Andy Crouch in his book Culture Making suggest that the way we use power is to do that in partnership with the weak in order to create cultural good that will enable them to utilize the power that is inherent in them.
It is my conviction that missions provide a legitimate format to do this.
But inspite our best effort, it is critical to discern where the Father is already at work so we can join him in doing his work of declaring His glory among the nations (Psalm 96:3).
We continue exploring what God has already done and is most likely lead us to be involved as we continue our reading of the book: The Challenge of Missions.
Our focus is on chapter 7 through 9.
Beginning with these chapters, we want to explore the message by sharing our comments through this website.
Recall that the summary discussion, the comments you make on the posts of others together form the basis of our prayer meeting at the last Sunday of the month.
God bless you as you remain faithful to this.
John Bako
The Challenge of Missions _7_compressed (1)
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him-Hebrews 11:6
“To give money away is an easy matter and in any man’s power. But to decide to whom to give it, and how large and when, and for what purpose and how, is neither in every man’s power nor an easy matter”-Aristotle.
Reading through chapter 7 of the book, i came across a question i asked the Lord, and nineteen years later, I’m not sure how that question has been answered. but it set my heart thinking on how i can correctly give to missions.
The author suggested that the way to please god in our giving to missions is one that is done by faith, not cash. This is because it forces us to depend on God.
May we please God in our giving to missions, by faith.
The challenge of chapter 8 focuses on how the work will be done in this generation. There was an answer found within the chapter that came from this quote: “Give us the tools, and we will finish the job”. Obviously, one the main tools we need in our generation is funding. Research statistics have shown that a greater percentage of Christian spending both on personal and church level is on maintenance.
Therefore, if the job must be done in our generation and done timely, our giving patter must change. But it can only change with the change in our lifestyles.
May we all receive grace for lifestyle adjustment so we could do our part.
The focus of chapter 9 is on the methods to use.
The writer noted that many missionary endeavours have failed, not because it was a wrong thing to do, but simple because of the application of wrong method.
The gospel is never wrong, but when the wrong method is applied, the result could would not be obtained.
The Pauline method is what he suggests if we are going to get the result we are looking for. The task of the missionary is not to become a local church pastor, he is to do the work of an apostle, building a church, appoint leaders and move on and allow the locals to do the pastoring.
I was quite challenged on the fact that it is not even the work of the missionary to establish schools, hospitals etc, it is also the work meant for the locals.
This is the area we need to pay attention as well as we seek to develop the commission given to us.