As I've mentioned already, I was involved in a Missions Conference for young people. It was an impressive event at many levels- 2000 young people, very well organised, very glossy book with all the details, full program of lots of different speakers...
One of the testimonies really got on my goat. He was a guy in his thirties or forties. He told how when he was 19 he 'got a call from the Lord'. So he left his studies in the USA and rang his parents in Bolivia to tell them he was off to India. Without, it seems, the backing of a church, without preparation and without the blessing and support of his parents. He then got involved in smuggling Bibles into various Islamic countries. In his own words, he didn't want to be a 'normal missionary'. Quite a story he had to tell.
And here he was on the night asking people to join him on this enterprise. Though interestingly, one of the requisites was that these young people needed the permission of their pastor (and do we presume parents?- or does the Latin pastor take over that role for young people?). It got me quite annoyed- this maverick style missionary, who doesn't want to be like anyone else.
It was interesting later to hear the speaker of the night describe what was needed for misso´s of this generation. One of the characteristics needed- willing to take 'risks'. Which of course is a very happening word these days. Risk taking is quite fashionable- that's what extreme sports are all about. But the Biblical word is different- its 'Sacrifice'. I reckon there is a difference. One involves a long-term committment. Sure sacrifice will involve risk taking, but risk taking will peter out once the adrenalin stops flowing. Sacrifice keeps going.
Thoughts anyone?
Adrenalin lasts a year, even two, then you start to wake up to the difficulties.
ReplyDeleteI would also say that most of the 'risks' of ministry don't involve adrenalin, in that doing the same thing as you did the previous year, in the face of ongoing opposition from the world, the flesh and the devil is not so much exciting as painful, like running the 34th kilometre of a marathon.
Mind you, it is rewarding for those who have eternal life in view!
I also wonder how our view of God's sovereignty affects how we speak of risk. Is it just that it's dangerous? Because not all mission is dangerous. Or is risk engaging in missionary activity that has a large disparity between success and failure - that you will either be hugely successful or dramatically fail? In both cases God's call to costly discipleship remains. Ministry that costs a lot and ministry that has little cost such as talking to your neighbour are both of inherent worth, and both as certain of success if that is God's will.
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