Devout practicing Christians need to support the idea of missions and missionaries. Christians have a strong belief that it is God’s plan to build new churches and bring more people towards Christ through the sacred missionaries.
When we talk about missionaries, the first thing that comes to our mind is a bunch of holy men traveling far and wide to spread the word of God. This is partially true, but there is more to it. You can even conduct or support mission work on a smaller scale within your own locale.
You might even need to do mission work within your family to bring them closer to the message of Christ.
The Early Church
According to Acts-1:8, before Christ ascended to heaven, he asked his followers to tarry within Jerusalem. They were to stay there until the Holy Spirit dwelled within them. In John 14, it is said that Christ had promised them to be their comforter.
After the Holy Spirit approached them, they would take the Gospel to new lands and enlighten mankind with the good news. It was a direct commandment by Christ to his people to travel to new places and spread his word. Because of this mission work, they established new churches around the globe and thus came new believers.
Here are seven reasons why Christians stress on missionary work.
Missionaries Depend On Churches
Sure, there is a financial aspect to a missionary’s dependence on a church, but it has a deeper meaning. Paul has often talked about the church praying for the missionaries. These prayers would help them fulfill their quest.
According to 2 Thessalonians 3, Paul is reported to have said that the church should pray for the missionaries, so God’s word could spread far, and could be glorified in the lives of these new believers.
Paul also vocalizes his worries over the danger from the wicked men that hovers over the heads of these missionaries. He believes that only by prayer could the holy men be absolved from these dangers.
Missionaries Function on Behalf of Their Supporters
The Book of Philippians speaks about the correspondence between Paul and the church. Paul had specially written to the church to thank them for the support they had provided to his ministry. In the fourth chapter of the same book, Paul told the church that it was God who looked after him and protected him.
Toward the end of his letter, he made sure that people understood the reason for his gratitude, which wasn’t due to the things the church had bestowed on him. Neither did he want anything from the church.
He also made it very clear that God had and would give him everything he needed, with or without the support of the church. In the 17th verse, he also says that God would put his ministry’s fruit to the account of the church.
The People Must Hear the Gospel
According to 2 Peter 3:9, God doesn’t wish anyone to perish. His plan is that the people who already know the Gospel should share it with those who are oblivious to it. It was in God’s power to choose whatever means of education. However, he chose the believers to propagate his message into the world. An individual can do so much to spread the word of God.
However, with the support from a church mission program, it becomes much easier to pool funds and resources to spread the Gospel. God wants his message to spread across the earth, and for that purpose, he had chosen the churches and the missionaries.
Christ Asked for Prayers for His Laborers
One day, Jesus was having a word with his followers when he saw a crowd of souls. He knew right away that there were so many people ready to receive the Gospel. According to Matthew 9:38, Jesus asked for prayers that would introduce the gospel to the world. Jesus asked for prayer so his laborers could muster the courage and the strength to venture out into the world, and spread his message.
He knew that it was not an easy task but an arduous one. He knew that his men would have to face tremendous challenges. Challenges that are beyond the comprehension of unarmed men. He asked them to go like lambs among wolves. He didn’t want his people to be corrupted by worldly evils. Only prayers could ease the difficulties that awaited the laborers along this path.
It Is a Command for Us
According to Matthew 28:19 and 20, Jesus asked his believers to go out there, enlighten the hearers, and baptize them. Interestingly, according to some Greek scholars, the command in these verses doesn’t necessarily mean “go.” Instead, the command over here is to “teach” and to educate. Going out into the world is implied.
Jesus was also aware of the persecution and the catastrophe that would fall over the church in Jerusalem. He knew that his people would leave the Holy Land and travel to new places, thus spreading his word. It applies to the current times perfectly.
A few centuries back, people would spend their entire lives in the same country. However, the world has now become a mobile place where people are always traveling. Christ’s vision wasn’t confined only to his era, but it was for all times to come.
Who Will Go and Who Will Send Them?
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In Romans 10, Paul writes that preachers will be required to carry the Gospel. But who will go out and peach? Obviously, preaching will be done by the ones called to the ministry. Then he asked, “Who will send them?” It is the duty of the church and the believers to support those who step out spreading the Gospel into the world.
What Part Should We Play?
For the believers, it is their job to enlighten those around them with what the Gospel has to offer. Even if they are not called for a full-time mission, they can still play their part by educating those around them, within their own communities. They can support the mission work through prayer, their financial aid, and also by investing time and effort into the noble cause.
The Final Word
It is the desire of all devout believers to spread the word of God to the corners of the earth. However, not everyone is crafted for the holy mission, but it doesn’t mean they cannot play their part. They can be the ultimate soldiers for Christ by incorporating love, compassion, and humanity into their daily lives, while encouraging others to do the same.
