Sometimes I sit in amazement as the credits for a movie roll by. I find it almost unbelievable how many people it takes to make a movie, most of whom are never seen on screen. There are set designers, wardrobe personnel, make-up and hair artists, carpenters, electricians, cameramen, and others whose titles are an enigma. But there are also caterers, drivers, accountants, personal assistants, and insurance agents. Then there are all the people involved in sound, special effects, editing, lighting, and computer animation. As the names roll by, sometimes four and five columns across for minute after minute, I think that there are even more people whose names do not make the screen. It takes a lot of people to make a movie.
It takes a lot of people to do missions. Most of them will never go anywhere. It is true that the initial surge of spreading the gospel beyond Jerusalem came about as the church was scattered because of persecution (Acts 8:4). Most of the church, except the apostles, went everywhere sharing the word and wound up reaching Samaritans and even Gentiles in Antioch. But if we take "missions" in its etymological sense of being "sent," its true beginning was at Antioch when the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them" (Acts 13:2). The church took their two best leaders and "sent them off" (v. 3). Two went (not counting John Mark) but most stayed. The missionary journeys of Paul and his companions are the God-given example of the implementation of the Great Commission. The model clearly shows a few going but most supporting.
I have been guilty of preaching as if anyone who does not become a missionary is disobeying the Lord. I do believe that many who should go are not doing so. But my guilt lies in not appreciating the importance of those who support and in not understanding how many people it takes to support in relation to the number who go. In addition to praying, someone must give, lots of "someones." Others will help with logistics, and still others will work to keep the home base strong (including the work of calling still others to go). In an army, all are trained and ready to fight, but for every fighter on the front lines there are many others who work in supplies, care for the wounded, cook food, transport materiel, and do all the other things necessary for the fighters to be effective. These behind-the-lines soldiers may not win many medals but without them the army would not win many battles.
What cannot and must not happen is for those who do not go to remain unengaged in the effort. In my lifetime, America has been involved in several undeclared wars: Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, and others. In none of these have the American people been asked to sacrifice. We watch the war on the news, but our daily lives go on as if nothing was happening. Our modern approach would never have won World War II. The whole nation was engaged in the struggle to defeat a real threat to freedom. For example, I did not know until watching a documentary recently that not a single automobile was made during the years of the war. All the production went for tanks, personnel carriers, and airplanes. We will not win the world to Christ unless the whole church becomes engaged in the effort, doing without luxuries and even some necessities so that the "soldiers" will have what they need.
We may not all go, but we must all be involved in some way. Let's pray today asking God what sacrifice we should make so that the name of Jesus will be known and trusted by all peoples, tribes, and languages.
It takes a lot of people to do missions. Most of them will never go anywhere. It is true that the initial surge of spreading the gospel beyond Jerusalem came about as the church was scattered because of persecution (Acts 8:4). Most of the church, except the apostles, went everywhere sharing the word and wound up reaching Samaritans and even Gentiles in Antioch. But if we take "missions" in its etymological sense of being "sent," its true beginning was at Antioch when the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them" (Acts 13:2). The church took their two best leaders and "sent them off" (v. 3). Two went (not counting John Mark) but most stayed. The missionary journeys of Paul and his companions are the God-given example of the implementation of the Great Commission. The model clearly shows a few going but most supporting.
I have been guilty of preaching as if anyone who does not become a missionary is disobeying the Lord. I do believe that many who should go are not doing so. But my guilt lies in not appreciating the importance of those who support and in not understanding how many people it takes to support in relation to the number who go. In addition to praying, someone must give, lots of "someones." Others will help with logistics, and still others will work to keep the home base strong (including the work of calling still others to go). In an army, all are trained and ready to fight, but for every fighter on the front lines there are many others who work in supplies, care for the wounded, cook food, transport materiel, and do all the other things necessary for the fighters to be effective. These behind-the-lines soldiers may not win many medals but without them the army would not win many battles.
What cannot and must not happen is for those who do not go to remain unengaged in the effort. In my lifetime, America has been involved in several undeclared wars: Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, and others. In none of these have the American people been asked to sacrifice. We watch the war on the news, but our daily lives go on as if nothing was happening. Our modern approach would never have won World War II. The whole nation was engaged in the struggle to defeat a real threat to freedom. For example, I did not know until watching a documentary recently that not a single automobile was made during the years of the war. All the production went for tanks, personnel carriers, and airplanes. We will not win the world to Christ unless the whole church becomes engaged in the effort, doing without luxuries and even some necessities so that the "soldiers" will have what they need.
We may not all go, but we must all be involved in some way. Let's pray today asking God what sacrifice we should make so that the name of Jesus will be known and trusted by all peoples, tribes, and languages.
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