesus changes how we view our enemies
Paul was no pansy when it came to dealing with those who opposed his work. He spoke bold, harsh words against any who hindered the spread of the gospel. He even speaks of handing his opponents over to Satan and trusting in God’s vengeful work against them (1 Timothy 1:20, 2 Timothy 4:14). I have to think that some of my missionary friends are drawn toward similar dispositions as they see people who are overtly hindering the spread of the gospel.
Yet opposition was not Paul’s default posture toward these powers that be. His deepest longing was that they be saved, that they become fellow partakers of the gospel with him (Acts 26:29, Rom 9:1-3, 1 Cor 9:22-23). Paul followed the example of his Lord who came not to condemn his enemies but to die for them, to win them, to reconcile them to God. Such must be our posture if we will engage in Jesus’ mission.
3. The mission of Jesus changes how we view prayer
Many of us will never encounter suffering and loving our enemies to the degree those in contexts hostile the gospel will. However, this does not mean we are out of the game. Paul knew that his front-line ministry would draw much fire, so he sent for backup from the base camp in the form of prayer. “I appeal to you, brothers…to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf” (Romans 15:30). “You also must help us by prayer” (2 Corinthians 1:11). “Pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison” (Colossians 4:3). “Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you” (2 Thessalonians 3:1).
Let us engage Jesus’ mission by striving with our brothers and sisters on the front lines through prayer. This is crucial to the success of the mission; we must not allow the comfort of our lives to distract us from participating in the work God is doing worldwide to redeem sinners to belong to him forever.
Praying that you will join me in being changed by Jesus’ mission,
Pastor Chris