Lurking Questions Behind the Question

“I feel sometimes like a person to whom in childhood was entrusted some sacred flame…” said Fanny Jackson Coppin. Adoniram Judson heard about the state of things in India and was suddenly heart-stricken. One of my colleagues has a similar story prompted by a 5-minute video. My brother-in-law was convicted at a retreat for wasting his life in light of eternity, despite regularly serving his local church. Others have simply pointed to the clarion call in Matthew 28:19-20. I have personally felt called to missions three distinct ways, leading me into three different places and purposes.

The ways God calls people into missions seem to be about as creatively diverse as the world He has made.

Regardless of how the particular call comes about or the direction it leads, those who uproot their lives will often attest to feeling thrust forward. When Jesus said, “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field,” (Mat 9:38), the phrase “send out” denotes thrusting, launching, or expelling with force. And that makes sense. People don’t uproot their lives and cross an ocean to a place where they need to overcome language and cultural barriers just to eat unless the driving motivation is forceful enough to overcome the inertia of a comfortable life.

But what about those not feeling thrust onto the field?  

Suppose you and I walked outside right now and encountered an average Christian on the street and started discussing missions and their role. Suppose further that they are aware of the need and desire to be involved in the Great Commission and are completely honest with us.

Lots of concerns would probably come up. Top concerns might include finances and family. They might include dreams for the future or current life trajectory in career and relationships. They would likely express fear of the unknown. And then the discussion might come around to the big missions Question: “Am I called?”

Let’s try rephrasing the Question. Might any of these questions resonate with our new acquaintance?

These thoughts can sometimes lurk behind the original Question and increase the pressure to find an answer. Here is what our loving heavenly Father says through Scripture to address these concerns:

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” (Romans 8:1).

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death,” (2 Corinthians 7:10). 

If there is any threat of condemnation, any regretful sorrow, any unresolvable guilt behind the big missions Question, then that pressure is not from God and can be discarded. In other words, you are NOT called to make yourself right with God through sacrifice. You are NOT called to save people; not one of us mere humans is capable of saving anyone. You are NOT called to carry the weight of the world. And you are certainly NOT responsible for tempting the human race to sin or pulling entire people groups away from God toward destruction. Those responsibilities are not yours to carry.

As for pleasing God, let’s remember His greatest desire.

“For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings,” (Hosea 6:6).

“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me…’” (Mat 19:14a).

“For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found,” (Luke 15:24).

God wants you for you , not for what you do for Him. 

You were already made right with God thousands of years before you were born because of what Jesus accomplished, never for anything that you do or don’t do. Because of Jesus, sin does not separate you from God, nor does missions bring you closer to God or somehow fulfil a lacking quota. As Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished,” (John 19:30).

That is exactly the message we carry with us wherever we go - a message of freedom. A message that Jesus has fulfilled God’s requirements on your behalf, on behalf of the one across the street, across town, across the border, and across the ocean. 

The problem is that lots of people don’t know. And there are so many simple ways to get involved in spreading that message.

So, are you called? Yes!  

But unless you are truly thrust out (i.e. this blog post can’t stop you), feel free to let go of the idea of hopping on a plane to some obscure place tomorrow - and any corresponding false guilt - and instead focus on being faithful with what God has given you and what you can do today. And in following Jesus, you’ll find that there are just as many beautifully fulfilling ways to be a part of God’s mission as the creatively diverse world He has made.

Written by a GFM staff member