Missions to the Ends of the Earth

Although many believers and churches recognize the importance of missions, they often end up treating it as just one more routine church activity. Many say that supporting missions is commendable, yet choose not to get involved, claiming they are busy with other equally important activities. But we need to rethink this mistaken view. Missions is not just one more activity of the church — it is the very reason the church exists. The church's mission is a fundamental feature of its nature, because it reflects the missionary character of the Triune God, revealed throughout all of history, above all in Jesus Christ (Luke 19:10).

The missionary task is a fundamental calling for all Christians, not just for a few. Christians have a duty to bear witness to the message of Christ throughout the world (Mark 16:15), because the gospel is universal. Jesus instructed his disciples to be witnesses "in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Taking the gospel to the ends of the earth is not an option — it is a command from Jesus to his church (Matt 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8). Michael Goheen, quoting Lesslie Newbigin, says that a "true congregation of God's people in any place is at the same time a part of God's mission to the ends of the earth. Therefore every church, however small and weak, must have some share in the task of carrying the gospel to the ends of the earth. Every church must be involved in foreign missions"¹.

Although the apostle Paul is rightly recognized as the greatest missionary in church history, it's important to understand that most missionary work has been, and continues to be, carried out by anonymous Christians (cf. Acts 11:20-21) — those who contend for the faith, preach the gospel, teach faithfully, give generously, live godly lives, serve the church of Christ, and live for the glory of God. These anonymous missionaries, supported by churches and brothers and sisters who understood that this is a task for everyone (2 Cor 11:9; Phil 1:3-5, 4:15; 3 John 5-8), have been used by God to extend his kingdom throughout history. Missionary work is the task of the whole church, not just of a few. Every believer is called by God to play their part in missionary work through their testimony, their prayers, and their giving, for as Charles Spurgeon said, "every Christian here is either a missionary or an impostor"².

Missions is not an option or a suggestion, but a command from Christ to the whole church. This obedience must be sincere and willing. There's no such thing as partial obedience. Either we are obedient, or we are disobedient. As John Piper said, "when it comes to world missions, there are only three kinds of Christians: zealous goers, zealous senders, and the disobedient."