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When I was younger and heard the word “missionary”, it seemed as if people were referring to some far off, strange type of Christian. They were a special breed. We may have seen a missionary once per year, and then we would raise special funds for them around Christmas, but it really was not a part of the “norm” in my daily life. Should it be that way? If we study the New Testament, should traveling to other nations and sharing the Gospel be something out of the ordinary?
Paul is probably the most famous missionary recorded in the Bible. If you are like me, you may have dealt with some of the questions below. It helped me to consider how Paul addressed these same concerns.
- Am I called to go?
- But the Missions Board, or my local church, is not willing to send me!
- No one is paying me to go!
- I am not like Paul!
Am I called to go?
The more I study the Scriptures, it seems more logical to struggle with thinking God is NOT calling us to missionary work. After all, Jesus was speaking to His eleven disciples when He said, “Go ye therefore and teach all nations....”, but did that command end when that group of disciples died (Matthew 28:19)? If so, they had yet to make it to all the world.
Paul affirmed his belief that it was his responsibility to continue what he had formerly been trying to stop (Acts 13:46-48).
But the Missions Board, or my local church, is not willing to send me!
After Jesus called Paul to preach to the Gentiles, he did not seek the approval of other men, before obeying. Nor did he seek the approval of the other Apostles. Just the fact that his LORD had chosen, saved, called and given him a command was enough for him to obey (Galatians 1:15-17). Have you and I been chosen, saved, called and given a command to 'go'?
No one is paying me to go!
There are times when Paul used money from churches to carry out his ministry (2 Cor. 11:8-9), but most of the time, Paul worked to support himself and the others with him, so he would not be a burden to the churches he was trying to help (Acts 18:3; 20:34; 1 Cor. 4:11-12; 1 Thes 2:9). Paul was committed to do whatever it took to obey his Lord and not be a burden to other believers. In addition to spreading the Gospel, we have repeated examples of Paul delivering from one group of believers who had resources, to another group of believers who had nothing (Acts 11:29-30; 1 Cor. 16:1-3; 2 Cor. 9:1-15; Gal. 2:10; 1 Thes 4:10; Rom 12:13). Is that something you and I should also do?
Neither were, Silas, Barnabus, John Mark, etc, yet they each went with him at various times. Unlike Paul, they did not have a grandiose record of their salvation and missionary call. They simply accompanied Paul in obedience to their Savior.
Maybe you and I are never going to be like Paul, but I contend that as believers, we are all called to follow Jesus' command to go and teach all nations about Him. If you cannot actually travel to carry out the mission, do you have the ability to help provide the resources necessary for those who can go?
Rodney Skyles
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