HoHum:
The Blues Brothers were on "a mission from God" to save from foreclosure the Catholic orphanage in which they grew up. Like the Blues Brothers, we need to believe and know that we are on a mission from God. In recent years there has been a renewed emphasis on the missional nature and calling of the church in the world.
WBTU:
Distractions to our mission
1. The busyness of life and ministry threaten to divert our attention from our main mission. Much of our business should be focused on the mission.
2. An inward focus threatens to sidetrack Christ’s mission. Talked about this morning
3. Our fears of the outside world threaten to derail our mission. Because of a discomfort for dealing with non-Christians, and a fear of falling into temptation, some Christians view the church as a safe harbor from the world more so than as a mission to the world.
It is well established that when a person becomes a Christian, especially when they are adults, they have many opportunities for reaching their friends and family for Christ. They have many contacts with non Christians and therefore many opportunities to share the gospel. They have changed and their close friends and family want to know the reason for the changes. In Vinton, Virginia had several who were baptized and out of those many were adults. I encouraged these new Christians to reach their close friends and family for Christ. However, ran into a problem, some of them went back to their old sins and ways. “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.” Galatians 6:1, NIV.
This is something to be on the lookout against, but as we grow in the faith and become more grounded in the faith, we are better equipped to deal with these temptations. Here is the sad part, the more equipped Christians, the more grounded Christians, generally are not involved in reaching their community for Christ even though they have the tools and the knowledge to be effective with the lost. It is well established that within a couple of years after an adult becomes a Christian, the contacts they have with non Christians are little or no more. The new Christians who are the least equipped are on the front lines of evangelism while the more experienced Christians who are the most equipped to reach their culture are in the holy huddle and do not want any contacts with non Christians.
Preacher, we don’t want to be around those non Christians because they curse and carouse and are corrupt. If we don’t notice this something is wrong. “They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you.” 1 Peter 4:4, NIV. We don’t want to be around them because they are no longer our kind of people.
But with this mindset we are not building bridges, we are building walls. While the church does provide mutual encouragement and support, we must use the church as a harbor from the world only temporarily to regain strength to continue the mission of Christ. A church in which Christians focus exclusively on one another will rarely reach a dying world for Christ.
For some Christians they are scared of messing up or they are just scared of non Christians. “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7, NIV.
Confident of ourselves through the HS, we can break the holy huddle and pursue the adventurous mission of Christ, the mission of advancing His kingdom.
Thesis: Let’s go back to Jesus to deal with these issues
For instances:
How Jesus dealt with different people
When Jesus met people who claimed to follow God but lived hypocritically, He confronted them ruthlessly. At the temple..., Jesus toppled their tables and ran them off with a whip. He spared no words with the Pharisees, calling them blind guides and fools, and comparing them with whitewashed tombs and a brood of vipers in Matthew 23.
When Jesus met with sinful people who did not claim to follow God, he was quite different. He treated them compassionately. The Pharisees and teachers brought a woman before Jesus who had committed adultery. Though the law called for her stoning, Jesus showed her tenderness and grace in John 11. When Jesus saw Zacchaeus- a notorious tax collector- He share a meal with Zacchaeus, a sign of acceptance and fellowship.
Jesus bluntly confronted those who claimed to follow God but lived hypocritically; He showed compassion to sinful people who did not yet claim to follow God. We often do the opposite. With fellow Christians we shy from accountability, and in essence condone hypocrisy. With people outside of the church, we snub our noses and furrow our brows. With an air of self righteousness we give them cold stares, cold shoulders, and hateful internet postings. Too often, we treat harshly those whom Jesus treated compassionately, and treat passively those whom Jesus confronted harshly.
To the community outside the church we need to view them with the eyes of Jesus. “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:36, NIV.
Jesus’ teaching on reaching the outside community
How can we overcome our reluctance to reach the outside community? What strategies can we use? What ministries might we pursue? How can we reach them?
Matthew 24 and 25 we find the Olivet Discourse. Jesus began to teach about the end times along with the destruction of Jerusalem. It is hard to discern which is which. No matter what we need to be ready. ““No-one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Matthew 24:36, 44.
To prepare we must make wise use of the resources Jesus has put at our disposal, so that when He returns He will judge our stewardship and service as wise and faithful. In Matthew 25 Jesus tells the parable of the wise and foolish virgins. After this he tells the parable of the talents and about the one who buried his talent. All of this leads to the final picture of the final judgment, and examples of ways He expects us to serve in preparation for His coming. When all nations gather before His throne, He will separate them like sheep and goats. To those on His right He will give an inheritance because, ““For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’” Matthew 25:35-36, NIV. When did they perform such ministries? ““The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25:40, NIV. Conversely, those on Jesus’ left will face eternal punishment because they did not perform these same ministries. ““He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’” Matthew 25:45, NIV.
Some will take offense at this and say that this is just talking about fellow Christians, "brothers". But when people know that we are Christians, and these non Christians are having a hard time, who do they go to? Who do they want to pray for them? Who do they want help and advice from? This is when people are the most receptive. When we minister to those in need, we minister to Jesus. How we treat “the least of these,” we treat Jesus. We extend the mission of Christ when we extend the love of Christ- compassionately ministering to the needs of those around us.
But isn’t this the social gospel? No, as long as we open our mouths and proclaim why we are doing what we are doing. “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” 1 Peter 3:15, 16, NIV.
Speaking of Peter, let’s see how this works together from Acts 3. One day when Peter and John approached the Temple, a crippled man begged them for money. “Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”” Acts 3:6, NIV. At this, strength entered the man’s feet, and he began walking, jumping, and praising God, leaving onlookers amazed. The healing- an act of compassionate ministry- caused a stir. “While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade.” Acts 3:11, NIV. Peter, never one to waste an opportunity, told the crowd of the power behind the healing- Jesus, the one these very people had crucified, but whom God resurrected. Invitation here- “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,” Acts 3:19, NIV. Even though they were interrupted by the Jewish officials we find the result here. “But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.” Acts 4:4, NIV. Peter’s missional efforts began with the healing (in our day not miraculous but an act of compassion), but did not end with the healing. He continued by proclaiming the truth of Jesus. His ministry included both the compassionate meeting of people’s needs, and the proclamation of the gospel- as will ours, if we hope to advance Jesus’ kingdom.
