Christ's Community on Christ's Mission (Part 3)

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Ecc 4.9-12)

Why do we try to serve Christ on our own? There are, no doubt, more reasons, but let me suggest a few (which I’ve found in myself). 

1. Perhaps I am seeking some personal recognition, whether from God or man, rather than the profit of the body; I want to be the hero others look up to, rather than the unseen servant of others. 
2. Perhaps the Lord has given me a burden to do some good work which I see being neglected by others; and rather than doing the slower & harder task of getting others to serve with me, I take the quicker & easier road of serving alone. 
3. Perhaps I don’t think others could or would do as good a job as myself, so I fail to trust God to teach, grow, fill with the Spirit, empower & use them, and I neglect to pray for, encourage, train & make use of them. 
4. Perhaps I find it hard working with others because I think I have all the best ideas, and am unwilling to listen to others or submit to their ideas & aid in their work. 

The end result is a whole lot of different body parts running around separately, trying to be whole bodies individually. There goes an eye. Here comes a nose. 

Serving Christ is not limited to preachers, teachers & “missionaries.” Rather, we are all slaves of Christ, freed by his love from our old bondage, so that we might serve him (2Co 5.14,15). Each child of God is necessary & each gift of the Spirit useful for Christ’s mission. Men AND women (Rom 16.1,2). Children (Jn 6.9). Business- & tradesmen & women able to travel & ply their trade (Rom 16.3; cf. Acts 18.2,3). Laborers (Eph 4.28). People who can write (Rom 16.22). Wealthy landowners (Acts 4.34-37). Dignitaries & other influencial people (17.4,12; 16.14,15). Poor widows & other people who can’t afford to help (Luke 21.1-4; 2Co 8.1-5). Seamstresses (Acts 9.36-42). Slaves (Col 4.9; cf. Phm). Masters (Phm 1.1,2). Servants of governments (Php 4.22). Homeowners (Acts 18.7-11) and renters (28.30,31). The list could go on. In short, ordinary people empowered by the Spirit doing ordinary things for the advance of the name of Christ, that is, any—no, every—one of us. Ordinary people taking dominion over & bringing ordinary life under submission to the lordship of Christ, whom God has set over all things. All who do so are “co-laborers in the truth” (3Jn 8). 

Thus, there is the need for every effort on the measure of every part of the body of Christ toward the fulfillment of the Great Commission, bringing God’s salvation to every people group. And in that work, there is the need of every believer lending every gift of the Spirit, who was given to empower us to this same end (Acts 1.8), in order that God may be glorified. Not ME doing what God has called ME personally to do, and maybe convince some others to help ME do it. Rather, US working TOGETHER to accomplish what God has called US to do. That is Christ’s community on Christ’s mission. Let’s go!

Christ's Community on Christ's Mission (Part 2)

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Ecc 4.9-12)

Nevertheless, my tendency is still to try to serve alone (i.e., without other people, though I wouldn’t think of trying to without the Spirit). This is where a couple of dear brothers have been very helpful in showing me. It is easy for some of us to run ahead alone, rather than slowing down to make sure others are coming with us & laboring with us. I’m sure there’s sin in it for me sometimes, romanticizing my situation as if I’m standing alone like a prophet of old with no support, not even from God’s people. However, we are not called to labor as individuals, but as a body.

This truth should be so clear to us, which shows how insidious a blindness it is. Here are a few examples which make it so plain.

1. The Great Commission was not given to individual disciples, but to them all as a group: “When you [plural, i.e., together] go, you [pl. again] make disciples..., you [pl.] baptizing them..., you [yep, pl. again] teaching them.” (Mt 28.18-20) Nor did Christ intend this merely for those Apostles, but that believers thenceforth would labor together with them to accomplish this great end.
2. Jesus taught us to pray together for his kingdom to come (Mt 6.9-13). “Our Father..., your kingdom come...” In the Lord’s Prayer, all of the pronouns regarding the petitioners are “our” & “us”.
3. “WE” are made ambassadors on behalf of Christ (2Co 5.18-21). Again, notice all the we’s & us’s.
4. When Jesus sent out his disciples to broadcast the Gospel throughout the villages in the region, he sent them in pairs (Mk 6.7).
5. On the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was abundantly given, all who were gathered began proclaiming together the Gospel in languages they hadn’t previously known (Acts 2.4).
6. Peter didn’t go alone to Cornelius’ home, but with 6 others, though apparently only Peter preached (Acts 11.12).
7. When the Spirit calls missionaries from the Church in (Syrian) Antioch, he calls two, Barnabas & Paul. And then it is not they who go by themselves, but the church (or at least all of the elders) together sent them. “The Holy Spirit said, ‘You [pl.] set apart for me Barn. & Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then after fasting & praying THEY [i.e., together] laid their hands on them and sent THEM [together].” (13.1-3) Both they who sent & those who were sent did so as a team.
8. Paul was rarely alone, preferring companions & co-laborers for mutual encouragement and that he might train them to advance the mission beyond his own capacity. (Acts 11.25-30; 16.16-34; 19.29; 20.33-35; Rom 16.1-9, 21-23; Php 2.25-30; 4.3; Col 4.7-14; 1Th 2.1-13; Phm 1,24) It is clear that the Apostle Paul was not a lone worker simply led by the Spirit, but part of a team together led by the Spirit, working together, praying together, and making decisions together (1Th 3.1-11), both as a group (Acts 16.9,10) & with others (15.2,3,22; 21.18-26). Sometimes they even disagreed (15.32-41); and, though splitting with Barnabas, still Paul did not go alone.
9. We enter the labors of those who precede us, and join with them in the work (Jn 4.34-38). God works through many to accomplish his work: sometimes working together (1Co 16.15-18), and sometimes consecutively (1Co 3.3-11).

to be continued...

Christ's Community on Christ's Mission (Part 1)

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Ecc 4.9-12)

A friend once remarked to me, when visiting after completing boot camp in the military, that the hardest lesson he had to learn was that he was no longer responsible merely for himself to make sure he had completed the tasks personally assigned to him. Now he was responsible for his whole company to make sure that they all had completed the tasks assigned to the company. He was no longer a lone man, but part of a body, working together for a common goal.

I had similar epiphanies when the Lord showed me that salvation is not all about me. Yes, I knew (in theory, at least) that our salvation is “soli Deo gloria,” for God’s glory alone. However, I was blind to some important truths. 

1. I’m not alone, but God has saved others, too; and he didn’t save me merely for my own good, but that I might serve his body. Our physical hand does not serve itself alone, but feeds, protects, washes, nurses, and scratches the whole body. (In fact, it’s very hard for one hand to do anything for itself; and of course it can do nothing if separated from the body.) This is Christ’s community. 
2. And I’m not alone, but there is a world full of my brothers & sisters (by nature) who are still under the curse; and God did not inundate me with his grace in Christ for merely my own personal blessing, but that the super-abundance of his blessing might overflow me to reach “all families of the earth” (Genesis 12.1-3). And all of this is to the end that God in Christ is known, loved & worshipped. This is Christ’s mission. 

Salvation is not Jesus-and-ME-together-forever, but Jesus-took-US-to-be-his-bride.

to be continued...

Worthy of Men’s Praise

“Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth!

Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.

Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!

For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens…”

—Psalm 96

 

John Piper put it well that “missions exists because worship doesn’t.” In other words, because the vast majority of men of every language, color & custom have turned away from the God who made us, and worship false gods, it is therefore necessary to make the living God known & call men to return to Him. If all men everywhere were worshiping God from the heart, then there would be no need for missions. Indeed, the great end in view in this psalm would be accomplished. Then the fullness of Christ’s Kingdom would be here, and all who reject God would be gone. But that is not the case!

Rather, men of every tribe & tongue are worshiping gods they’ve created by their own imagination, which are “worthless” because they cannot rescue or aid those who serve them. This includes not merely the animist in Africa, the Hindu in India, but also the humanist in America. Each of us is responsible before God, and we must one day give an account to Him for our lives (v. 13).

This psalm (i.e., song) has chiefly in mind love for God’s glory. The psalmist (song writer) desires God to be known & praised, and urges other believers to make Him known. And the scope of his vision for God being glorified by men is global. He is not satisfied with one people in one corner of the globe knowing & praising God. He longs for the time when all nations & all of creation will join with one heart & voice to worship God. Do we have the same longings? What are we doing about it?

As we know, the nations, or people groups, are at fault for their ignorance of & rebellion against God. However, the nations are also to be pitied in their darkness & spiritual poverty. This also is expressed by the psalmist. He does not here call for the judgment & condemnation of the idolaters, but desires their salvation, and their entering into God’s triumphant praise. The nations’ problem—our problem—is idolatry. The psalmist’s solution: joyful worship of the true & living God.

The psalmist’s call to action for God’s people is to “sing to the LORD, bless his name [i.e., our own worship of God]; tell of his salvation from day to day [proclaim God’s love, grace & salvation]. Declare his glory among the nations [declare who God is], his marvelous works among all the peoples! [declare what God has done]...Say among the nations, ‘The LORD reigns…for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth [declare what God will do].’” Here is a simple plan for evangelism: worship God ourselves (otherwise we are hypocrites); proclaim his deliverance; declare who he is; what he has done; and what he will do. This is what idolaters need; they need to hear who God is, what he has done, and what he will do. No elaborate arguments, no seminary degree needed, simply proclaim what the Bible says.

The nations need to hear all of the message: God’s creation; His holiness, wrath & judgment; His love, grace & salvation; the Father, Son & Spirit’s work in saving us; Christ’s death & resurrection; Christ’s coming again & His Kingdom. To give them only part of the message (e.g., God’s love & grace without His wrath & judgment) will do the nations no good. That is to make a caricature of God—an idol. But the full message will bring the desired result: “The LORD reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD.”

Proclaiming God & his works is also an act of worship. Consider, when a man & woman love each other, their love spontaneously expresses itself in praise to each other; but it also spontaneously expresses itself by praising the beloved one before family, friends & others. We joyfully tell others what delights our hearts. Likewise, when we delight in God, we will gladly tell others about him. “Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.” We see both worship toward God, as directed to his ears, and worship proclaimed to others, as directed to the ears of men. In this way, our worship begets their worship.

Therefore, Brothers & Sisters, “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.” Our God is worthy of men’s praise!

Joy to the World

Verse 1

"Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

 Let earth receive her King;

 Let every heart prepare Him room,

 And Heaven and nature sing,

 And Heaven and nature sing,

 And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing."

The Gospel is "Good News," a message of joy (cf. Isaiah 51.11), and it is a message for the whole world: that is, for all nations. Jesus is a "light for revelation to the nations, and for glory to [God's] people Israel." (Luke 2.10-12,29-32)

We shouldn't think of "nations" in terms of geographical boundaries or governments, "nations" in the biblical sense refers to people groups distinguished by their heritage, customs or language. Our English word "ethnic" even derives from the Greek word "ethne" for nations or Gentiles. The Scriptures are clear (in both the Old & New Testaments) that Christ is King over all nations of men (e.g., Psalm 72.11,17; 86.9; Zechariah 8.20-23; Revelation 5.9,10).
Tell every people group that "the Lord is (i.e., has) come." God himself has come down to deliver his people (cf. Exodus 3.7,8). He has not merely sent help, but he has come down himself to save us (Isa 62.11; 59.15-20; Zec 9.9; Psa 50.1-6; Eze 34.11-16).

"Let earth receive her King." Christ comes as King over all things, being appointed by the Father (Psa 89.26,27; Eph 1.20-23). Our first father, Adam, was made king over the earth, but he fell from God's appointed position through sin, leaving Satan to usurp rule over the earth. But God will not let Satan remain in defiance of him, robbing his glory, holding what is rightfully his. So he promised a Man (Genesis 3.15) who would come & crush the usurper & deliver his people (1John 3.8).

And Christ came with power, conquering & taking authority over all things, and liberating his people from their captivity. He took authority over the elements, controlling the wind & waves. He took authority over the beasts, causing fish to leap into the nets & riding an unbroken donkey colt. He took authority over our diseases, curing them with a word or touch. He took authority over death, giving life to the dead with but a word. Then, he made a mockery of Satan & his agents, triumphing over them through his death & resurrection (Col 2.15). He fulfills God's command to take dominion over all things. Now the Man Christ Jesus sits on the throne of God, ruling all things, heaven & earth.

Therefore, let us sing with great joy for our conquering King has triumphed over our enemies, and delivered us from bondage. Let us praise our King who brings his righteous rule over heaven & earth, and to every nation of men. "Let...heaven & nature sing!"

Verse 2

"Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!

 Let men their songs employ;

 While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains

 Repeat the sounding joy,

 Repeat the sounding joy,

 Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy."

God is the God of joy! His joy is undimmed by sin. He hates evil, but nothing can rob him of his joy. And he delights in making others joyful; God overflows with joy (see Zephaniah 3.17).

Joy, not just to all people groups, but to the earth itself. Christ came to deliver his creation, also, from the curse of sin & death. God subjected the earth under bondage to sin & death (Romans 8.19-23), but he subjected it "in hope." Hope that it would one day be annihilated? No! Hope that it would one day be liberated. Therefore, the creation groans in anxious anticipation of Christ's Kingdom, when it will also be restored.

Therefore, the creation also rejoices in Christ the King, the reigning Savior. What a good & gracious King, who delivers us, his enemies, from the curse & makes everything new. Can we keep silent about such a Great Savior? Still, we cannot prevent the very rocks & trees from shouting his glory & dancing for joy!

Isaac Watts (1674-1748), author of "Joy to the World".

Verse 3

"No more let sins and sorrows grow,

 Nor thorns infest the ground;

 He comes to make His blessings flow

 Far as the curse is found,

 Far as the curse is found,

 Far as, far as, the curse is found."

Christ defeats our enemies: sin, death & Satan. And he delivers us from God's righteous curse. What is more, Christ brings God's blessing upon us. And God is not stingy with his blessing. "Where sin abounded, grace super-abounded." (Romans 5.20) Christ has fully obeyed the Father, even unto death; therefore, the Father has exalted him (Philippians 2.5-11), and given him the inheritance, which he passes on to us (Ephesians 4.8).

Satan led our first parents under the curse of God, but Christ came to destroy the works of Satan, thus undoing the curse. He is making all things new (Revelation 21.1-5). Satan brought sin; Christ brings righteousness that overcomes sin. Satan brought alienation from God & wrath; Christ brings reconciliation & peace that overcomes alienation & wrath. Christ brings life & joy that overcomes the sorrow & death Satan brought. As "far as the curse is found," so far does Christ's blessing flow, and even beyond. The darkness has passed, a new day dawns--the Day of Christ.

Away with the thorns, also, for Christ makes a new heavens & earth (2Pe 3.13), in which no unrighteous person may enter, where there will be no death or suffering, no more unfruitful labor nor bearing children unto sorrow (Isaiah 65.17-25; cf. Gen 3.16-19).

Verse 4

"He rules the world with truth and grace,

 And makes the nations prove

 The glories of His righteousness,

 And wonders of His love,

 And wonders of His love,

 And wonders, wonders, of His love."

TRUTH, GRACE, RIGHTEOUSNESS & LOVE! These are the blessings which Christ our King brings to all nations. Truth--he is faithful to his Father, faithful to his people, ruling in truth not with lies or deception, and delivering us from false gods, false hope, & false righteousness. Grace--he reigns by grace not by law, not dealing with us according to our sins, but according to his free grace, which he richly lavishes on us who deserve only his wrath. Righteousness--Christ rules in righteousness, bringing in a perfect & eternal righteousness, which more than satisfies God's justice, and which renders us perfectly righteous with him. Love--he reigns by love, love which embraces his enemies, love which gives 'til he has nothing left & then gives his life, love which is patient despite our failures, a love which will not let us go!
Jesus Christ WILL NOT BECOME King at some time in the future; he IS King now! "He rules the world with truth & grace." His Kingdom has invaded this fallen world under the usurper Satan, and is spreading until it fills the whole earth, every corner, every ethnic group, every language (Daniel 2.34,35,44,45).
Christ "makes the nations prove...his righteousness &...love." By "prove" he means in the old sense "to learn or find out by experience." According to his eternal plan, he is saving men from every nation, revealing his perfect righteousness (freely credited to them) & eternal love for them, and causing them to find it out & know it in their experience. The Gospel of this Christ, King & Savior, really is "Good News," and will capture the hearts of men from every tribe, language, people & nation.

So, as you sing "Joy to the World" this Christmas, remember that we're not singing the glories of a baby in a manger (though the incarnation of the Son of God is worth our rejoicing), but the glories of the Messiah, the Savior of the "world," meaning men from every people group on earth, and wonders of his blessings & Kingdom his brings upon us & the whole earth. "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice!" (Philippians 4.4)

Warning: Don't Try This at Home--Part 2

David Nitschmann & Leonard Dober

were the first Moravian missionaries.

The three principles I left off with are:

1. We freely GIVE to the world out of the riches freely GIVEN to us in Christ.
2. Every man's life & labor is important, and not less than that of the preacher.
3. We must train every believer how to be a light (a missionary) where he is.

These principles are effectively demonstrated by some ordinary followers of Christ in history. This is not mere theory, but has been practiced in the past, and continues to be practiced.

Examples from History
Gladys Aylward (1902-1970) spent her life savings on passage to China in 1930. She served the Chinese government as a "foot inspector," enforcing the laws against the traditional Chinese custom of footbinding young girls. In this position, she traveled the countryside, and served successfully in a field that often met with resistance & sometimes violence against the inspectors. She was highly revered by the people because of her care for orphans, even adopting several herself, and for her intervening in a prison riot & advocating prison reform. She risked her life many times to help those in need.

When the Japanese invaded her region of China (1938), Gladys led 94 orphans to safety, though wounded herself. She returned to England for a time, and was later denied entry to China by the new communist government, so she served her remaining years running an orphanage in Taiwan. Though not a preacher, she served Christ with the gifts he had given her, and gave her life in that service. Such service "adorns the doctrine of God our Savior" (Titus 2.10), and puts the Gospel into shoe-leather so that men may see the glory of Christ.

---

“My business is to witness for Christ.

I make shoes to pay my expenses.”

--William Carey

---

David Nitschmann (a carpenter) & Leonard Dober (a potter) were the first Moravian missionaries. They heard about the slaves on the Caribbean island of St. Thomas, who needed the Gospel. Antony Ulrich, a believer who was a black slave from the West Indies, told them of the need there, and told them that they'd have to become slaves themselves in order to bring the Gospel.

Willing even to become slaves, Dober & Nitschmann went to the Danish crown for permission to travel to St. Thomas. The crown was already sending out missionaries as state officials, strengthening its colonial policies. However, these men were being sent by a church alone, and as such were laughed at & violently opposed. When asked how they would support themselves, they responded, "We shall work as slaves among slaves." They were informed that it would be impossible for them to become slaves. Since pottery was not really useful in St. Thomas, Nitschmann would work as a carpenter, and Dober would assist him. Eventually, they gained the favor of the Danish court, and were helped on their way to St. Thomas. God blessed their labors, and churches were born on many of the islands.

Examples from Today
I know a man who is going to medical school in a third-world country, so that he can use those skills in missions without the massive debt attached with American schools.

One American wanted to reach out to the Hispanic people in his area, so he took a second job (not needing the income) working as a dishwasher in a Mexican restaurant, in order to help him learn Spanish & build relationships with some Hispanic people.

I also know a family starting a business in a country otherwise closed to Gospel, in order to help the people economically, and to tell them about Jesus.

Another friend uses his building skills to help various mission works.

Some Korean women are taking jobs as domestic servants in foreign households (among a culture hostile to Christianity), for the purpose of bringing the Gospel to these families.

These are just a few examples of ordinary men & women, who gave & are giving their lives to bring the Gospel to others. They make the gifts & training they have serve the Kingdom of Christ.

Putting the Word into Practice
How do I live? Is this my life to do with as I please; to fulfill my own purposes; to carry out my own plans; to care for & provide for myself & my family; to pursue my own interests; etc.--as long as I add Christ to my life, so that I secure my eternal well-being?

No, we do not add Christ to our life; he has added us to his life! "You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body & in your spirit, which are God's." (1Corinthians 6.19,20; cf. 2Cor 5.14,15; Rom 12.1,2) Christ added us to his life, so that we might please him, fulfill his purposes, carry out his plans, provide for his family, pursue his interests.

It is not that we have anything to offer Christ, or bring anything to him by becoming his followers. Christ does not save us because of what we have to offer him by our skills, knowledge, abilities or gifts. Everything we are & have is a gift from God; by using it for his glory, we are simply requiting his love, returning thanks & giving him his due. And every such response in us is itself a gracious gift from God, worked in us by the Spirit for his glory. Therefore, I labor out of God's grace to me, and I labor by God's grace in me.

Notwithstanding, let us examine our hearts: are we using our lives in service to Christ, his mission & glory; or are we using Christ to serve our own mission & glory?

In Shoe-Leather
Beyond what has already been suggested by the examples above, here are some ways you can use your skills, knowledge, abilities & gifts to serve Christ's Kingdom.

Are you a highly-trained professional (e.g., engineer, scientist, college professor, doctor, businessman, etc.)? Take your profession to a people who don't have the Gospel. Live & work among them. Train them, and help them develop that profession among their own people. And while you're at it, give them the Gospel, and plant churches among them.

Are you retired with time on your hands? Use the time you have left to serve Christ. Volunteer at a crisis pregnancy center, hospital, or homeless shelter. Disciple a young believer in your church. Plant a church in your neighborhood, or move to a needy neighborhood & plant one. Take your skills to another country, and train people there, or work with a missionary, helping in whatever way you can.

Are you single with great freedom of movement? Move to the "dangerous" area of your town, so you can tell them about Jesus. Take a short-term, mid-term or long-term foreign missions trip, so you can help an experienced missionary in the work, and be better prepared to serve later. Serve foreign missionary families by helping with their kids, or serve in a foreign orphanage. Study in a foreign school, and spread the Gospel while you're there.

Do you speak English? Become a friend to foreign students in your area; welcome them into your home & family; help them practice their English; put them up during school holidays; etc. Get training in teaching English as a second language, and teach it virtually anywhere in the world. Meanwhile give the Gospel wherever you go.

Are you married with children? This is where I am now. Yes, there's a need for you, too. Don't pursue a career, build your nest-egg, indulge your children, and fill your storage units. Rather give the strength of your youth to serving Christ. Serve in your community, or in some foreign field. Demonstrate for your children that following Christ means you live for him, and serve others. Involve your children in whatever you do, so they see fully every aspect of living for Christ in a fallen world--joys, sorrows, persecutions, prayers, hopes, etc. They'll see the Gospel by your life & hear it from your lips, as you serve & give it to others. Disciple them fully, so that they are prepared to serve Christ with every fiber of their being when they do believe. If they never follow Christ, still they'll know for sure that mom & dad had the real thing.

Whatever you are or have, use it to serve Christ & his Kingdom. Isn't he worth it! When simple followers of Christ evangelize, churches are born (e.g., Antioch--see Acts 11.19-26).

Warning: Don't Try This at Home--Part 1

I remember as a kid watching some television programs, where people did some crazy stunts, and the narrator would always give a warning such as this: "These are professional stunt people. Please do not try this at home." Many look at missions the same way. Don't try evangelism or missions at home; leave it to the professionals--your pastor, the Billy-Graham's, the seminary-trained people, etc. It is true that God calls highly gifted & educated individuals to spread the Gospel at home & throughout the world. But it is also true that God uses ordinary followers of Christ to spread the Gospel both at home & throughout the world.

Who Planted the Church at Antioch?

The church at Antioch (in Syria) was greatly used by God in the 1st Century. They were the church that sent out the Apostle Paul & Barnabas (Acts 13.1-3), Silas & Mark (15.32-40). Antioch was the launching point for each of Paul's great missionary endeavors. But this church itself was not planted by any Apostle!

You can read the founding of this church in Acts 11.19-26. The followers of Christ in that day fled the persecution in Jerusalem, spreading throughout Judea & Samaria (8.1), some even going as far as Phenice, Cyprus & Antioch (11.19). We know that they were not Apostles because we read that the Apostles remained in Jerusalem (8.1), and Paul (the Apostle) doesn't come on the scene until later. And it seems unlikely that any of those who came to antioch were elders, since we read of the elders still in Judea (11.29,30), and the church in Jerusalem sending Barnabas (no doubt an elder himself) to lead the church in Antioch (v. 22), who also gets Paul (now an elder) to work with him (vv. 25,26). Thus, the church in Antioch was planted by ordinary believers!

This shouldn't surprise us. Anyone who has come to know God through Christ can "speak the word" (v. 19) & "announce the good news of the Lord Jesus" (v. 20). You don't have to be eloquent; you don't have to have a degree after your name; you don't have to know a great deal. Just tell others what you do know. Christianity is not some esoteric religion, where the fullness of truth can only be grasped by the greatest minds, by elite scholars, or some special in-crowd. The "mysteries" are the truths of God now plainly recorded in the Bible for all to read & understand, being taught by the Holy Spirit.

Two Ways the Church Expands
Does that mean there is no need of elders? No, of course not. Through the labors of these ordinary believers, God blessed & "a great number who believed turned to the Lord." (Acts 11. 21) But there were still greater gains when Barnabas came to lead the church (v. 24). It grew to the point that they had 5 elders, so the Holy Spirit led them to send out Barnabas & Paul to plant more churches (13.1-3).

Therefore, there are clearly two ways churches are planted & grow: 1) when gifted, Spirit-filled elders--"able to teach" & "holding fast the trustworthy word as taught"--proclaim the "Good News" of Christ to unbelievers; and 2) when ordinary believers, also gifted & Spirit-filled, proclaim the same "Good News" of Christ to unbelievers.

More Than Giving Money
What are the implications of this? First, as believers we are called to do more than give money. The Christian life is more than attending church, fighting our way through a week to get enough money to support ourselves & our family, plus some extra to support our church & missions, and then returning to church to passively sit, learn a little more, and recharge for another week in the world. Rather, as a follower of Christ, all of my skills, knowledge, abilities & gifts are at the disposal of Christ my Lord, and become tools for use in his kingdom. I am now a light to the world in which I live, to give them the Gospel by my words & by my life, to proclaim it & to demonstrate it. My first thought in whatever I do should be, "Will this point people to Christ?" or "How can I use this to point people to Christ?" Living the other way is living to GET from the world, so that I can GIVE to the church. Living this way is living out of the riches GIVEN to me by Christ, and then GIVING out of his abundance to the world. Jesus said, "Freely you have received. Freely give."

Second, this raises the importance of every man's life & labor; it is not less than that of the preacher. No longer is the manual laborer consigned to the doldrums of mundane labor, eeking out his existence, living to have a positive balance statement, so that he can give the only thing he can give for the service of Christ--money. Now his labor is service to Christ, and he uses it bring the Gospel to others: he works hard so that he can tell others of Christ's love when he was an enemy; he is honest so that he can tell others of God's trustworthiness; he is generous so that he can tell others of the bounty & freedom of God's grace; etc. Everything (1Co 10.31) becomes the means of loving & serving God, and proclaiming his worth. The mother changing her baby's diaper out of love & gratitude to Christ, and praying for the child, and perparing herself to disciple the child, and do all she can to lead that child to Christ, is every bit the missionary, and all that she does in that spirit is proper service & glorifying to God.

Third, we must train every believer how to be a light (a missionary) where he is. It is like teaching children to read, write & speak. We teach every child to do all of these things, and help them develop those skills to the best of our ability & theirs. That doesn't mean we expect them all to become book authors or silver-tongued orators. It simply means they need to know & use those skills in order to understand & influence the world. Likewise, every believer needs to learn how to be a missionary to the world in which he lives. That doesn't mean everyone will quit their day-job & become a full-time preacher. But it does mean that everyone will do his part in the Mission of Christ. In other words, no believer is called simply to receive the grace of God, but, having freely received, to then freely give it to others.

This also leaves plenty of room for some individuals to give their lives to nothing but preaching & prayer (e.g., Paul). But the goal for ordinary believers is not merely to invite people to their church where the preacher can lead them to Christ; rather the goal is that every believer proclaim Christ, and invite people to lay hold of Christ through repentance & faith. Every believer should give his whole life in service to Christ, not just his money. The fact that every believer is involved in missions & evangelism & discipleship no more hinders particular individuals (e.g., elders) from devoting themselves to these things, than every believer praying hinders particular individuals from devoting themselves to prayer (e.g., elders--Acts 6.4). When simple followers of Christ evangelize, churches are born (e.g., Antioch)!

In the part 2, we'll look at some examples, both historical & contemporary, of how ordinary believers have & are making Christ known among the nations of the world.