Andrew on Missions
Our son Andrew, who you’ll remember is in Southern California studying at William Carey International University, wrote this recently about ‘missions:’
Many times, it’s easy to allow our culture and our misconceptions to define what we think of missions. Too often, we view missions as colonialism in disguise, or something for those extra holy (and extra nerdy) brothers and sisters. However, I think God has called us to not only be a part of missions, but to live missions. John Piper said:
"Missions is not a recruitment project for God’s labor force. It is a liberation project from the heavy burdens and hard yokes of other gods" (Piper 1993).
In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus says:
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Being in love with the lowly Jesus drives us to seek him out among fellow human beings where he is not recognized. Paradoxically, as we go and make disciples through this revelation, this ‘good news’, our own relationship with Jesus is grown exponentially. Through seeking and serving Jesus, we find the purpose for our lives. We have no other purpose in life than to know Jesus –and it is through this dynamic knowledge that we are hopelessly compelled by passionate love to go.
As lovers of Jesus, missions flows from our being. Missions is liberation from death for those are perishing. Missions is bread for the hungry. Missions is life into parched bones. Missions is the lifeblood that runs through out veins, and as such, vital that we participate in the global mission of our God.
Why should we do missions? Rather, why are we not doing missions? Our ardent love for Jesus naturally flows into communication – from the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. What a blessed existence to know Jesus and make him known to all men.