Choosing to Make a Difference with your Life
Cornwall
November 13, 2004
Franklin Graham grew up as the oldest son of the famous American evangelist Billy Graham. From the time he was little, Franklin was seen to be his father’s obvious heir. He was told over and over again by family, friends, and supporters that he would be a great preacher and evangelist when he grew up- just like his dad. The only problem was that Franklin didn’t want to be a preacher or a missionary at all. He believed in God, sort of- but he saw the missionary life as something that would take away from his own zest for life and freedom. He wanted to experience adventure and thrill in life- and he didn’t see these things as being part of the whole Christian service lifestyle. That seemed pretty boring and unthrilling to him.
That was before he was taken under the wings of Bob Pierce. Bob was a long-time family friend, and one who had been instrumental in the work of World Vision. Later, he became the leader of a Christian service agency called “Samaritans Purse”. One day Bob convinced Franklin to join him for a several month tour around the world, to see the good will projects that Samaritan’s Purse was involved in. The tour took them to places that included Korea and Hong Kong, then on to Dutch Borneo, where they landed on a small, crude landing strip that ended at the edge of a deep ravine, and a village that was ruled by a witch doctor. Then, they went on to Thailand to see the refugee crisis of that area, as people fled from the Communist rule in Cambodia, then on to India where pagan Hindu religion blinds and enslaves people. From there, they went to Katmandu, Nepal and Iran, before returning to the United States. During that time, the two of them crisscrossed the country-side in Land Rovers, hop-scotched across rugged mountain tops in single-engine airplanes and floated down rain-swollen rivers in pontoon boats. They had narrow escapes from bandits and near-fatal encounters with rebel insurgents. In that trip, Franklin experienced all the thrills of a lifetime.
But he also saw the incredible suffering and hardship that the vast majority of the world’s population has to endure, day by day. He saw for himself exactly what the world was like. And he saw that there were indeed Christians, like Bob Pierce, who had dedicated their lives to doing something about it. After those months, Franklin was hooked. Bob asked him to join him in the mission and Franklin accepted. The reason that he could say ‘yes’ was that he had seen that doing God’s work was thrilling, and he could do it, having to do two things he absolutely enjoyed- piloting small airplanes and carrying a gun.
According to some sources, just 5% of believers are involved in 95% of the Christian mission to the world. The vast majority of Christians live their lives mostly for themselves. They go to church, they marry other Christians and they raise Christian families-, all of which are scriptural and important. But is that all there is to it? Isn’t there more to the Christian life than that?
Jesus said that the thing that drove him in life was to see His father’s will accomplished in people and he said that he wanted to see His followers have that same passion.
John 4.34; 14.12-14.
The ultimate goal of the Christian life is to join in the mission- to take your place in the historical work of bringing the Kingdom of God to the four corners of the globe.
What does it take for someone to make such a radical decision with his or her life? What kind of person sees himself or herself as being God’s servant on earth? And how old do you have to be before you can think that way?
The American Peace Corps traces its roots and mission to 1960, when then-Senator John F. Kennedy challenged students at the University of Michigan to serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries. From that inspiration grew an agency of the federal government devoted to world peace and friendship. In 1961, then President John Kennedy established the Peace Corps to promote world peace and friendship. Three simple goals comprise the Peace Corps’ mission: 1. Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women, 2. Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served, 3. Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of all Americans.
Under the aegis of the Peace Corps, so far, over 190,000 volunteers have worked on projects in 135 countries. Some have been involved in such projects as bringing clean water to countries in Africa, where the volunteers live in a village and spend time with the people there, and build a water purifying system to bring clean water to the village. Some projects have homes being built, or schools being staffed. These are worthy missions.
However, what is the difference between this kind of mission and that in which someone like Franklin Graham, or other Christian workers, is involved?
There is a difference, and it is a very important difference that we, Christians, must understand. Of course, it’s wonderful that so many young people are committed to helping make the world a better place- and that they are willing to do something about it. But for Christians, mission is not just about helping to make the world a better place- it’s about helping to make the world God’s place! That difference can’t be underestimated. It presupposes that you know, and believe, the God story- that He is Creator, and that the world has fallen away from Him- and that He wants it back because He loves us so much. That’s an essential statement in Christian mission. You don’t have genuine Christian mission without it.
I think it’s well presented in Franklin Graham’s book, which I’ve re-read this past week. Here’s how he puts it, and what represents the essential difference between humanitarian organizations, which have their place for sure, and Christian mission organizations.
P. 187.
p.168- re. The Karantina Church in Beirut.
p.159- re. The approach espoused by Bob Pierce, of giving aid.
It’s OK to not want to be a preacher. Some of us wanted that and, according to 1 Timothy 3, that’s fine, as long as we want it for the right reasons, and in order to advance God’s work. However, missions today have changed. Many of those serving in Christian mission are not preachers. They are doctors and dentists, nurses and engineers. They are working in their fields of expertise trying to help make the world a better place- and through their prayers and their lifestyles they are trying to make the world a God place as well. They understand that God’s desire is to heal both body and soul in this world. They are committed to using their skills and lives to do both.
Matt.10.21-28- this passage tells us that the world would prefer that we remain silent about our faith. But we’re told to ‘go public’- another translation tells us to ‘shout it from the rooftops’. Proclaiming our faith while helping others is an important part of Christian mission. What good have we done if we help feed the hungry with bread and rice, but we do nothing to feed the hunger in their souls? Which is the greater hunger?
Why do so few Christians actually ‘go public’ with their faith in this way? Because of the cost. Maybe they’re afraid of losing jobs, or friends. Maybe they’ve been bullied into silence. Maybe they’ve convinced themselves that it isn’t really necessary to be open about their faith. But do you think they are right?
How do you begin to live a life of Christian mission? Here are some practical points that each of us can work on, starting right now:
- Learn to tell the God story to others- it gets easier if you practice. Here are simple matters to think through, so you can tell the story easier, because people want to hear what difference God has made to you. 1. What was your life like before you knew Jesus? (Think about this- write it down.) 2. How did you come to know Jesus personally? (Think about this- write it down- and practice how you might tell people this part of your life.) 3. How is your life different now that you know Jesus? (Think about this- write it down- think through different ways to say this, or different points to emphasize, depending on different audiences.)
- Participate in Christian work, here and in other groups around your community- or start one. There is no lack of need to serve people. You can get involved in visiting at the hospital- call the chaplain and he’ll get you trained- you have to be great at listening, but you can earn a right to be heard. Volunteer to help the Salvation Army with their Christmas drive- you never know what opportunities you might earn a right to have.
- Do you want to be involved in a mission project or trip? We can organize from here, or you can go on the web and find all sorts of agencies that will facilitate this for you, no matter what your age. What I’ve seen is that mission trips, although they do some good where people have gone, they do more for those who have gone, and then that spills out into the church! And even if you cannot physically go, you can be praying for some. You could be aware of what Samaritan’s Purse is doing and when, through the web or by being on their mailing list. Or you could do the same with Teenmania or Teen Missions, or with any other mission organization you could find. Or you could be aware of one or two missionaries, or of areas where missionaries are working, and regularly be praying for and, maybe, financially supporting God’s Work in these people or areas. You have sent a Christmas Box, perhaps. Pray about it, the process of gathering, sorting, and sending, and for those who will actually deliver; pray for the little boy or girl who will receive the box you have made. Don’t let that box simply go out of your head or attention until late January, by which time you can know that it has been delivered- that’s just to allow for ample time to be certain.
Our lives are not meant to simply involve ‘filling time’, or ‘putting in time’. This is the saddest thing I hear from my Dad when I call him, and that’s not what life is meant to come to, at any age. Our lives are meant to make a difference to the work of the great family of God to which we each belong. Commit to doing even one definite and intentional action that will advance God’s kingdom, and move, if you’re not already there, to living your life among the 5% of Christians whose lives are making a difference!
