The "Real Thing" of Missions
Years ago Coke Cola advertised its famous soda with a little jingle saying "Its the Real Thing". It was catchy and like any other advertisement you might catch yourself singing it in the shower! But the real question it raised and what was never answered was what the real thing was. Was it real soda? Real good? Pepsi drinkers didn't think so. But whatever you thought the real thing was, that was what it was for you! In reality, Coke was saying that Coke Cola was the genuine, undisputed article and there was no rival!
I want to apply that thinking today to our understanding of mission in the NT. The Great Commission spoken by Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20 is the undisputed mandate for the churches of this age and like Coke, being on mission means different things to different people. For some it represents the far away application of bringing people to Jesus. It's myterious and exciting all at the same time. Others might think immediately of going on what we call today, short-term mission trips. For some it is the proverbial missionary biography which captivated us as children when our world and Christian views were still in their infancy.
But in reality missions is more than any of these particular activities. Missions is simply the personal extension of Christianity from where we are standing. In short, the gospel of Jesus Christ must never stand still. It is to be constantly advancing forward and reaching our world for Christ. Time is of the essence. The world is spinning, people are living and dying all around us, and our job is to reach them with the love of God found in the person of Jesus Christ. Whether it is next door to where we live, or in the depths of the African continent, each of us is to be on mission for Christ. That is the Real Thing!
As I write this blog this morning I am sitting in Amsterdam waiting for the plane that will take me to my mission in Monrovia, Liberia. There I will teach and and mentor nearly 70 pastors for a week of theological training. Our study this week is ecclesiology or the study of the church. We will be training the nationals to use their own language, culture, and love for their own people to reach their native land with a clearer understanding of the church and its mandate. This training will enable the exponential growth of disciples because nationals already know the language, understand the culture, and love the people!
Let me say again that it is my greatest joy to work along side all of GBTF's supporters who believe training the indigenous has always been the essence of missions, and truly believes as Coke said years ago, Its the Real Thing!
Bruce
I want to apply that thinking today to our understanding of mission in the NT. The Great Commission spoken by Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20 is the undisputed mandate for the churches of this age and like Coke, being on mission means different things to different people. For some it represents the far away application of bringing people to Jesus. It's myterious and exciting all at the same time. Others might think immediately of going on what we call today, short-term mission trips. For some it is the proverbial missionary biography which captivated us as children when our world and Christian views were still in their infancy.
But in reality missions is more than any of these particular activities. Missions is simply the personal extension of Christianity from where we are standing. In short, the gospel of Jesus Christ must never stand still. It is to be constantly advancing forward and reaching our world for Christ. Time is of the essence. The world is spinning, people are living and dying all around us, and our job is to reach them with the love of God found in the person of Jesus Christ. Whether it is next door to where we live, or in the depths of the African continent, each of us is to be on mission for Christ. That is the Real Thing!
As I write this blog this morning I am sitting in Amsterdam waiting for the plane that will take me to my mission in Monrovia, Liberia. There I will teach and and mentor nearly 70 pastors for a week of theological training. Our study this week is ecclesiology or the study of the church. We will be training the nationals to use their own language, culture, and love for their own people to reach their native land with a clearer understanding of the church and its mandate. This training will enable the exponential growth of disciples because nationals already know the language, understand the culture, and love the people!
Let me say again that it is my greatest joy to work along side all of GBTF's supporters who believe training the indigenous has always been the essence of missions, and truly believes as Coke said years ago, Its the Real Thing!
Bruce
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