Many of us have this misguided view that pastors and missionaries have a "higher" calling than the rest of us "normal" Christians. They are the ones who have been called to the mission field; it is their job to tell others about Jesus, right? We just have normal jobs, we shouldn't be expected to witness, should we?
Of course we should! No matter what our occupation is, we are ALL called to the mission field. There is even a term for that, derived from the life of Paul, who supported himself during his ministry by working as a tent-maker. It's called a tent-making missionary. And it's something that each and every one of us is called to do.
So what exactly is a tent-making missionary, you ask? In effect, it's someone who seeks to spread the gospel with those around them, no matter what their profession actually is. It's someone who tries to let others see Jesus, no matter where they work. So often we use our professions as a crutch for not sharing Jesus to others. "Well I'm not a pastor....I wouldn't know what to say...It's not my job...I'm too busy," we say.
But, to put it bluntly, God doesn't care what we do. Or, perhaps a better way to say that is that He cares infinitesimally - so much so, in fact, that He though it was of ultimate importance to place us in the job that He gave us. Not as a pastor, not as a missionary....as an average lay-person. The church and far-off exotic places are not the only places that needs Jesus to be shown to them. So do the industrialized nations. So do the big companies. So does your very office.
14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
Of course we should! No matter what our occupation is, we are ALL called to the mission field. There is even a term for that, derived from the life of Paul, who supported himself during his ministry by working as a tent-maker. It's called a tent-making missionary. And it's something that each and every one of us is called to do.
So what exactly is a tent-making missionary, you ask? In effect, it's someone who seeks to spread the gospel with those around them, no matter what their profession actually is. It's someone who tries to let others see Jesus, no matter where they work. So often we use our professions as a crutch for not sharing Jesus to others. "Well I'm not a pastor....I wouldn't know what to say...It's not my job...I'm too busy," we say.
But, to put it bluntly, God doesn't care what we do. Or, perhaps a better way to say that is that He cares infinitesimally - so much so, in fact, that He though it was of ultimate importance to place us in the job that He gave us. Not as a pastor, not as a missionary....as an average lay-person. The church and far-off exotic places are not the only places that needs Jesus to be shown to them. So do the industrialized nations. So do the big companies. So does your very office.
Mark 16:14-20
14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
No comments:
Post a Comment