R T B M ~ Returning To Biblical Missions

Missions and The Missionary Task - Changes in Understanding and Practice

Since the early days of the modern missions movement beginning with William Carey and Hudson Taylor, missions has consistently seen ongoing evolutions of understanding and changes in practice.  It may well be that in these days we too are in the midst of significant changes in our understanding and practice of taking the Gospel to all the nations.  I have with conviction and passion attempted to defend a position of missions from a biblical perspective that many find challenging or difficult to accept.  However, as I continue to study Scripture and observe what is happening around the world today, I too may need to modulate my own understanding of what we term as missions.

I would, with some reservation mind you, like to propose an alternative perspective of our understanding of missions.  We have consistently expressed our understanding of the Great Commission using two terms synonymously; these being missions and the missionary task.  The argument has been stated that to be involved in missions, as understood in Scripture, means that everyone would essentially be involved in the same practices.  Is it possible for us to separate our understanding of missions and the missionary task while maintaining their synergy for the ultimate goal of taking the Gospel to peoples?  Using our current nomenclature, should we express our understanding of 21st century missions in terms of churches being "missional" and missionaries as apostolic?

Online Offline Online Offline

After informing everyone that I was back online and would be publishing new posts, our internet decided to go haywire.  For the past several days we have not had a consistent signal and when we did, the speed was so slow I thought we had gone back in time to dial-up days.  Right now we obviously have a signal and I am going to attempt a new post.  Hopefully, the Verizon technician will be able to remedy whatever it is causing this problem.  Thanks for your patience.  Keep checking back for updates and new posts. 

Back Online

RTBM is now back online.  Our transition back to the US for stateside assignment (furlough) left us without internet access for several weeks.  It is amazing how cyber-space dependent we can become.  Nonetheless, new posts will be appearing soon.  Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Will Missions Go Green?

Levels of Carbon Dioxide Increasing In Atmosphere. 

Enterprise Goes Green With Hybrid Rentals. 

Climate Changes Now A UN Human Rights Issue.

The Carbon Hype Reaches the Tipping Point - A Social Revolution?

Bringing Safe Water To The  World.

The above are real headlines reflecting a growing concern for "mother earth", as many describe our world.  Global warming and environmental concerns have now invaded mainstream conversations.  There is a social revolution taking place.  This year, Earth Day became Earth Week as TV networks, cable stations, and other media outlets "Go Green"; raising awareness of environmental concerns and practical ways these harmful trends can be slowed.

In recent years it appears that Earth Day has been elevated to religious status with a large following of those who believe.  It can be argued that this new wave of thought and practice is bordering on a modern day version of pantheism.  More and more of these true believers are gaining voice within the international political arena, influencing major segments of life. Going Green is an issue that will not soon go away and every aspect of society will be impacted. 

So what about missions and the environment?  Will it be necessary for missions to "Go Green"?  Is there a biblical response to this highly emotional discussion?  How will international environmental concerns impact missiology?  No matter one's viewpoint, even missionaries cannot afford to hide our heads in the sand, claiming that these discussions do no impact me. 

CPMs, Cities and The Future

There is a question that continues to invade my missiology and my understanding of how God is at work in our world today.  Are Church Planting Movements the final wave in missions?  Even to the casual observer, the impact of CPM strategies has been and continues to provide a unprecedented harvest for the Kingdom.  This perspective of the missionary task has radically changed the face of missions around the world and has crossed denominational lines.  But is there something new just over the horizon?

Recently it was stated by demographic experts that more of the world's population now lives in urban centers than those who live outside of the city.  Will there be a church planting strategy that contains the biblical principles of Church Planting Movements or will there be a need to seek new and innovative approaches to reaching those who are urbanized?

Although I am almost 10 years behind, I am currently reading Ray Bakke's work, Theology As Big As The City.  I am only a few pages into this book and I'm almost out of ink in my highlighter.  For some of you, you may be thinking, "where have you been?" For others, I hope the response is glad you made it here.

There is one quote to this point in my reading that really has caused me a moment of pause and reflection.  

"This author observed that conservative Christians who devour Scripture as God's Word . . . Without knowing it, their values are skewed in an anticity direction.  To walk with God eventually requires a departure from the city."

Acts 1:8 -- Acts 8:1

It is difficult in today's missions culture to hear a missions message without the inclusion of Acts 1:8.  This verse is a powerful reminder and a continuation of the "go to all the nations" thread found in Scripture.  These were, perhaps the final words of our Lord before His ascension to be with the Father.  Without repeating what has been stated over and over again there is one element of this verse that often times is left out when discussing its impact upon missions. 

The word "witness", as employed in this verse is from the Greek word, (μάρτυς) martus.  This word, found 29 times in the book of Acts, has several meanings such as record, witness in the judicial sense, and it is the word from which we derive our English term martyr.   As a noun, that of being a witness in the judicial sense can be seen in Acts 4:19-20 as Peter and John testify before council.  As a verb, it is the act of giving testimony to the truth. 

It is with the verb form of the term witness that we will now turn our attention.  For most can quote Acts 1:8, but what about Acts 8:1?

Remembering Those Without Hope

The essence of this post was posted in February 2007.  It is time for yet another reminder.

"remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world."      Ephesians 2:12

There are many options that the enemy has available to distract us from living as obedient believers and missionaries.  The insidious nature of these methods many times lulls Christians into a sub-conscience denial of various spiritual realities.  One of the most damaging of these ploys is when we forget what it was like to be lost; one who has no intimate relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The longer one is a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, the greater the tendency to migrate toward relationships with other believers, avoiding whenever possible intentional interaction with those not of the faith.  Many have simply forgotten what life was like without the presence of Holy Spirit guiding their every step.  Many Christians seek out regular opportunities to be a witness for the simple fact that they do not know any lost people at a level of relationship that would provide opportunities for spiritual conversations. 

Hit and Run Missions - Possible Solutions to Consider

In the area of "Hit and Run" evangelism there is one disclaimer that must be made. To share a clear gospel message to anyone at any time is never wrong. The fact that we may not be able to invest our lives in that person's life should not be a hindrance to present the salvation message to all. However, as I read Scripture this is not the norm, rather an exception.

Related to volunteer mission teams, the task of follow-up is especially challenging. To make return trips is costly and difficult given work schedules and time off for such an effort. But what if a team's evangelistic project included follow-up teams that would begin the initial steps of discipleship with new believers. I find it ironic that the churches in the states assume and expect local national churches to fulfill the task of follow-up while at the same time sending multiple teams a year to build, teach, preach, and minister to the local community. There appears to be a juxtaposition of two extremes of the missions spectrum at play here.

Surprised by God

Through God's Word we learn that suffering, trials, and difficulties are a normal part of the Christian life and even more so for those who have been called, set apart, and sent out to herald the Gospel to the nations. If we believe that we may enter this spiritual battle without experiencing the cost of spiritual warfare, then we have simply turned a blind eye to biblical truth.

However, there is another element of missions that we dare not ignore. These are the times when we are surprised by God. Through the difficulties of life and work, God reveals Himself at unexpected times and in unusual ways. Many missionaries, for example, are surprised when God actually blesses their efforts to bring lost souls into the Kingdom gathering these new believers into congregations. In fact, the surprise is so great, that many are not prepared to respond. A lack of preparation for an anticipated harvest is evidence that God will indeed bless our efforts.

Many have shared that during the most difficult of times, God has taken the challenges of life and transformed them into blessings. Failure in the eyes of man are actually a stepping stone to greater plan in the eyes of our Lord. We know this to be true in hindsight, but it is more difficult to understand this biblical truth in the midst of any situation.

We are surprised when a biblical promise becomes a reality in our lives. Our relationship and obedience to our Lord leads to fruit. John 15 Why then we are living a life graphed to the vine and living a life of obedience we are surprised that the One who made this promise would keep His promise? We are surprised when we are the most despondent, Christ will bring us a moment of joy. In our sadness, He brings us peace. In our weakness, He brings us strength. Although we know all of this to be true and express these truths and promises to others, we stand in amazement when it part of our experience.

Missions is a calling and a task withe many challenges. There are not easy answers and no silver bullet solutions. We should not be surprised when we are surprised by God.

Hit and Run Missions

The entire issue of “hit and run” evangelism and church planting is a complex and often misunderstood description of some mission practices. It’s not my intent to present a exhaustive treatment here, but rather a brief introduction of the topic.

The obviously analogy here is a hit and run situation where an accident takes place and one of the parties leaves the scene prior to any resolution takeing place. In a hit and run situation there are a variety or reasons why one would flee. Two justifications related to our discussion would be, those have the fear of not knowing what to do next and or those with no sense of responsibility for the situation. In the sphere of those involved in missions there is no mal-intent when these two responses occur, but the impact remains devastating none the less.