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One more quick thought for the day…
I love the idea of missions. There are so many people in the world (of course, including our own towns and our country) that do now know the reality of the Kingdom. They don’t know that God takes great pleasure in knowing us, and in restoring our relationship with Him. They don’t know the joy of living loved and complete freed of shame and guilt by that love. So, it’s good to tell them.
But recently I have been thinking of “Missions” again, and “Missionaries” and there is a big disconnect, once we have met the folks we are trying to help. And I think it might be, what are we “winning” them to? What is the end goal of our missional efforts?
I really don’t want to open up a huge debate here… though if you have any thoughts, you’re welcome to share them. I just think the biggest thing we are missing as the church today is that life with God, life in his Kingdom, is not about what we do or don’t do (though that may be evidence of the kingdom) but it’s an understanding of the reality of a Father who loves us, and wants to lead us, and walk with us through every part of life. We don’t meet him at the church building. He doesn’t just come around when we’re participating in “spiritual events”. He does not reside at the “temple”. He’s with us. In person. All the time.
So when we go out, and we tell people about Jesus… what usually happens (I believe) looks a lot like what we do here in America. We meet (usually) on Sundays, and one person leads a lesson (or sermon) from the Bible, and there’s music, maybe communion (which is eating a piece of “bread” and drinking some “juice”) and it might even involve everyone being dressed up a bit more than usual. Then there are other meetings throughout the week. Whether one on one or in bigger groups… all focused on some teaching/discipling time. That’s a good thing. But it’s not the kingdom.
Missionaries are awesome. I hope they keep going to all parts of the world and loving people. The only thing I see falling short is that we’re just “converting” them to the same systems that are not working here in America. Systems will fail. Relationships will also, but genuine friendships are less likely to. Love God, and love people. Don’t tell them where they need to spend most of their time now… help them know the greatness of being loved unconditionally by their Father. Help them know the joy in loving other people as they have been loved. Can’t that be it?
I wish it could. But I’m probably just a dreamer.
Well, the good thing is… no matter what other folks do… I get to choose what I will do.
I can’t decide if you wrote that in such a way as to BEG me to just start talking and talking … but I have to go to bed, we’re moving tomorrow. But I will … I will …
I think maybe in certain instances what you say is true…but I think in certain parts of the world you can’t really “convert” people to the american way, which I think is a good thing. The cultural differences are just to strong, and in those cases I believe missionaries are powerful because they can focus on what really matters, or..WHO really matters: Jesus. I choose to believe that happens more than not. I hope I’m right. 🙂
Perhaps it’s too general a statement, but I’d say (from my experience) the opposite. 🙁 More often than not, missionaries say they are focused on Jesus, but really, helping people know Jesus means getting them to meet together for a worship hour on Sunday mornings, probably Sunday School too, and then other meetings during the week, probably including “accountability” groups/partners of some kind.
Unfortunately we have so closely associated God’s kingdom with a certain way of doing things… and so instead of really just introducing people to Jesus, we “plant churches” and introduce them to slight variations of modern American “Christendom”.
Just my opinion. 🙂