“Ahh, it’s wonderful! Magnificent! Heart-warming and soul-inspiring! “The call of God on the life of a Christian to go to the world and preach His name! To give up America and its comforts, its air conditioning, its Walmart and Moon Pies! Oh, how sweet to give our all, knowing God will reward our sacrifices by giving back to us much more than we ever gave up! “Who? Grandma? No, she won’t be giving up anything. She’s staying here in the US. We’re the ones leaving, not her. She and Grandpa will be fine.” Yeah, right. Eventually, all missionaries must admit their call and … [Read more...] about Call to International Mission, Part 1: Familial Rejection
Notes on SBC President, the IMB, and Ethnicity
“Ladies and gentlemen, fellow messengers and Convention workers, there’s a lull in the events here and they’ve asked me to fill it. Therefore, I’d like to take a moment to talk about the IMB…more or less. “As you well know, your churches labor to send missionaries throughout our nation and the world. You’ve given so much of your time, your volunteers, and – to be quite blunt about it – your money. Your sacrifices are too numerous to list here, and yet list them is exactly what I would love to do. That is not what I am here to say, though. “Part of international missions, indeed a … [Read more...] about Notes on SBC President, the IMB, and Ethnicity
In No Particular Order
Thank you. I open and close most of my prayers with those words. I'll slowly become aware of the morning sun as I sleep off another late-night run, and I'll think, "Thank you, dear Lord. Thank you for...." I don't always start my list with the most important item, or with the most recent. I offer my gratitude for items that spill out of me in no particular order. I'd like to do the same here today. So, in no particular order, I would like to thank the following parties: Seminaries who only use the BFM Megachurches Deacons, male and female GA/RA coordinators, if any still … [Read more...] about In No Particular Order
The Benefits of Being a Legalist
I have a couple of friends whom I'll call Edna and George. "Friends" might be too strong of a word; "acquaintances for whom I hold mostly affectionate yet mixed feelings" would be better. Let me introduce them to you by telling you some of their flaws. Judgmental. Demanding. Unteachable. Moralizers. Egocentric. Superior. Arrogant. Basically, they really don't seem to make a great first, second, fifth, or tenth impression. For the most part, I think their main issue is one of legalism; they see the world in black and white. They believe with all their hearts that they are … [Read more...] about The Benefits of Being a Legalist
Past Tense Sacrifice, Present Tense Service
However, the king said to Araunah, "No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God which cost me nothing." (2Sa 24:24 NAS) A few weeks ago, I attended a conference where I was one of the speakers. At the end of the meeting, an old friend came up and stood by my side as he extolled my wonderful character and devotion to mission work. As usual, he came to the issue of sacrifice. “Jeremy and his family have sacrificed all in order to serve the Lord as missionaries. They have set aside so many of their own wants in order to go … [Read more...] about Past Tense Sacrifice, Present Tense Service
Ten Random Reasons for Not Becoming an IMB Missionary
As I prepare to go back to the field later this summer, I am finding more and more people who want to talk with me about missions. They ask about my struggles and tell me about theirs. I’ve had many of these conversations before, but I still enjoy sitting down and chatting with folks about it. I encounter people who have experienced some sort of call, but have a litany of reasons why they can’t do it right now. They have reasons for not contacting the IMB, not filling out an application, not bothering to take even the slightest step towards fulfilling that call. I’d like to take a … [Read more...] about Ten Random Reasons for Not Becoming an IMB Missionary
Christian Islands, Part 1
“No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as a manor of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.” John Donne Let me tell you about my preacher friend, Edwin. He’s been struggling personally since his wife left him. He made some mistakes along the way, I suppose. Allegations. Investigations. … [Read more...] about Christian Islands, Part 1
A Letter To Missions Volunteers
One of the more interesting areas of missions growth in recent years is the influx of volunteers to assist in the international missions efforts. Volunteers have always been around, but the rise of the mega-church has precipitated a parallel increase in the number of people heading to the field on their own dimes. The phrase “mixed blessing” comes to mind. On one hand, volunteers bring new skill sets and boundless enthusiasm for the task and can help break established missionaries out of a long-view rut. On the other, volunteers sometimes bring their agendas, ethnocentrism, and ignorance … [Read more...] about A Letter To Missions Volunteers
Deafness, Language, Assumptions, and Judges 2:10
Written on behalf of someone I know.... Even though I attended church until I was 16, I didn’t really know the Christmas story. I was clueless about prophecies and fulfillments, about Herod’s political intrigues, about the communicative appearances of angels for Mary, Joseph, and Zechariah. Imperial decrees regarding taxation and census meant nothing to me; the role of the shepherds in the Christmas story was a mystery. When I left the church halfway through high school, I had no idea Christ was the Incarnation, the image of the invisible God. This had nothing to do with the doctrine … [Read more...] about Deafness, Language, Assumptions, and Judges 2:10
Choosing Accountability
Several days ago, many of us became aware of the tragic situation unfolding in Wake Forest, NC involving criminal charges and shattered lives at Southeastern Seminary. I want to write about something that has struck me in all of this, but I want to do so carefully and graciously. As we comment and think about this, I think we should stick to the subject here, accountability, and try to step back from the situation that prompted these thoughts. I was riding home from class the other night with a classmate from one of my classes. He's staggering through the material about as unsteadily as … [Read more...] about Choosing Accountability