I am often asked two sets of questions about the importance of global missions engagement for our church. The first set are easier: why do we spend what we do (currently about 20% of what we receive) on global missions; why do we support some missionaries and not others; isn't everyone a missionary? These are important questions, and I have ready answers for all of them. But those are for later.
Today, I want to turn my attention to the more important questions that are often thought, but not always verbalized: should we knowingly go into situations that are not safe? And should our missionaries continue to stay in places where they might face difficulties, persecution, and death? These questions reflect a way of thinking that tends to characterize American Christianity. Thoughts of danger or death and the will of God do not go together in our minds. “God’s will is pleasant,” we seem to think. It involves ease and comfort, and prosperity would be nice, too.
We have forgotten that Jesus said to his disciples, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10: 16). Paul wrote, “For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake…” (Philippians 1:29). Peter exhorted his readers, “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps…” (1 Peter 2:21).
I still cannot get out of my head hearing Dr. Josef Tson’s powerful message at a conference almost 20 years ago. A Baptist pastor from Romania, Dr. Tson escaped from there to pursue theological training, and then went back to Romania, where he faced constant threats, persecution, arrest, and finally deportation after 20 years of preaching the gospel. It had been hard to escape, yet he gave up freedom to go back to oppression. As he faced possible death, his wife encouraged him to face it bravely for Christ. They did not flee their homeland but stayed until forced to leave.
He said to those of us attending the conference that he thought it was interesting that American Christians seem so concerned to know whether or not they will go through the Tribulation, while believers in other parts of the world think they have been in it for 2,000 years! I have often wondered whether the passionate commitment to “pre-tribulation rapture” thinking (and that is my position) of many in America is due more to a theological conviction or a fear of persecution.
God’s will is dangerous to a life of comfort and ease in this world. It should not fit in with the dominant culture. Going to places where gospel preaching is not tolerated will add to the difficulty. Such ventures, though, are part and parcel of the fulfillment of the Great Commission and have been readily embraced by true believers down through the centuries. We can do no less than taking our turn in answering the hymn writer's questions:
Am I a soldier of the cross, a follower of the Lamb?
And shall I fear to own his cause or blush to speak His name?
Must I be carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize or sailed through bloody seas?
Are there no foes for me to face, must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace to help me unto God?
Sure, I must fight if I would reign; increase my courage, Lord!
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain, supported by Thy Word.
-----Isaac Watts-----
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