“We have place a moratorium on missions.” One pastor said to me, while they are not taking on any more missionaries while trying not to reduce the current missionaries because of the churches present financial crisis. When the church has placed a moratorium on mission we know that we are in a very bad place. My response was that is the worst thing I have ever heard. What circumstances could lead to such a statement?
Did the apostle Paul after being stoned within an inch of his life call for a moratorium on missions? What about after the ship wreck did he decide then that was enough? Perhaps after Jesus living a life with no place to lay his head should of become fed up and place a moratorium on his mission? After his arrest? After his flogging? Of after carrying his cross? Perhaps suffering the wrath of God was just one step too much for our Savior?
Of course it was not. Why? Because his life was defined by perfect obedience, he never gave up on missions. He understood from the beginning the call that was on his life and every detail prepared him to fulfill this task. Never resorting to a moratorium.
I have a vested interest in fighting this attitude within the church. Why do we exist if we are no missions minded? What are we doing if not stepping out in faith and support the causes we believe in? In no way can we support every ministry or mission that comes along, yet where have we gone wrong when we thing missions are secondary or on the periphery of ministry? My understanding is that Calvin understood the importance of missions. Funds within Calvin’s church in Geneva were split up with this priority First to missions, then to the need of the church, then to the needy in the community, and lastly to missions again.
Sometimes it takes those who are directly effected by a problem to speak to that problem. I used to be in the same position as you where I was confronted with this once a year at a mission’s conference, now I am affect daily. We are responsible for providing the world with saving hope, and yet do we live as those without hope?
Did the apostle Paul after being stoned within an inch of his life call for a moratorium on missions? What about after the ship wreck did he decide then that was enough? Perhaps after Jesus living a life with no place to lay his head should of become fed up and place a moratorium on his mission? After his arrest? After his flogging? Of after carrying his cross? Perhaps suffering the wrath of God was just one step too much for our Savior?
Of course it was not. Why? Because his life was defined by perfect obedience, he never gave up on missions. He understood from the beginning the call that was on his life and every detail prepared him to fulfill this task. Never resorting to a moratorium.
I have a vested interest in fighting this attitude within the church. Why do we exist if we are no missions minded? What are we doing if not stepping out in faith and support the causes we believe in? In no way can we support every ministry or mission that comes along, yet where have we gone wrong when we thing missions are secondary or on the periphery of ministry? My understanding is that Calvin understood the importance of missions. Funds within Calvin’s church in Geneva were split up with this priority First to missions, then to the need of the church, then to the needy in the community, and lastly to missions again.
Sometimes it takes those who are directly effected by a problem to speak to that problem. I used to be in the same position as you where I was confronted with this once a year at a mission’s conference, now I am affect daily. We are responsible for providing the world with saving hope, and yet do we live as those without hope?
posted by michaelstevensrev at 2:06 PM
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