I was doing some reading recently and I a came across a sermon called “Doing Missions When Dying is Gain” by Pastor John Piper. He was preaching to a group of young pastors and future missionaries about our attitude as Americans when it comes to spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth. This is an excerpt from that article:
“YWAM (Youth With A Mission) is a wild-eyed radical group that I love. I got an email on September 1st,
One hundred and fifty men armed with machetes surrounded the premises occupied by the YWAM team in India. The mob had been incited by other religious groups in an effort to chase them off. As the mob pressed in someone in a key moment spoke up on the team’s behalf and they decided to give them 30 days to leave. The team feels they should not leave and that their ministry work in the city is at stake. Much fruit has been seen in a previously unreached region and there is great potential for more. In the past when violence has broken out between rival religious groups people have lost their lives. Please pray for them to have wisdom.
Now this is exactly the opposite of what I hear mainly in America as people decide where to live, for example. I don't hear people saying, "I don’t want to leave, because this is where I’m called to and this is where there’s need." Would you please join me in reversing American evangelical priorities? It seems to be woven into the very fabric of our consumer culture that we move toward comfort, toward security, toward ease, toward safety, away from stress, away from trouble, and away from danger. It ought to be exactly the opposite! “He who would come after me let him take up his cross and die!”
So I just don’t get it! It’s the absorption of a consumer, comfort, ease culture that is permeating the church. And it creates little ministries and churches in which safe, secure, nice things are done for each other. And little safe excursions are made to help save some others. But, O we won’t live there, and O we won’t stay there, not even in America, not to mention Saudi Arabia!”
I found this article to be very interesting because of where Julie and I are doing ministry. Many have called Juarez, MX on of the most dangerous cities in the world. We talk to people everyday who tell us we should not be across the border. Should our response to this danger and as Christians make us desire to flee or desire to embrace this opportunity? It seems that people who need hope the most are the most responsive and ready for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Mark 2:17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."
I think that our feelings in any dangerous circumstance in missions reveals to us where are hearts are. Are our hearts for others and for God, or are they consumer filled with self preservation? My hope that is any catastrophic, oppressive, dangerous circumstance, my heart is drawn to the people who are subjects under it. Christ said to go the ends of the earth to teach and train people in the gospel. He never said it would be safe. Oh Jesus, give me your compassion!
To read the rest of John Piper’s sermon go to this link:
Justin Kirklin
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