Thinking Like a Missionary Series - Part 6

“Thinking Like a Missionary” – Part VI

Message #6 in TLAM Series                                                                            

INTRODUCTION:

            This is the sixth and last message in this teaching series I have entitled, “Thinking Like a Missionary.” I hope that the series has been helpful for you. My goal, as I have stated each week, has been to change the way we look at our church and ourselves. I believe that every Christian is a missionary and every local church a mission outpost. We need to see ourselves as God’s representatives, His ambassadors, and His missionaries. This world is not our home and we do not feel completely “at home” here. The Bible says that we are “aliens and strangers.” We are in this world, but we are warned not to be “of it.” Our assigned mission is, “To win people to Christ and help them grow to be like Him.” That statement encompasses the whole task of evangelism and disciple-making. And it is not Mission Impossible! Oh yes, in our own strength it is impossible but not in God’s strength. And we need to remember that He never asks His servants to do anything that is impossible.

            One the other hand, we have to recognize that as missionaries entrusted with the message of the Gospel we must find ways to cross the natural boundaries that exist between people so that we can share the Good News with them. We have talked about the fact that Christians and non-Christians have vastly different worldviews and different ways of looking at such things as truth, morals, ethics, and absolutes. We have talked about the fact that the non-Christian people of this mission field we call Ourtownistan have their own language, lifestyle, culture, and moral values. To get the Gospel message to Sam and Sally Seeker we will have to find ways to bridge the gap, to swim the river, to climb the 20-foot fence, and to get past the alligators in the moat around their house. We will have to make friends with them, go where they live, hang out with them, get to know them and learn to love them, and to let them know and love us, warts and all. Then, maybe, just maybe, we will one day have the unspeakable joy of telling them of the hope that is within us and of the One who has given us new life.

TRANSITION:

            I have been telling you that missionaries the world over have long been characterized by a set of 15 commitments, or principles that govern their lives and ministries. So far, we have looked at the first 13 of those. Let’s review those briefly.

Principle #1 is that missionaries own the Great Commission individually. They believe that Christ’s order to “go out and make disciples” applies directly to them. They do not wait for the rest of the church to get on board.

Principle #2 is that missionaries embrace God’s call personally. They do not wait to be hit by a bolt of lightning. They recognize that mission is all about obedience, not about waiting for some mystical experience to confirm God’s call.

Principle #3 is that missionaries identify God as their source of strength and acknowledge their personal weaknesses. They understand that on their own they are nothing, but with God they are “more than conquerors.” They do not rely on programs and tricky methods but upon the Holy Spirit to open doors, to touch hearts, and to empower the message.

Principle #4 is that missionaries know that they are dependent on a support team of “rope holders.” Not everyone fights on the front line at the same time.  Mission also depends on faithful people doing the unglamorous behind-the-scenes work. That is because mission is about teamwork. We are all called to be God’s missionaries and we all have a role to play in completing the mission.

Principle #5 is that missionaries are committed to go where the people live rather than wait for the people to come to them.

Principle #6 is that missionaries invest the time and effort to survey their mission field so that they can locate the “entry points” where they can begin to make contacts, build relationships, and eventually earn the right to share their faith in Christ.

Principle #7 is that missionaries make the commitment to learn the heart language of the people so that they can communicate the Gospel in ways that touch the felt needs of the people.

Principle #8 is that good missionaries love the people genuinely. In 2 Cor. 6:6 Paul speaks of “genuine love” being one of the marks of a true Christian. In Romans 12:9 he writes, “Let love be without hypocrisy.” People can see through phony love, and phony love turns people off—to us, to our message, and to our Christ.

Principle #9 is that successful missionaries adopt the culture and history of their host country to become one with the people. They know that to win people to Christ, they first have to “sell” themselves. To win a hearing we must live out the Gospel as we proclaim the Gospel. In other words, before we can share the Good News, we must become good news to the people we are hoping to win to Christ. We must be willing to become a part of their world. We must find ways to go to them, rather than wait for them to come to us.

Principle #10 is that missionaries must learn to feel the needs of the people and to sincerely empathize with them. The truth is that all humans have needs. They need food, shelter, companionship, medicine, clothing, etc. And we must remember that Jesus fed the multitudes, and healed people as He was ministering to their spiritual needs. He was concerned for all their needs. We must be also.

Principle #11 is that missionaries find ways to contextualize the Gospel and to proclaim it in culturally relevant ways. This is not only important for modern missionaries; it was also a constant concern of the apostle Paul. We see that in his prayer requests listed in Colossians 4:2-6. Paul asks the believers in Colossae to pray for him…

1.       That God will give him open doors to proclaim the Gospel

2.      That he will have the courage to speak it boldly

3.      That he might know how to make the message clear

4.      That he might make the most of every God-given opportunity

5.      That he might know exactly how best to speak to each person

Principle #12 is that missionaries work hard to develop friendships that last rather than mere surface relationships. True friendship is valued in all times, in all places, and in all cultures. Genuine friendship is a transferable concept. But friendships do not just happen automatically. They require hard work. They require an investment of time spent together, values in common, and shared adversity, sacrifice, and loyalty. If we want to have an impact here in Ourtownistan we must form strong, lasting, genuine friendships with people. We must be willing to put in the time and effort to invest in people’s lives.

Principle #13 is that missionaries understand the concept of conserving the harvest. Several times in the NT evangelism and disciple-making are compared to farming. Last Sunday we looked at that model and talked about how important it is to follow up evangelism with a discipleship strategy to help people grow to Christian maturity. Otherwise, without teaching and encouragement in how to live the Christian life new converts easily become discouraged and fall away from the faith.

MAIN BODY:

Today we want to look at the last two of the 15 missionary principles we have been discussing.

Principle #14: Missionaries celebrate the results. Missionaries love parties. In fact, some of the best parties I have ever attended have been with missionaries. We used to have wonderful times together. Among the missionaries we would celebrate every person’s birthday, children, and adults. We would get together for Christmas and Thanksgiving for big potluck dinners. Our missionary colleagues were our family out there on the field. The children addressed all the adults as “uncle” or “aunt.” There are MK’s (missionary kids) all around the world who still write to me and call me Uncle Mike, even though we are not related by blood. And my children do the same thing when addressing my missionary colleagues.

But right now, I am not talking about that kind of celebration. I am talking about the joy of leading people to a saving knowledge of Christ and then seeing them go on to become mature believers, to serve the Lord, to win others, to train new believers, to start congregations and new churches, and to learn to preach and teach the Word of God. There is no joy like that joy! But that joy is not reserved just for foreign missionaries on distant fields. God wants YOU to experience that joy too. You are a missionary. You too are on a mission field.

 We need to see this field of Ourtownistan through missionary eyes. We need to plan, and pray, and work to see lives changed, families transformed, sinners set free, and we need to celebrate every victory, great or small. One of my favourite NT passages is Luke 15—the chapter about lost things: a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. Jesus told three stories. The details were different in each one, but the conclusion was the same. The story of the Lost Sheep ends this way: “And when he finds [his sheep], he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ [Jesus said] I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” The story of the Lost Coin ends this way: “And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” And you remember the story of the Lost Son. It too ended with a huge celebration: “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So, they began to celebrate.” 

When one lost person is found, it is a big deal! When one sinner gets saved all the angels of Heaven throw a party. We should do no less. Missionaries have the best parties, and with good reason.

Principle #15: Missionaries look forward to return to work and continue the process. We used to come back to the States after four years on the field. Back then four years was a normal term, with approximately 12 months back in our home country. People used to say that a missionary was “home on furlough.” That was an unfortunate choice of words because it projected the idea that missionaries only worked when they were on their field.  Lots of people thought that we came home for R&R and would just sit around idle for a year on an extended holiday. Nothing could have been further from the truth. Now most mission boards have adopted the term, “home assignment.” It comes closer to the truth. That year back in our home country is filled with exhausting travel, stress, and lots of hard work, what with missions conferences, continuing education, speaking in all of our supporting churches, and raising additional financial support due to increasing costs on the field.

Ask any missionary; they will tell you that while it is nice to go home to visit family and friends occasionally, their heart is still back on their mission field. They cannot wait to get back “home” because that is where they find their fulfilment in life. Serving the Lord on their assigned field and seeing God at work is the thing that gives them their greatest joy. For many years, mission boards did not let their missionaries retire on their fields, but that has changed. Now you often hear of missionaries retiring and staying on the field. Why? Because that is where his/her heart is. That is where they love to be.

Where is your heart today? How much do you really care about your mission field? How much do you really love the people on your mission field? Are you invested here? Do you really pray for the people of this community? Do you really care that there are thousands of people all around us who are dying and going to hell? I pray that God will open our eyes and break our hearts with the needs around us.

In closing I just want to say that last Sunday I passed out copies of a handout entitled “Outreach Opportunity Ideas.” It is just a list of some practical starting places if you are serious about putting into practice the things that we have been discussing over these six Sundays. I would urge you to prayerfully look at that list and ask God what He would have you do about what you have learned. You are a missionary! That is why you are here. You have been sent by God to this mission field to be a witness.

            Moreover, this church is a mission outpost. It exists to train and equip missionaries to go out from here to take the Gospel to people out there. It does not exist to be a safe place for Christians to hide out until Jesus comes back. It is not a place to entertain Christians. It is not a haven from the cruel world, although sometimes it serves as a field hospital to bind up the wounds of God’s soldiers, but it is not an R&R resort.

            You also need to know that we are going to begin doing things differently around here. We are going to start measuring everything we do against the straightedge of our Mission Statement; namely, “We are here to win people to Christ and help them grow to be like Him.” Our budget will be evaluated in the light of that Mission Statement. Our choosing of leaders will be based on that Statement. Our programmes will be evaluated based on how they do or do not advance the Mission. Even our planning of congregational social events will be scrutinized through the lens of that Mission Statement. If we cannot describe and defend how something furthers the Mission, then we should not waste the time, resources, and energy to do something that does not advance the flag.

CONCLUSION:

            In closing I want to read something to you. It is called the “Parable of the Orange Trees.” It was written many years ago by Dr. John White, a heartsick missionary who came back home from a long, difficult term in Central America only to be confronted with almost total apathy in his supporting churches toward missions and evangelism. He expressed his sorrow and pain in this parable.

“The Parable of the Orange Trees”

By John White

I DREAMED I drove on a Florida road, still and straight and empty. On either side were groves of orange trees, so that as I turned to look at them from time to time, line after line of trees stretched back endlessly from the road – their boughs heavy with round yellow fruit. This was harvest time. My wonder grew as the miles slipped by. How could the harvest be gathered?

Suddenly I realized that for all the hours I had driven (and this was how I knew I must be dreaming) I had seen no other person. The groves were empty of people. No other car had passed me. No houses were to be seen beside the highway. I was alone in a forest of orange trees.

But at last I saw some orange pickers. Far from the highway, almost on the horizon, lost in the vast wilderness of unpicked fruit, I could discern a tiny group of them working steadily. And many miles later I saw another group. I could not be sure, but I suspected that the earth beneath me was shaking with silent laughter at the hopelessness of their task. Yet the pickers went on picking

The sun had long passed its zenith, and the shadows were lengthening when, without any warning, I turned a corner of the road to see a notice “Leaving NEGLECTED COUNTY – Entering HOME COUNTY.” The contrast was so startling that I scarcely had time to take in the notice. I had to slow down, for all at once the traffic was heavy. People by the thousands swarmed the road and crowded the sidewalks.

Even more startling was the transformation in the orange groves. Orange groves were still there, and orange trees in abundance, but now, far from being silent and empty, they were filled with the laughter and singing of multitudes of people. Indeed, it was the people we noticed rather than the trees. People – and houses.

I parked the car at the roadside and mingled with the crowd. Smart gowns, neat shoes, showy hats, expensive suits, and starched shirts made me a little conscious of my work clothes. Everyone seemed so fresh, and poised, and cheerful.

“Is it a holiday?” I asked a well-dressed woman with whom I fell in step.

She looked a little startled for a moment, and then her face relaxed with a smile of gracious condescension.

“You’re a stranger, aren’t you?” she said, and before I could reply, “This is Orange Day.”

She must have seen a puzzled look on my face, for she went on, “It is so good to turn aside from one’s labours and pick oranges one day of the week.”

“But don’t you pick oranges every day?” I asked her.

“One may pick oranges at any time,” she said. “We should always be ready to pick oranges, but Orange Day is the day that we devote especially to orange picking.”

I left her and made my way further into the trees. Most of the people were carrying a book. Bound beautifully in leather, and edged and lettered in gold, I was able to discern on the edge of one of them the words, “Orange Picker’s Manual.”

By and by I noticed around one of the orange trees seats had been arranged, rising upward in tiers from the ground. The seats were almost full – but, as I approached the group, a smiling well-dressed gentleman shook my hand and conducted me to a seat.

There, around the foot of the orange tree, I could see a number of people. One of them was addressing all the people on the seats and, just as I got to my seat, everyone rose to his feet and began to sing. The man next to me shared with me his song book. It was called “Songs of the Orange Groves.”

They sang for some time, and the song leader waved his arms with a strange and frenzied abandon, exhorting the people in the intervals between the songs to sing more loudly.

I grew steadily more puzzled.

“When do we start to pick oranges?” I asked the man who had loaned me his book.

“It’s not long now,” he told me. “We like to get everyone warmed up first. Besides, we want to make the oranges feel at home.” I thought he was joking – but his face was serious.

After a while, a rather fat man took over from the song leader and, after reading two sentences from his well-thumbed copy of the Orange Picker’s Manual, began to make a speech. I wasn’t clear whether he was addressing the people or the oranges.

I glanced beyond me and saw a number of groups of people similar to our own group gathering around an occasional tree and being addressed by other fat men. Some of the trees had no one around them.

“Which trees do we pick from?” I asked the man beside me. He did not seem to understand, so I pointed to the trees round about.

“This is our tree,” he said, pointing to the one we were gathered around.

“But there are too many of us to pick from just one tree,” I protested. “Why, there are more people than oranges?”

“But we don’t pick oranges,” the man explained. “We haven’t been called. That’s the Head Orange Picker’s job. We’re here to support him. Besides, we haven’t been to college. You need to know how an orange thinks before you can pick it successfully – orange psychology, you know. Most of these folk here,” he went on, pointing to the congregation, “have never been to Manual School.”

“Manual School,” I whispered. “What’s that?”

“It’s where they go to study the Orange Picker’s Manual,” my informant went on. “It’s very hard to understand. You need years of study before it makes sense.”

“I see,” I murmured. “I had no idea that picking oranges was so difficult.”

The fat man at the front was still making his speech. His face was red, and he appeared to be indignant about something. So far as I could see there was rivalry with some of the other “orange-picking” groups. But a moment later a glow came on his face.

“But we are not forsaken,” he said. “We have much to be thankful for. Last week we saw THREE ORANGES BROUGHT INTO OUR BASKETS, and we are now completely debt-free from the money we owed on the new cushion covers that grace the seats you now sit on.”

“Isn’t it wonderful?” the man next to me murmured. I made no reply. I felt that something must be profoundly wrong somewhere. All this seemed to be a very roundabout way of picking oranges.

The fat man was reaching a climax in his speech. The atmosphere seemed tense. Then with a very dramatic gesture he reached two of the oranges, plucked them from the branch, and placed them in the basket at his feet. The applause was deafening.

“Do we start on the picking now?” I asked my informant.

“What in the world do you think we’re doing?” he hissed. “What do you suppose this tremendous effort has been made for? There’s more orange-picking talent in this group than in the rest of Home County. Thousands of dollars have been spent on the tree you’re looking at.”

I apologized quickly. “I wasn’t being critical,” I said. “And I’m sure the fat man must be a very good orange picker – but surely the rest of us could try. After all, there are so many oranges that need picking. We’ve all got a pair of hands, and we could read the Manual.”

“When you’ve been in the business as long as I have, you’ll realize that it’s not as simple as that,” he replied. “There isn’t time, for one thing. We have our work to do, our families to care for, and our homes to look after. We…”

But I wasn’t listening. Light was beginning to break on me. Whatever these people were, they were not orange pickers. Orange picking was just a form of entertainment for their weekends.

I tried one or two more of the groups around the trees. Not all of them had such high academic standards for orange pickers. Some held classes on orange picking. I tried to tell them of the trees I had seen in Neglected County, but they seemed to have little interest.

“We haven’t picked the oranges here yet,” was their usual reply.

The sun was almost setting in my dream and, growing tired of the noise and activity all around me, I got in the car and began to drive back again along the road I had come. Soon all around me again were the vast and empty orange groves.

But there were changes. Some things had happened in my absence. Everywhere the ground was littered with fallen fruit. And as I watched it seemed that before my eyes the trees began to rain oranges. Many of them lay rotting on the ground.

I felt there was something so strange about it all, and my bewilderment grew as I thought of all the people in HOME COUNTY.

Then, booming through the trees there came a voice which said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the Harvest, therefore, to send out workers.”

And I awakened – for it was only a dream!

[About the author: Dr. John White was an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Manitoba. His many books include The Fight, The Cost of Commitment, Daring to Draw Near, and When the Spirit Comes with Power.]