Missions
This past Sunday and next Sunday are the annual missions conference Sundays for our church. It's been interesting this year to watch how giving is emphasized, but one thing really struck me this year over and beyond last year. As I was listening to the sermon, which obviously is designed to emphasize involvement in missional activities through giving, the preacher did not only hone in on the idea of giving money, but several other things as well.
I think this is a good, convicting way of dealing with missions. I must confess that I have been one of those people who think that writing a check will take care of it on my end. To be honest, I have no desire to be a foreign missionary and I don't feel bad about it because I do not believe I am called to that task in life. However, in my support of missionaries, I must admit that I have been dismal at best. Sure, I made a point that our family pledged a certain amount of money for missions 2004-2005, and we met the pledge, but I don't think I thought about it beyond that, and maybe a simple prayer every now and then.
To be honest, that's pathetic of me since I am in seminary (supposed to be "holier", right??), I have missionary friends (I do pray for you guys!!), but I don't think about missions much beyond that.
Yesterday seemed to change things for me, I think. This year, I am going to make a point of doing more than writing checks. Thankfully, I have a good wife who can keep me honest!
I think this is a good, convicting way of dealing with missions. I must confess that I have been one of those people who think that writing a check will take care of it on my end. To be honest, I have no desire to be a foreign missionary and I don't feel bad about it because I do not believe I am called to that task in life. However, in my support of missionaries, I must admit that I have been dismal at best. Sure, I made a point that our family pledged a certain amount of money for missions 2004-2005, and we met the pledge, but I don't think I thought about it beyond that, and maybe a simple prayer every now and then.
To be honest, that's pathetic of me since I am in seminary (supposed to be "holier", right??), I have missionary friends (I do pray for you guys!!), but I don't think about missions much beyond that.
Yesterday seemed to change things for me, I think. This year, I am going to make a point of doing more than writing checks. Thankfully, I have a good wife who can keep me honest!
posted by Bobby's blog at 9:41 AM
1 Comments:
Hi Bobby! As someone who a) is in seminary too, and b) used to think about missions much the same way you describe here, I can definitely relate.
I can say however, that my thinking has been significantly altered by the realization that the church exists for mission (and I am using that term fairly broadly). Basically, I've come to believe that "mission" should be the normal experience for both the church -AND- people in the church. That God is a missional God and the church is meant to be a missional body. I think that's something we reformed folks have unfortunately lost sight of at times.
Of course, I also hope to be a church planter, so maybe I'm just being gung ho. You can read more about it here if you're interested in reflecting on this subject more...
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