Missionaries – Make Disciples of all Nations
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations
I recently had a discussion with a friend who goes on missions to South America at least once a year. I think that’s great. Jesus commanded that the Gospel be taken to all nations. And this is where our discussion got interesting. I mentioned that Christians that do not go to other countries are also obeying the command. He disagreed with me. The verse he cited was:
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Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19 (ESV)
The word “nations” does not necessarily mean other countries. It is the Greek word “ethnos” which means “specifically a foreign (non Jewish) one, a Gentile, heathen.” It can also mean a country depending on context. Matthew 28:19 is a command to take the Gospel to the heathens or the unbelievers no matter which country that person comes from. My friend disagreed with me. His position was that in this country, the United States, we have a church on every corner, Christian radio stations and Christian television programming. So what? How many unbelievers are suddenly waking up on Sunday morning with this urge go to to church? That is not how God chose to operate. He has commanded the saints to take the Gospel to the people. I can say that before God called me, there never was a time that I had an urge to walk into a church. Despite the many churches available to me, I never had an interest in stepping foot into a single one.
When we witness to a non-Christian at the local grocery store, we have obeyed the commandment to take the Gospel to the nations. That being said, God has called some to go to take the Gospel to other countries. But it is silly and incorrect understanding of the scripture to understand that taking the Gospel to other nations means heading to another country. Non-Christians are not flooding our churches. We are to go out and bring them in by sharing the Gospel with them. Some are called by God to take the Gospel to jails and prisons, some are called to share the Gospel in other ways and like my friend, some are called to go to other countries. While my friend does share the Gospel here in this country in his daily life, he does not feel he is being obedient unless he is somehow putting himself in danger by visiting other countries to share the gospel. In fact, he feels that those Christians that stay in this country and share the Gospel in safety are weaker Christians. It may be his belief but it is not the view God takes or commands.
The Gospel must be shared with all people including those in our own backyard.
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Tishrei,
I really agree with you on this one….. A great share of the US population has no knowledge of God or their need for salvation….. It’s like they are blind and don’t have a clue about their sinful nature or how condemned they are in their natural state….. Your friend should read “Danny, My Very Most Favorite”….. Danny was a real missionary that touched the hearts of so many.
Margaret
Hi Maragaret,
That’s just it — a great share of the US population does not know God and they’re not flocking into our churches on their own. We’re to take it to them. That’s what a missionary does, take the Gospel to the lost. It has nothing to do if we leave our country of origin.
Hi Tishrei,
That sounds very legalistic and a little like pressuring people to take care of someone else’s children while neglecting their own.
Everybody has their individual calling and area of ministry. For some it may be abroad, while for others it is up the street. That’s why we are all “different” members of one body.
This also sounds a little like the tithe. Many people have a legalistic view of giving and do not realize we are no longer under the tithe.
I don’t think he is taking into consideration that most Americans simply cannot afford to travel abroad. And I don’t think their employers would appreciate them taking a few months off every year, or even as a one time occurrence, to do this.
And it seems he may also be a little righteous about what he is able to give as opposed to what others can. It brings to mind the poor widow who was only able to throw in a few mites, but Jesus said she gave more than those who were able to give of their abundance.
Yes, I think you have him pegged
— my friend is really nice but unfortunately has not quite grown in Him to understand that God has different people doing different things for His purpose. It is us fallen people that tend to measure importance.
“Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called…Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.” (1 Corinthians 7:20,24)
While the Lord does call some to journey across the globe and spread the Gospel in other countries, for MOST Christians His desire is for them to simply share the Gospel right where they are at. What a powerful testimony it is for those who knew us BEFORE we came to Christ to see what He has done in our lives since. They know the change because they knew us before we were saved.
God is calling some to be missionaries (although a lot of the missionaries are now coming FROM places like Africa and South America TO Europe and the United States), but He is also calling doctors, lawyers, merchants, business administrators, and housewives to STAY right where they are at and reach those whom He puts them into contact with right where they are.
From what you have said, it sounds like your friend might be struggling a little bit with issues of pride. If we have anything in which to glory, anything in which to boast, it is in Christ alone, not our service to Him (1 Corinthians 1:31). When we judge another believer as “weak” because they do not serve the Lord in the same way that we do, we are guilty of judging the Lord’s servants. They are His servants, not ours (Romans 14:4).
Very good post, Tishrei, thanks!
Yes, probably struggling with some pride. He is younger in the faith so that may be part of the problem. As pointed out above, God has us doing different things or jobs for His purpose (my terrible paraphrase).