Some estimate that there are over 2 billion Christians in the world today! It's the fastest growing religion in some parts of South America, Africa, and Asia. As the world's largest religion in a world of over 6 billion people, Christians can have enormous influence for good.
Even with so many people adhering to the Christian faith, there are still more than 4 billion people that haven't made a decision for Christ or haven't heard the Good News (or heard a version that made sense, delivered with authenticity, perceived with credibility...).
This is where you come in: we always want to think local when we think of mission, of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. When we serve and care for others in our community, we are living out the Great Commission. But we also want to always think global in our evangelism as well.
We ought to be considering where in the world we can serve and be Good News to communities with none or small Christian communities. When we show up somewhere in the world with Good News and supplies for a fresh-water well, mosquito nets, farming equipment, or medicine, we earn the opportunity to share about Jesus.
Have you ever been on a short-term or long-term mission trip? If so, how did it go? What was it like? Why did you go? What was the outcomes of it? If you have not gone yet, why not? When will you go? What is stopping you? What excites you about going?
It's been too long since Anchor has sponsored some short-term mission trips. It's time we started planning some to happen soon.
Here are some thoughts from the reading today that I though were helpful:
The Great Commission is your commission.
"Jesus said to his followers, 'Go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to everyone." Mark 16:15 (NCV)
Worldly Christians look to God primarily for personal fulfillment. They are saved, but self-centered. Their prayers focus on their own needs, blessings, and happiness. It's a "me-first" faith: How can God make my life more comfortable? They want to use God for their purposes instead of being sued for his purposes.
In contrast, world-class Christians know they were saved to serve and made for a mission. They are eager to receive a personal assignment and excited about the privilege of being used by God. World-class Christians are the only fully alive people on the planet. Their joy, confidence, and enthusiasm are contagious because they know they're making a difference. They wake up each morning expecting God to work through them in fresh ways.
It has never been easier in history to fulfill your commission to go to the whole world. The great barriers are not longer distance, cost, or transportation. The only barrier is the way we think. To be a world-class Christian you must make some mental shifts. Your perspective and attitudes must change.
Shift from self-centered thinking to other-centered thinking.
The Bible says, "My friends, stop thinking like children. Think like mature people." Of course this is a difficult mental shift because we're naturally self-absorbed and almost all advertising encourages us to think of ourselves. The only way we can make this switch is by a moment-by-moment dependence on God.
Fortunately he doesn't leave us to struggle on our own. "God has given us his Spirit. That's why we don't think the same way that the people of this world think." Begin asking the Holy Spirit to help you to think of the spiritual need of unbelievers whenever you talk to them. Your goal is to figure out where others are in their spiritual journey and then do whatever will bring the a step closer to knowing Christ.
Shift from local thinking to global thinking.
God is a global God. He has always cared about the entire world. "God so loved the world...". Much of the world already thinks globally. We are more connected than we realize. Prayer is the most important tool for your mission in the world. People may refuse our love or reject our message, but they are defenseless against our prayers. Prayer makes you a partner with others around the world.
Another way to develop global thinking is to read and watch the news with "Great Commission eyes." Wherever there is change or conflict, you can be sure that God will use it to bring people to him. People are most receptive to God when they are under tension or in transition. Because the rate of change is increasing in our world, more people are open to hearing the Good News now than ever before.
The best way to switch to global thinking is to just get up and go on a short-term mission project to another country!
Shift from "here and now" thinking to eternal thinking.
To make the most of your time on earth, you must maintain an eternal perspective. This will keep you from majoring on the minor issues and help you distinguish between what's urgent and what's ultimate. Paul said, "We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." What are you allowing to stand in the way of your mission? What's keeping you from being a world-class Christian?
Shift from thinking of excuses to thinking of creative ways to fulfill your commission.
If you are willing, there is always a way to do it, and there are agencies that will help you. Many Christians have missed God's plan for their lives because they have never even asked God if he wanted them to serve as a missionary somewhere. If you are tempted to say no, you ought to check out all the different ways and possibilities that are now available (this will surprise), and you ought to seriously pray and ask God what he wants from you in the years ahead.
If you want to be like Jesus, you must have a heart for the whole world. The Great Commission is your commission, and doing your part is the secret to living a life of significance.
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