HOW IS FOREIGN MISSIONS RELEVANT TO Kemc?
This question has been asked lately as we reviewed the effectiveness of our annual missions conference. There is a feeling out there that missions has shifted so substantially in the last decade that we question the need for foreign involvement. But that is not the only factor that influences our attitude towards mission involvement.
Let’s be honest here: Isn’t it true that some of you can’t wait to get back to the normal church program? Let’s get back to the issues that affect my life here and now, you say. Isn’t it true that a small percentage of us actually stay away, visit other churches, or stay home during this conference? Some of you are keenly interested in missions; the stories inspire you and the challenges are briefly arousing. But by and large we will go on from here and not consider the relevancy of missions to our own lives as very pertinent.
So I ask the question: Why is foreign missions irrelevant to us? I came up with a sampling of possible reasons:
- It’s too out there; too National Geographic.
- Our involvement is weak and often disconnected.
- We don’t see ourselves as missionaries.
- We don’t know the lost of Burkina Faso and so we don’t really care about the lost.
- We don’t believe they are lost.
- It just doesn’t relate to what’s here and now.
None of these excuses or answers is at all biblical and certainly not obedient to the command of Christ to share the good news. It is the reality though, and to change our attitudes with one little sermon is not going to cut it. This is a matter for prayer and reflection as a church if we are going to revive our passion for the lost. It is a matter that begs us to look at the Bible and rediscover our calling.
I took a walk through the book of Acts to find some answers to our question, and I found 4 lessons for all of us.
LESSON # 1: It’s Relevant if we understand “Mission”
What is “mission”? Is this even a biblical word? I am not even sure where the use of this term began, but maybe we should stop using it. You can’t find it anywhere in the NT. All it does is seem to separate the “here” from the “there.” Mission is out there, it’s not here.
The popular missions passage in Acts 1:8 does not mention “mission.” We read “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” This is part of the answer Jesus gives to his disciples when they ask what their focus should be. Jesus simply said not to worry about the Last Days but to concentrate on being witnesses of the truth that Jesus rose from the dead and all that this means.
The key is to be witnesses. Whether that means here in Jerusalem or out there on the Galapagos Islands is irrelevant. Be a witness of Jesus Christ. Or is it irrelevant?
All four gospels end with a command to spread this message across the earth. Matthew’s has Jesus saying, “…go and make disciples of all nations…”; Mark’s says “go into all the world and preach”; Luke’s “…repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations. You are witnesses of these things”; John’s “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” Acts continues the story and shows how they did go. There is a definite challenge Jesus gives to anyone who knows the truth: wherever you are, be a witness.
How then, do we see “missions”? And how are we being obedient to Christ’s command?
LESSON # 2: It’s Relevant if we can look beyond Ourselves
As the story of Acts and the early Church proceeds, we know that the disciples waited in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit. When he did descend and filled the disciples they spoke in tongues and Peter preached a powerful message where 3000 were added to their number. And then what happened? The Church enjoyed a time of growth and amazing breakthroughs…in Jerusalem. But just in Jerusalem. Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth were relatively untouched.
It is not until Acts 8:1-4 that the gospel spreads from Jerusalem, and that by default. (Read 8:1-4). You might say that the only reason the believers left the mega-Church of Jerusalem is because they were forced to by persecution. I remember a metaphor in Bible College that described this event as a blacksmith smashing a red hot iron and watching the sparks fly. God allowed persecution to get them out of Jerusalem. Then the Word spread to Judea and Samaria.
Our Mennonite ancestors left Russia because their right to religion, nonresistance and self-education were being taken away. In 1874 they came to Canada, but not to do mission work. Do you know what the prevailing attitude of the EMC was in the 1930’s? “No mission involvement.” Some said, “The only real mission work is done with a milking stool and pitchfork…” meaning our work is here. Gerhard Thiessen, a missionary to China, was mocked at the time by some who said, “He went to China as a missionary because he was too lazy to work…”
Sue Barkman wrote in Ever-Widening Circles, “Basically the Kleine Gemeinde membership had little understanding of a Christian’s responsibility toward the unsaved and this was the reason for their feelings. Some felt that if God wanted to convert the unsaved, then he would see to it himself. The concept of most people was that the ‘heathen’ were not really lost, so it was better to leave them alone rather than give them a chance to reject Christ.”
Shall I go on? In 1943, Ben Eidse told his dad he wanted to be a teacher. His dad responded, “Oh no, not a teacher; I don’t want you to be a public servant. Not a teacher.” Later while attending what is now SBC, Ben was convicted that he should be a missionary. His dad replied, “A missionary? Then I’d rather have you be a teacher.”
And so it went. Do you know who changed the minds of the Conference in those days? The young people. They began meeting and studying the Bible and singing together. Soon the Holy Spirit revealed to them that it was their responsibility to obey Christ’s command to “go into all the world.” Young people, the idealistic ones who in their youthful passion said “Forget bureaucracy, forget tradition, forget all this garbage…let’s do this thing.”
The lesson of Acts 8 and our own history is that we must look beyond ourselves. I do not want to go back to that attitude that the lost don’t need us. That is the attitude where foreign missions is irrelevant. Jesus said “go” and we must go and be witnesses, or we will be a stagnant social club that only takes care of itself.
LESSON # 3: It’s relevant if we send the Missionaries
As the gospel spread throughout Judea and Samaria, the Church at Antioch was established and two men rose up as teachers: Barnabas and Saul. It is here in Acts 13 that the first “missionaries”, if we choose to call them that, were chosen to go beyond the Judean-Samaritan borders (read Acts 13: 2-3).
A number of principles stand out in this event. The first is that it was while they were worshipping the Lord and fasting that Holy Spirit spoke to them, the Church as a body. All of the book of Acts teaches us that this work is a work of the Holy Spirit. Mission agencies may administrate the work, but it is ultimately the Holy Spirit who gives the calling and makes this work successful. But it is so significant that it is while they are worshipping that the Spirit speaks.
The second principle follows that after Barnabas and Saul were set apart, they fasted again and prayed – they laid their hands on them and sent them. We can’t send people to Winnipeg or to Asuncion without praying and laying hands on them. Then we must continually pray, of course.
Thirdly, it is the Church that does the sending. An individual may feel called but the Church must confirm and send that person. The Holy Spirit chooses to work through the community of faith…lone rangers don’t make it very far. Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto and Tonto’s tribe behind him.
When Ben and Helen Eidse felt called to missions, they filled out an application to an agency, and then left it in a desk drawer. As the Holy Spirit moved in our conference and awakened the Spirit of evangelism, our leaders wondered who they could send. They remembered that Ben and Helen had an interest in missions and asked them to consider overseas work. Patience and prayer. If God wants you to go and you are willing, I believe the Spirit will work these kinks out. It is a blessing of affirmation when the Church wants to send you.
What Antioch saw and what we ought to consider is the need. To simply say “let’s do missions” makes missions less relevant. If we see a need in a neighboring community or somewhere in the world where a gifted person in our Church could help, that gives relevance. We see the need; we send the people. We are the senders. Are we looking for someone to send? Are we fasting and praying about it?
LESSON 4: It’s relevant if we see ourselves as Missionaries
The book of Acts ends with this way: “For two whole years Paul stayed there (Rome) in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 28:30-31).
A certain preacher said this: “This is how the book of Acts ends. Note that it does not end with Paul’s death or with the Word being snuffed out. There is not really a conclusion to this letter. This is because we are the continuing story of Acts. You are the continuing story.”
Is this what Luke intended by ending his book this way? Probably not, but it makes a good point. We are the next chapter in the book of Acts and the program of the Holy Spirit.
Just as “missions” is not a biblical term, neither is “missionary.” The word “missionary” has separated you and me from the work of witnessing for Jesus. It is a stumbling block if we see only those who go overseas as missionaries. We make them heroes of the faith for giving up the comforts of home to go to dark jungles of sin where the light of Christ has not been seen. This is a wrong perspective.
You are missionaries. You must see yourself as a missionary. We are witnesses of the risen Christ. The only difference is this: some of us bear witness here and some of us bear witness over there. The similarity is that a person can work anywhere with any gift and call it ministry. What’s key is the need. Are you needed more here or there?
I cannot do what Danny Plett does, sing and coordinate music festivals. However, I wonder if Danny would have the same impact here as he does in Germany and Europe. His influence is helping New Jerusalem to bear greater witness in Belarus. Could he do that if he were in Canada? Not so much. Danny is needed in Europe; I am needed here. But we have the same command, you and I, Danny and Sherri: to be Christ’s witness.
Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, the ends of the earth
Foreign missions is irrelevant to Kemc, if we are not doing mission here in Jerusalem, or in Judea and Samaria. Local mission is irrelevant if we do not look beyond ourselves to see what needs can be met abroad. Needs must be investigated and prayerfully considered. Prayer and fasting, intense searching of the Holy Spirit cannot be neglected if we are to tap shoulders here in this very room.
And we are doing that to some degree…
In Jerusalem – in Kleefeld we are gaining momentum in our vision to reach our community. There are lost sheep in our midst who need to see that they matter to Christ.
In Judea – Herb Wiebe is working in Winnipeg with ICYA and the young guys who need hope. Carla McKay is working with Indian life.
In Samaria – You know the Samaritans were despised in Jesus day. We have a Samaria that needs Jesus too – it’s called Quebec. And Louisiana – I believe that this one week of exposure to the disaster our neighbors down south will broaden the worldview of our youth and adults. Despite the cost and the brevity of their time, their world will be different when they come back. World mission will be more relevant to them than it is now. Matt Dueck went to Vancouver on a similar trip – now he’s in New Zealand. What’s next?
The ends of the earth – My heart is with Danny in Belarus. Where’s yours?
The Holy Spirit is the empowering presence to witness and bring the message of Jesus to all 4 levels of witness. Our Church must seek the Spirit and the vision to reach our world…or we neglect our purpose like Israel did when God wanted to use them. “Witness” is relevant to Kemc; then let us bear witness to what Jesus has done.
AMEN
