Last night, I was reading Radical by David Platt before I went to sleep. In one part of the book, David explains his experience at one of his supporting churches.
"Then I told them about the ministry opportunities God had recently given me around the world. I told them about people's receptivity to the Gospel in places that are traditionally hostile to Christianity. I told them that whether in the inner city or overseas, God was drawing people to Himself, in some of the toughest areas of the world.
Expecting them to share in my excitement, I paused to listen for their response. After an awkward silence, one of the deacons leaned forward in his chair, looked at me and said, 'David, I think it's great you are going to those places. But if you ask me, I would just as soon God annihilate those people and send them to hell.'"
My mouth fell open when I read that. I couldn't believe that someone would actually say that. He goes on to say that rather than the room falling to silence like you would expect, the others in the room continued with their conversations, apparently unconcerned about what the deacon had just said. The deacon was not the only one that shared the sentiment. The pastor later that day told David:
"'I remember a time at my last congregation when a missionary from Japan came to speak,' He said. 'I told that church, that if they didn't give financial support to this missionary, I was going to pray that God would send their kids to Japan to serve with that missionary.'
Wow. Did the pastor just threaten his congregation with the punishment of going to the world?
'And my church gave that man a laptop and a whole lot of money.'
Apparently the threat worked."
How backwards is that? Jesus didn't tell us to just sit back and let others follow His command to go and preach the Gospel to the nations. I am not saying that there is not a place for the senders. They are absolutely needed for the success of the sent. Any person on the mission field can tell you that without the support of family, friends, and church families back home, they would not be able to do what they do. But, there is a difference between finding your place and fulfillment in being the sender, and being afraid and even against being the sent.
So that is why we go. Because we are commanded (not suggested. God didn't say, "You should go if you feel like it. I mean, I wouldn't want to get in the way or anything.), and because there are many who deny the calling in favor of a cushy, comfortable lifestyle. We are not all called to go to the ends of the Earth. Some are called to the inner city, to pour into the children they are responsible for at school, or to their next door neighbor. And that is wonderful. As long as you are open and receptive to reaching the people God has called you to, you are fulfilling what He has commanded of you. By doing so, you bring incredible glory to Him, as well as hope and love to those who are desperately crying out for it.
Don't deny His calling for you. If you are called to go overseas, do it. If you are called to the city, go downtown and just have conversations and share life with people. If you are called to be a sender, let your missionary know how much you love and support them. It will mean the world to them.
