The Pilgrim’s Protest

By Courtney Kilgore

I grew up in a missions-minded Southern Baptist Church. I can remember being involved in “Mission Buddies” in kindergarten on Wednesday nights at church, and I spent grades 1-6 involved in GA’s (Girls-in-Action). We learned about missions in different countries and would even write letters of encouragement to International Mission Board missionaries who were serving in those countries. GA’s is, in a nutshell, just like ICS1210 drawn out for 6 years; we read hundreds of books about missionaries and memorized numerous scriptures about missions. We were often told that being a missionary meant you were special. You were the one who was to go to the deepest, darkest jungles and give the message of hope to poor lost souls who had no hope. For many years I believed that if I did not make the effort to go those poor people would die and go to hell; the burden rested on me to go or send. If I did not then their blood would be on my hands. I do not know about you, but I think that is some pretty heavy theology for a 9 year old.

This method, however, is not simply a Southern Baptist phenomenon. I spoke with Brian Coblentz, Vice-President of the Student Missions Connection, who has heard much of the same things: “I went on a short term trip and it was there that I heard a lot of stats during the orientation about ‘3 people die and go to hell every second,’ and about all the unreached people groups who have no opportunity to hear. While all this is true, it could feel like coercion; being pushed to become a missionary maybe for the wrong reasons.” Others in the missions movement have also recognized this motivation as negative. In an article written by Tim Dearborn, titled Beyond Duty, he says, “Efforts to provoke interest in mission are often based on bad news—natural catastrophes, complex humanitarian disasters, unreached people groups, oppressed and exploited minorities, urban or suburban problems and civil wars.”

Have you ever heard the phrase, “If you don’t go, they won’t know?” If not, you will soon. It is a very popular way to motivate Christians to do missions. This phrase carries with it a sense of responsibility, and typically those who take it to heart will respond with compassion and will want to go to the place where “they don’t know” in order to make a difference. This invokes a sense of guilt in those who want to go but are not “there” yet. It is very man-focused and concentrates only on what “you” can do and not on what God can do, and what He is currently doing. Furthermore, this type of reasoning most often brings a sense of inadequacy to those who do not desire to go to the mission field. Because those who “go” are special and are “saving souls,” this sends the message that others who aren’t going are in some way less spiritual. It implies that they just don’t measure up spiritually, and some might say they “are not in the will of God.” Their choice to work in the secular marketplace or be a stay at home mom is secondary to being a missionary.

I doubt that guilt is what Jesus had in mind when He said to the disciples, “Go and tell.” The alternative I would offer is found in Matthew 22:37-39 “The greatest commandment is this, love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind,’ and the second is like it, ‘Love your neighbor as your self.’” Notice that Jesus says loving God is the greatest commandment, but not just a “warm fuzzies” kind of love: Psalms 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” When God is your focus and the One who brings joy above everything else, you will find yourself delighting in the things He delights in. God loves people and desires for all people to know Him. When we delight in God we will also desire to see people come to know Him. We will want to share with others this wonderful God we love. Where we are makes no difference; we freely choose to love people and share the gospel with them whether we are working at Burger King or working with the Red Cross in an impoverished country. In Dr. McQuilkin’s words, “’Making Him known’ flows out of ‘Knowing Him.’”

When I came to CIU I perceived that more emphasis was placed on the latter part of our motto, “…make Him known.” I have come to understand that I can do nothing to make myself more or less acceptable to God because I did nothing to gain God’s favor in the first place (Romans 3:23-25; Ephesians 2:7-9). This understanding has brought freedom to either stay in the States or go overseas as long as I “Know Him and make Him known.” As I grow in relationship with God, I love Him more and love others more. This leads to a desire to share the gospel and brings freedom from guilt and inadequacy.

I hope those of you who are struggling with feelings of inadequacy will look to the cross and realize how much you are valued (1 Peter 1:18-19). To those who have a passion for missions, continue growing in your love for God and people; encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ to seek God’s face.