"Putting the 'me' in Mission"
Matt.9:35-10:15 August 25/02
Commissioning of Emily Dow - Lebanon
The World's Need
Don Curry is a physician with a keen interest in community health and tribal evangelism. He serves in a desert region of Pakistan with the Bible and Medical Missionary Fellowship. With his wife, Nancy, he visited a village of animists and told them the story of Jesus. They were intrigued with Christ's teaching about love and forgiveness, deeply moved by his compassionate ministry followed by death and resurrection. Someone asked Don, "When did this happen? Ten or 15 years ago?" Don replied, "No, it took place almost 2000 years ago." Saddened, the man asked, "What terrible thing have we done, that God should have kept this wonderful story from us for so long?"
Mission is getting the word out -- telling those who haven't heard the amazing news of Jesus' death for our sins, resurrection, gift of the Holy Spirit, and coming again in glory. It's not that complicated; yet someone might consider it our planet's "best kept secret".
About half the world's six billion souls live in 12,000 unreached people groups. This means it hasn't been possible for them to respond to a clear presentation of the gospel from within their own culture in their own language. 11,000 of these 12,000 unreached groups are mostly in five major cultural blocks: 4,000 unreached Muslim groups (nearly a billion individuals are Muslims). 3,000 unreached tribal groups - about 140 million people. 2,000 unreached Hindu groups: that's about 550 million souls. 1,000 unreached Han Chinese groups, about 150 million people. And 1,000 unreached Buddhist groups; or about 275 million people.
The unreached groups are mostly located in what's called the "10/40 Window", from West Africa across Asia between the latitudes of 10 and 40 degrees north of the equator. Within this 10/40 Window are 2/3 of the world's population; the heart of the Islamic, Hindu, and Buddhist religions; and 4/5 of the poorest of the world's poor, enduring the world's lowest quality of living.
Matthew records about Jesus in 9:36 that "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." Human need was overwhelming. There were no modern medical facilities or agricultural practices such as we enjoy today in North America. Spiritually, the people suffered from a legalistic religion; joy was squelched by the heavy burdens the traditions of the Pharisees and others laid on them. The Greek words for "harassed and helpless" can mean "rent or mangled as if by wild beasts; cast down and prostrate on the ground, whether from drunkenness or from mortal wounds". The people's condition spiritually speaking was like so much road kill: they were bound in fear, guilt, and hopelessness by the evil one. Jesus had compassion for them, like so many sheep wandering aimlessly without a keeper.
What do we see when we look at people? Do we look with the eyes of Jesus? Do we take just a cursory glance and locate a body there, or do we really gaze into people's eyes (where appropriate) to study the inner person? Jesus saw the crowds; he noted the needs, their helplessness, and was moved. He had compassion on them. Mission begins with daring to open our eyes, developing an awareness of people's lost condition apart from Christ, a compassion or "feeling-with" them in their need. How sad for those who, 2000 years after Jesus was born, have still never heard the good news!
What was Jesus' response to the needs of the world which surrounded Him? Did he say, "This is impossible! I'll never get anything done if I just attend to these people one after another all day long!"? No; God had a plan. Jesus said to his disciples (9:37f), "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." The harvest is there; it's not up to us to conjure up converts, they're already out there, eager to be told. It's just a matter of bringing the harvest in. Now, we are not automatically "it": Jesus tells his followers to pray for God to raise up the workers for the harvest. The Holy Spirit will show you if you are one of those called and gifted especially to be a full- or part-time missionary. But it is our job to pray for God to send out workers. Allow your heart to be burdened like the Lord's for these folk out there who haven't been able to bring their needs before Him. Pray like you mean it on behalf of the lost. See the crowds, ache for their salvation, implore the Lord of the harvest to set aside the people-power to ease the hurting and spare these lives eternally.
The need is endless, but the time is limited. Judgment awaits all who leave this earthly life. In 10:15 Jesus refers to a day of judgment on which "it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah" than for those who reject His message or messengers. Eternity without God is a much sorrier state even than the worst troubles in this life.
The Worker's Response
But praying for workers isn't where things are left. The beginning of chapter 10 tells us Jesus named 12 "apostles" (literally, "sent ones" or "missionaries"). The church has been God's agency to reach a hurting world ever since Pentecost. Philip Schaff tells about the spread of the faith in early church history: "Christianity once established was its own best missionary. It grew naturally from within. It attracted people by its very presence. It was a light shining in darkness and illuminating the darkness. And while there were no professional missionaries devoting their whole life to this specific work, every congregation was a missionary society, and every Christian believer a missionary, inflamed by the love of Christ to convert his fellow men. The example had been set by Jerusalem and Antioch, and by those brethren who, after the martyrdom of Stephen, were scattered abroad and went about preaching the Word. Justin Martyr was converted by a venerable old man whom he met walking on the shore of the sea. 'Every Christian labourer,' says Tertullian, 'both finds out God and manifests him...' Celsus scoffingly remarks that fullers [launderers] and workers in wool and leather, rustic and ignorant persons, were the most zealous propagators of Christianity, and brought it first to women and children. Women and slaves introduced it into the home circle...Every Christian told his neighbour, the labourer to his fellow labourer, the slave to his fellow slave, the servant to his master and mistress, the story of his conversion as a mariner tells the story of the rescue from shipwreck."
Worship is the primary occupation of the church, enjoying the Lord in all His grace, excellence, and goodness; but mission - telling others - will always be the result. If it's real to you, you can't help it! "The church exists by mission as a fire exists by burning." So even though today we focus on so-called "missionaries" or "cross-cultural workers", whether or not we have the spiritual gifting of evangelism, we can ALL do as that man did whom Jesus told to go home and tell others "how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." (Mark 5:19) Mission is the responsibility of the whole church, through all its ministries, not just a few select individuals.
The fire is still burning; exciting things are happening in terms of global mission. The fellowship of Bible-believing Christians world-wide is growing at a rate of at least 70,000 people every day. 28,000 of those (nearly half) live in the People's Republic of China. 20,000 live in Africa. 3500 new churches are opening every week around the world. Over 260,000 people every day are now being presented the plan of salvation. After 70 years of oppression in the Soviet Union, Christians number over 100 million -- five times the number of the Communist Party at the height of its popularity, and 36% of the population. More Muslims in Iran have come to Christ since 1980 than in the previous 1000 years combined. And the government of Papua New Guinea recently mandated Bible teaching in every school in the country! (kind of a contrast to North America)
While every Christian is called to obey the Great Commission to "make disciples" wherever we are, God leads some to become cross-cultural workers (traditionally "missionaries"). This passage in Matthew teaches us about the worker's response in terms of qualifications, task, and attitude.
In terms of qualifications, verses 2-4 name a mixed bag of individuals: 3 pairs of brothers, mainly fishermen, several of whom were subject to jealousies, competitiveness, boasting, and ambition. "There was neither priest nor scribe among them; all were from the ranks of the common people." Ordinary folk - no Harvard degrees, no multinational CEOs, no Hollywood idols. If they were super-anything, they were super-ordinary. Equipping is God's work. So what was their main qualification? Acts 4:13 says when their enemies "saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus." Hanging out with the Lord, letting His Spirit infiltrate their lives and attitudes, transformed ordinary "Joes" into men who "turned the world upside down" (Acts 17:6).
The Life Application Bible notes, "Jesus called people from all walks of life -- fishermen, political activists, tax collectors. He called common people and uncommon leaders; rich and poor; educated and uneducated. Today, many people think only certain people are fit to follow Christ, but this was not the attitude of the Master himself. God can use anyone, no matter how insignificant he or she appears. When you feel small and useless, remember that God uses ordinary people to do his extraordinary work."
Jesus started their training program by giving them a definite task. In Mt.10:7,8 Jesus directs, "preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons." Preaching the Kingdom is balanced by showing the Kingdom: healing, raising (different from resurrecting), cleansing, exorcising; reclaiming God's territory in people's lives. Matthew summarized Jesus' ministry in 9:35 in similar terms: "teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness." Balanced mission involves both word (teaching/preaching) and action (healing); message and mercy.
The worker's attitude is blessing, giving, contented. Jesus said in 10:12, "As you enter the home, give it your greeting [or blessing].If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it..." In mission we are bringing Good News, something fundamentally positive - eternal life with God in Christ. Jesus says something crucial about attitude in 10:8b, "Freely you have received, freely give." Witnessing is not a grind or a sacrifice, but an overflow, a passing-on or sharing of what we have already received from God. And contentment is hinted at when Jesus tells the apostles to stay in one house at each village until they leave (10:13) - not shopping around for the best accommodation or a cozier bed. In sharing the gospel, we need to become willing to share the people's living conditions. Neal Pirolo comments, "Any good cross-cultural training teaches the missionary to adapt as much as possible to the lifestyle of those he is going to minister among - a simpler lifestyle, a lowered consumption of goods, a make-do and/or seek-a-creative-alternative attitude. This forms a solid principle of bonding - establishing a sense of belonging with the ones he serves."
While we hope and pray for effectiveness in mission, the worker is not responsible to ensure results. After 41 years in India, the number of actual conversions directly attributed to William Carey was pathetically small, though he made a lasting impact. Jesus prepared the apostles for rejection, saying, "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town." (10:14) We need not be discouraged if response is indifferent or hostile: our job is just to present the message, and love them as Jesus would.
The Worker's Resources
Have you been able to put the 'me' into mission yet? In this next section, we'll see how Jesus empowers and supports mission, both through His Spirit and His Body, the church- that's you!
The most important resource for a cross-cultural worker is their direct relationship with God. In Mt.10:1, Jesus called His disciples and "gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness". The word translated "authority" implies "power", ability. However hard we try on a human level, only the Lord Jesus can make spiritual results happen. He has to authorize our mission, whether it be witnessing to a hitchhiker on the way to Hensall or preaching to a crowd in Calcutta. It's pointless - no, dangerous - to even consider traipsing off to a foreign country as a missionary unless you're absolutely sure Christ has called and empowered you to that specifically. In the worldly sphere, Satan still dominates, stalking around like a lion eager to devour(1Pet.5:8). There will be times of attack when only the Spirit's strength, counsel, and help can keep you going.
But it's also ill-advised to go off without a strong human support team of fellow believers back home. This is where the church comes in - where YOU can be involved in mission even if you never leave this county. Jesus said (10:9,10), "Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep." The person in mission deserves to be supported, so they don't have the extra burden of trying to figure out how they're going to keep body and soul together while engaged in full-time language study, outreach ministry, and evangelism.
Neal Pirolo's book, Serving as Senders: How to Care for Your Missionaries, was written for churches so they can better support their "worker" who is "worthy". During World War II it was said that 15 personnel were needed to keep one man at the front! Every missionary needs a whole team of people actively supporting them in a variety of ways back home. Pirolo describes half a dozen different areas of vital support: moral, logistics, financial, prayer, communication, re-entry. Moral support can involve everyone in the church because it's basically saying, "God bless you! We are excited with you in your missionary venture!" Active listening can be a form of moral support when the worker is grappling with all the uncertainties of moving into cross-cultural ministry. A commissioning service, helping with last-minute challenges, or sending a "Bon voyage" banner with personal notes are other expressions of moral support.
"Logistics support" includes maintaining accountability in ministry; confirming and encouraging spiritual growth; managing business affairs, such as money, health, and tax issues; and attending to personal details - selling the car, arranging to visit elderly parents, providing home schooling materials, mailing ministry needs like Bibles, clothing for the poor, or computers.
"Financial support" provides for a worker's monetary needs. Did you know Americans spend as much on chewing gum in a year as they give to missions? Or that they spend as much for pet food in 52 days as they give to missions for the whole year? Beyond giving our loose change - beyond tithing our income, giving 10% - financial support involves developing an attitude in line with Jesus' words, "Freely you have received, freely give." We expect our missionary to adopt a lifestyle similar to that of the people in the country they're going to. But are we ready to adopt a lifestyle similar to our missionary, in solidarity? We are at spiritual war, folks! The Queen Mary in peacetime carried 3,000 wealthy patrons and dazzling arrays of crystal and silver dishes. But in war it was retrofitted to carry 15,000 troops in bunks 8 tiers high; one metal food tray replaced 15 dishes and saucers. If we see the lost through Jesus' eyes, compassion in the Holy Spirit will challenge us to similarly reconstruct our lifestyle in response to the emergency. American evangelicals have a disposable annual income of about $850 billion. Just one-fifth of 1% of that income would support 12,000 church-planting teams to reach every unreached people group. Beyond tithing, 2Cor.8(12-14) invites us to accept the principle "that there may be an equality". Thrift stores, mutual fund investing, estate planning (millions of dollars go into state coffers each year because 60% of people die without a will!), matching funds, income tax deductions are all means of managing our wealth for the benefit of Christ's work.
"Prayer support" upholds the worker in such areas as: adjusting to the new language, different foods, new customs; protection in travel, health; concern for children and schooling needs, housing accommodations, lack of privacy; loneliness, homesickness, lack of fellowship; interpersonal relationships, prejudice; functioning of the tools of ministry (amazing how many printing presses break down just as a New Testament is ready to print!); effectiveness in ministry; lack of visible results; need for stability, wisdom, discipline, boldness, love, to be filled with God's Spirit. Fasting can be helpful and seems expected by Jesus in Mt.6 because He says, not if, but "When you fast..."
"Communication support" can happen through letters, emails, the telephone, faxed messages, photos, and video or cassette tapes. Care packages are so important: I remember in Congo the delight of opening one mail packet to find some slightly greasy but still delectable cheddar cheese that was unavailable locally!
Finally, "Re-entry support" helps the returning worker to adjust again to North American society despite "culture shock". There are major adjustments professionally, financially, socially, linguistically, politically, educationally, and spiritually. Stress, alienation, condemnation, and depression are common. Providing meals, taking them shopping so they don't look too out of place, arranging a small get-together after a few days are all things that may help smooth integration.
Getting the Word Out
Is it worth all the hassle? Most assuredly! Jesus' orders to "teach", "preach", and "heal" leave us no other option. And the blessing and reward of being involved in "the harvest" are great. In closing, here's a story about a worker named John in India with Eastward Bound, a ministry of Operation Mobilization.
"John was nervous. He had flown into New Delhi only 3 days before. The noise, heat, dust and thronging masses of people had thrilled him...The struggle for prayer partners and financial support; the worries of his mother, who didn't like him going off to such a distant land, were all behind him. He had arrived. He was enjoying the food - not nearly as hot as he had expected - and such a variety.
Now he was going out for his first day of evangelism. He was nervous. He had never been much of a preacher or personal worker. However, he remembered the visit of Gary to his church some months ago, and the challenge that Gary had given to 'let go and let God'. Well, he had done just that: surprised himself and quite a few of his friends. But deep in his heart, he knew he wanted God to do a new work in his life.
Of course, he had done some evangelism before, mainly during the OM summer campaign in Europe, which all Eastward Bounders attend before being accepted. But this was the real thing, evangelism in India.
The truck John was travelling in suddenly shuddered to a halt, jolting him out of his dreams. The tailboard crashed down, and the young Indian leader with the big smile told them to clamber out. Varghese, for that was the Indian leader's name, gently handed him a woven shoulder bag, filled with 'gospel packets'. John learned later that these shoulder bags were made by Christian leprosy patients. The 'gospel packets' were small plastic bags containing a gospel of Luke, a Life of Christ, and 6 different gospel tracts.
'Ek packet char anna' John murmured to himself. That's what he had been told to say: 'One packet, 4 annas' - about 2 pennies. Incredibly cheap - highly subsidized by the Bible Society - but how would the people respond?
He and Madhu his North Indian companion for the day walked off to a cluster of shops. As they went they heard some of the more experienced fellows on the team start to preach from the tailboard of the truck. John was amazed how quickly a crowd gathered, and how eagerly the shopkeepers in their tiny shops bought the packets. An hour later, he and Madhu returned to the truck having distributed all of their packets.
It was nearly lunchtime, so Varghese, the leader, decided they should go into a little vegetarian restaurant for their lunch. They ate 'rice plate', rice and such a variety of little Indian dishes, all for just 2 rupees. After lunch, out again to three other areas of town, and then back to the church where they were staying. As they drove back, some of the brothers started to sing a song in Hindi that John was going to become very familiar with in the months to come: 'Kushi Kushi Mana'.
What rejoicing too. Three serious contacts and a good number of people who promised to send immediately for the Bible Correspondence Course that was advertised on all the literature. Literally hundreds of gospels, several dozen New Testaments, and over 5000 tracts had been distributed today.
Tired but happy, John prayed: 'Thank you Lord for allowing me to come to India and to play a little part in helping these enthusiastic Indian brothers evangelize their own land. I am extremely grateful to You.'"
That's it...that's how the harvest happens. Just ordinary people responding to God's call to be His workers in the field - with extraordinary results by Jesus' help. John had persevered in putting the 'me' in mission...and the healing goes on! Let's pray.