Why are you involved with missions? What is the purpose of Christian missions?
Around the world we see a teaming multitude of forms of mission endeavors. But why? Considering the wide spectrum of activity, the purpose of missions is not as clear as it may seem.
In my last post, I presented the idea that missiology involves many areas of study and pursuit. In this post, I want to deal with the “Why?” that leads to the message of missions. (Keep in mind that purpose is different from method, which will be a conversation for another day!)
What is your purpose for involvement in missions?
Do you stress the message of salvation from sins? Your definition of success may be souls saved.
Do you emphasize the message of a loving God? You define success through work concentrated on compassion such as medical care or caring for children.
Do you focus on the message of freedom? Success is solving issues of injustice such as human slavery of different kinds.
Do you believe deeply in the message of human dignity, and concentrate on a holistic well-being including financial, political, educational, or societal issues?
These are only some of the major areas of attention which people give their lives to around the world!
Why did Jesus come? Emmanuel, God with us. But why?
Did he come to save us? “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:17
Did he come to fulfill prophesy? “For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs…” Romans 15:8
Did he come to show an example of moral and ethical living? Matthew 5-7 presents the Sermon on the Mount and is full of instruction of this sort. The Gospels are full of examples of his love, compassion, and speaking truth.
We have a Great Commandment. “And you shall love the Lord your God with all our heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” And the second is, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Mark 12:30,31
We have a Great Commission. “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, teaching them to observe all I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19,20
Do you have a personal theology – or core belief and reason – for why Jesus came?
After thinking about these questions, what is your purpose for being involved in missions?
Why do you do it? Why are you a missiologist?
I’d love to hear from you!
Missiologist 
I always had the desire to go into mission, growing up in a home where mission was regarded as the most important thing of the church. Our Bible school was mission minded and my heart for missions was born there.
At a mission conference I heard, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ I’m probably the least qualified but I stood up and answered, ‘Here I am, send me!’
This was many years ago and now I am in the centre of a massive area that needs to love of Christ.
The reason I’m here is because of my love for Him and because of His calling and I’m most privileged. I think to be in missions is the highest and the most privilege call anybody can get and who can say ‘NO’ to a call from Him.
It’s a honor to serve Him
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great word, Leo – and so glad to have you along for the conversation. I’m so proud of you for saying yes and keeping your word!
LikeLike
Its hard to touch the heart of God and not be about his business. I have been sitting with Ephesians 2:10 that we are his created intentional work and that there is a mission ahead of us. There an intimacy about walking together and putting our hand together with God’s. He is our Maker, Lord and Master but He graciously makes it a partnership which is exhilarating to think about. When I have grandkids I want to be able to tell them stories of how God showed up and the things we did together and invite them into that.
There’s a unique sense of identity that seems to form about not just who we are but what we are about. Living in a collectivistic culture has helped me value the collectistic identity in the family of Christ, also concerning me and my family (doesn’t just have to be blood relatives here).
LikeLike