As Christians, Jesus calls us to "go and make disciples of all nations." I think we often misread this, and think we have to go abroad to prove that we're fulfilling some sort of duty as His followers. That somehow preaching the Gospel is different in places other than America, or that a certain people group "need" it more than others, or that Americans already know what Christianity entails, or that being missions-minded in the States is selling yourself short.
Are these just things I'm hearing, or is anyone else hearing these lies?
We are all fearfully and wonderfully made, ALL of us. God has no favorites, and neither should we.
I'm not saying that we shouldn't go internationally and spread the Gospel or the love of Christ–what I'm saying is that we need to be spreading the hope, love, and truth of God every chance we get, wherever we are. I've just seen the title of "international missionary" used as a cover to hide under, to turn missions into a 9-5 job instead of a lifestyle. I've seen an impression of this trip that turns missions outside of America into a higher calling than missions in America–that if you don't go abroad, you're selling yourself short and settling on the easier path. Granted, that's the ugly side of an incredible chance to see what breaks God's heart around the world, and experience who He is in different cultures. I'm so thankful for this opportunity, but I have to express this as someone who knows very well there are people reading this blog who don't have the opportunity or even the desire to go on a trip like this, who might be hearing the lie that they're not doing enough by staying in America.
Please, hear me when I say America needs true Christianity just as much as any place I've been. America needs to know that no job, person, car, status, substance, whatever will satisfy them. America needs love, and honesty, and acceptance. Americans need to know what they're worth, that they can release control because their Creator and true Father loves them and gave his life to be able to have a relationship with them, and that nothing they do or have done can change that. Americans need to taste what freedom means.
The whole world looks at America to see what truly matters–and from my experience, what they see is beauty/sex and money. What if we could give the world other things to value? If I'm idealistic enough to go abroad to "make a difference," and this is accepted as usual and doable in the Christian community, who's to say it can't be usual and doable in our own country?
America doesn't need handouts or people to tell them a set of rules/religion to follow (neither does anywhere else in the world, by the way), but it needs people to live their daily lives as if they were on mission by building genuine relationships, living intentionally, abiding in Christ by abiding in what he says in the word, speaking the gospel truthfully and out of humility, and living in gospel-centered community (you know, like actual witnesses of the power of the gospel and the life-changing effect of having a relationship with the Lord entails). Jesus said in Acts 1:8, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Basically he tells the early church to start witnessing in their local neighborhoods, their states/regions, and to the ends of the earth. All three. He makes no distinction of better or worse, or level of importance, but just tells them to be witnesses wherever they might be.
So wherever you might be, be a witness. To all my American friends spreading Christ's love to your local community, carry on. You do this work unrecognized, without a special blog website or organization. You do this without the attention or glamor being a World Racer can attract. You set roots and patiently do the work of softening the hearts of people who live next door to you, who sit next to you in class, who you work with. Your work is just as valuable as any work I do out here. Thank you, and I can't wait to serve alongside you when I get back home.
