I think it's a good idea for everyone who believes in the missionary spirit (should be every Christian) to have a personal philosophy of missions. It's ok to use your church's philosophy if you agree with it, or the philosophy of a mission agency you support if it matches your personal values. Still, I think that owning the philosophy helps create a passion for reaching the lost for Christ.
As I look at options for future ministry, I started developing the following as a personal philosophy of missions:
1. We have 1story to tell...just 1...we preach Christ crucified (1 Cor 1:23). It isn't about what he can do for someone, but what he already did. To some, that logic is insurmountable. To others, it is archaic nonsense. But to some, it is the power to become the sons and daughters of God (John 1:12).
2. How do we get to tell this story? That is the only problem. America, indeed the world, has changed. Hard, fiery preaching and crusade/revival work is considered ineffective and inappropriate. yet we must, at some point, preach (Rom 10:14-15).
3. So whatever we do, it must be done in order to tell our one story. Whatever is needed in order to tell that story we must do (I Cor 9:19-23). So we become poor to reach the poor. We become broken to reach the broken. We become scarred to reach those with scars.
4. We build trust with those we want to preach to. So we serve them with an eye to opportunities. We pray hard for God to provide opportunities. Our desire is to show true religion in order to reach the lost (James 1:26).
I'm sure that, over time, my philosophy will mold to meet the continually changing landscape of missions in America and overseas. Yet here it is for now. I'd love to hear your comments about it!
As I look at options for future ministry, I started developing the following as a personal philosophy of missions:
1. We have 1story to tell...just 1...we preach Christ crucified (1 Cor 1:23). It isn't about what he can do for someone, but what he already did. To some, that logic is insurmountable. To others, it is archaic nonsense. But to some, it is the power to become the sons and daughters of God (John 1:12).
2. How do we get to tell this story? That is the only problem. America, indeed the world, has changed. Hard, fiery preaching and crusade/revival work is considered ineffective and inappropriate. yet we must, at some point, preach (Rom 10:14-15).
3. So whatever we do, it must be done in order to tell our one story. Whatever is needed in order to tell that story we must do (I Cor 9:19-23). So we become poor to reach the poor. We become broken to reach the broken. We become scarred to reach those with scars.
4. We build trust with those we want to preach to. So we serve them with an eye to opportunities. We pray hard for God to provide opportunities. Our desire is to show true religion in order to reach the lost (James 1:26).
I'm sure that, over time, my philosophy will mold to meet the continually changing landscape of missions in America and overseas. Yet here it is for now. I'd love to hear your comments about it!
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