Missionally Minded

Throughout my life, I have been able to experience a missional lifestyle of living, and no I did not travel to a third world country to do so. Now you may wonder, how can I be "missional" when I haven't really gone anywhere to do so? Well, that's the point, I haven't flown anywhere because I don't need to.

In the context of the church, the term missionary has been used a wide variety of ways. It's not always used in the context of "to be a missionary you have to travel somewhere far away or unreached" but a lot of the time that's what we think of. Now, not that that's wrong, but there is a whole other side to the action of being a missionary.

I too had the idea that being a missionary meant traveling far away to spread the gospel and that was the only way to be one. Well, I was half right. It's the "traveling far away" part that got me and so many others. It wasn't until I heard my dad preach a sermon about being a missionary in your "own backyard" that I truly understood the meaning of the verb of the word.

Notes on my dads' sermon:

1. Being a missionary doesn't mean you have to travel to do so. Unless you count walking to your next door neighbor traveling. Which leads me to my next point...

2. Sometimes the people who need to be told the gospel most are right next door.

Now don't take any of this to mean I don't believe in cross country missionaries because I do and support them and the work they do. My personal experiences have just lead me to think that some people are called to be missional to those closest around them and in all honesty that's a lot scarier than traveling to a remote country where you don't know anyone or the culture. We have it in our heads that the idea of sharing the gospel with someone close to us leads to rejection and uncertainty, but how can we be uncertain about something that is so blatantly outlined for us to do.

Matthew 28:19-20 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

THEREFORE GO!

No matter where we are or who we are with the gospel and love of the Lord is meant to be shared and taught to all. That includes those neighbors across the street who want nothing to do with you. Or roommates who decide to party Monday-Friday as if the weekends weren't enough.

Now, this doesn't account for the fears that may come along with sharing. Blatantly proclaiming your faith is a scary thing to do especially if you don't exercise doing so regularly. Fear is the number one thing that I have seen hold people back from evangelism. Fear of rejection, humiliation, or even questions that may be asked and you most certainly don't have the answers to. BUT GOD. . .

If the Lord leads your life and is always with you, then you are where you are supposed to be for a reason. Whether it be to shine light into a darkened situation or to verbally share the word of God with those who are broken; God is always with us even when fear seems to take over. "I am with you always..." Our God is not one to leave us with a lifelong task and walk away with no interaction or instruction. Our faith in him allows him to show up in situations when we share his name.