Jul
12
2011
Without the Gospel, It's Not Missions
Today’s post is contributed by Jerry Rankin, president emeritus of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. He blogs at The Rankin File.
The gospel and missions. This subject would appear to be a no-brainer and elicit a yawning “Duh, what’s the point?” Everyone knows missions is about proclaiming the gospel. Or do they? It is amazing the discussions I have had over the years with leaders of mission agencies, denominational executives and church pastors about what is missions.
I fought the battle in Southern Baptist circles for years on the need to give specialized emphasis to missions. The retort was that this was unnecessary since everything we do is missions. In reality, if missions is everything, then it is nothing. If it is everyone’s responsibility, then it is no one’s responsibility.
The issue has been complicated in recent years by the emerging of the term “missional.” What does it mean to be missional? I think the common connotation is that whatever is done outside the internal focus of church programs is missional. Outreach to unbelievers and evangelism would certainly be considered missional. Involvement in a church plant in another community, somewhere in unchurched North America or among an unreached people group in Africa would fit the designation.
But so would disaster relief, building a home for Habitat, ministering to the poor through a food pantry and clothes closet, helping to build a church in a pioneer area or passing out water at a public event on a hot day. These activities are not about our church’s worship, discipling members, Bible study classes and youth ministry. They are focused outside the church and are therefore “missional” whether or not the gospel is shared.
Certainly we ought to be doing these things, as Jesus taught us to care for widows and orphans, minister to the poor, heal the sick, and visit the prisoner. He even commended the Pharisees for being conscientious about tithing, but admonished them for neglecting the more important things.
We can do a lot of good things that we ought to do, motivated by love, compassion for the needs of others and accruing no personal benefit, but is it missions? “Missions is the activity of God’s people to fulfill God’s mission.” And God’s mission, from before the foundation of the world, has been to redeem a lost world. It is why Jesus came and died on the cross and rose again. It is why the Holy Spirit gathers believers into a local church.
And obviously, without a clear presentation of the gospel, God’s mission is not being done. In the early 20th century, missions was sidetracked by a paradigm shift to social ministry. Amazingly, the conversation goes on. Missions is relief ministry, it is advocating justice, feeding the hungry, stopping human trafficking, providing education, or digging water wells.
Christians should be doing all these things and more, but if it is missions it will include a clear presentation of the gospel that the lost, the hurting, and the needy might be saved from sin and reconciled to God. Why would we try to improve the temporal, earthly life of others and deny them the knowledge that meets their need for eternity?
I will never forget hearing a missionary public health worker in West Africa testify of a very successful ministry of bringing pure drinking water and sanitation to destitute Muslim villagers. At the conclusion of an impressive presentation he broke into tears and confessed that he had been a failure for he had yet to see anyone embrace Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. I will never forget his closing remark: “Healthy in hell doesn’t count for much.”
Without the gospel, it is not missions!
9 Comments
[...] Jerry Rankin (guest blogging for Trevin Wax), president emeritus of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. He [...]
QUOTE:
“‘Missions is the activity of God’s people to fulfill God’s mission.’ And God’s mission, from before the foundation of the world, has been to redeem a lost world. It is why Jesus came and died on the cross and rose again. It is why the Holy Spirit gathers believers into a local church.”
This is a dangerous message for it makes the purpose of the church evangelism which is simply not true. If God’s mission from before the foundation of the world was to redeem a lost world, then what will God do once the world has been redeemed? Will He want it to be lost again so that He might redeem it again?
God’s mission is not to save a lost world, rather, God’s mission includes saving a lost world. Ephesians 1:12 & 14 informs us that we were saved “for the praise of his glory” (NIV). Everything we do, we should do to evangelize? No, everything we do, we should do to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Christ came first and foremost to bring glory to His father which is what we see outlined for us in John 17. He brought glory to His father by doing His father’s will–by pleasing Him. It was God’s will that we should be saved. It is also God’s will that we should be sanctified. Additionally, it is God’s will that we should be glorified and spend all eternity worshiping Him.
Evangelizing is a part of our worship. It is part of bringing glory to God. However, it is not the whole. It is not our mission. Our mission is to please God. Seeking to save a lost world is one objective of that mission.
A review of the New Testament reveals a greater emphasis on our sanctification than evangelism as many commands have been given for us to be holy and how to live holy lives, while very little have been given to evangelize and how to evangelize.
The two also go together for when we live to please God, we will evangelize. We will do so by proclaiming the gospel and living a holy life.
At the same time, I don’t think it is possible to do “missions” and not share the gospel. To do so, we would have to deny who we are. If we are Christian, we bear the name of Christ. Therefore, all we do in the name of Christ bears the gospel in part.
Our primary mission, however, is to glorify God. This should be our aim in all we do.
[...] Posted July 12, 2011 by blakekidney in Missions & Evangelism. Leave a Comment “‘Missions is the activity of God’s people to fulfill God’s mission.’ And God’s mission, from before the foundation of the world, has been to redeem a lost world. It is why Jesus came and died on the cross and rose again. It is why the Holy Spirit gathers believers into a local church.” (Quote from trevinwax.com) [...]
[...] fine folks at Kingdom People shared this post from Jerry Rankin of the SBC today. In it, Mr. Rankin discusses the true meaning of missions [...]
While I definitely agree that with the Bible missions is a waste of time, like you said, “Healthy in Hell doesn’t count for much.” But we cannot afford to go back to missions that only preaches the Bible and does not live it.
It’s really about balance, you have to share the gospel, that’s nonnegotiable. However without social justice and caring for peoples needs you cannot effectively share the gospel. The name of the game is balance.
Jesus displayed that wonderfully, He would display compassion and meet people where they were at. Listening, talking, and helping them. But He never neglected to tell them about the good news. As always he had the perfect balance, one we should always strive for.
[...] Rankin wrote a guest entry on Trevin Wax’s blog here, reminding us that “missions is the activity of God’s people to fulfill God’s mission” and [...]
[...] Without the Gospel, It’s Not Missions (Trevin Wax) [...]
Nice to read indepth thoughts on missions. I was just searching to see if I get any new thoughts on what missions is not and what missions is all about! for my messages on Missions next month in Singapore.
Well, as per Acts 13:47-52 and Acts 20:18-21, we see how Paul did missions in those days when the modern methodology was unknown.
I got these points:
- Missions is Not Money: Today, many missionaries and organizations esp from West spend a lot of money on missions.They throw money at the locals, whether poor or not, so freely and abundantly that the locals develop the habit of receiving everything free even after they become Christians and thus lose the blessings of sharing in God’s work.
- Missions is Not Social work: we don’t read that Paul started making tents and distributing to the poor people and then share the gospel with them!? Nor do we read about any project the early church had for the poor around them. The only social concern we read about was for the widows in the church and not for the unsaved public. Even the Lord Jesus never trained His disciples on caring for the poor but rather we read that the gospel is for the poor as per Isaiah 61, Luke 4:18.
Further, with social concern projects, the conversions have been mostly superficial and not due to conviction of sin or experiencing salvation.
Of course, we need to show love and care for the needy among the saints, otherwise who will do that for them, as the world does not.
–Missions is Not Exporting culture or changing the culture of the natives- often
missionaries export their culture wholesale and expect the locals to adapt to their
culture. e.g. food habits, dressing styles, worship styles, ledership styles, etc
-Missions is Not Dominating or Interfering with the local ministry or leadership-just
because you support, you can not dominate or interfere in the local church or
organizational administration or ministry. You can encourage and guide them if they
need or ask for.
_ Missions is Not a Holiday tour- the primary purpose is not to have fun or be like a
tourist.
_ Missions in Not Pampering the locals with gifts- the locals develop attitude of
beggars and look forward to receiving more such free goodies. see who is worthy for
what you want to give.
-Missions is Not Holding big crusades or compaigns- often this generates opposition
from the local non-christian population as it becomes a show of Christian strength or
popularity.
What Missions is? Acts 13:47-52. Acts 20:18-20.
- To be A Light: to just live an examplary life to influence the locals to come to the true light , the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Our conduct and Behavior important, as the locals observe and see the spirituality in our lives.
See what Paul says in
Act 20:18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
Act 20:19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
Act 20:20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
Act 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Vs 18, says about what kind of life he lived among them- thats a good example.
the attitude of humility and servanthood.
So first is Messenger- what kind of person you are is important: are you born again and experienced new life in Jesus? Are you growing and fruits of the Spirit evident in your life?
Second is Message: what kind of message do you preach?
Acts 13:47, for salvation unto all people.
Acts 20:21, gospel of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus.
Acts 20: 20. whole counsel of God.
Preaching the Word of God as it is – complete and without any compromise.
Not social or prosperity gospel, or just healing or baptizing but not preaching repentance.
Third is Method-
Acts 20:20- showed you and taught you publicly and house to house.
Showing by example how we need to live the new lifestyle the Bible speaks about.The new people want to see it lived out before you talk about it or tell them to live.
So foreign missionaries should be careful how they behave before others. Need to understand local culture and be sensitive to their feelings, good in their culture is necessary to make them open up to share the gospel.
Modern Western methods may not work or may not be relevant in other eastern countries and cultures.So instead of winning them, we can repel them to the gospel becoming stumbling blocks to them coming to the Lord.
-Teaching publicly and house to house- visiting homes help us understand the needs and problems of the locals better than just staying at a 5-Star hotel and holding crusades in a hall.As you visit homes, u can interact with the families, observe them, accept their love and hospitality, so that they will become open to listen to what you say.
We have won many souls and led many families to the Lord by visiting them and ministering to them in their homes and conducting house meetings to pray for their problems and share the gospel.
–more later.
God bless
A.Othniel
[...] Without the Gospel, It’s Not Missions. [...]