In a missiological bestseller, a popular theologian says that missions exists because worship does not. Although I can appreciate his sentiments, I’m not sure the tagline “worship is the ultimate goal of the church” does as much to enhance the missions movement as we would like to believe. I would even venture to say that many churches are worshiping in varied ways (or think that they are worshiping), but I wonder how much obedience to Christ’s commands is there among the members after the “worship” service is over. Many non-Christian people groups would even say that they worship God, and some modern false prophets who hide behind clerical robes and academic desks have heretically labeled these as anonymous Christians. So amid the vast 21st century expressions of worship, the concept is so vague that it has become a generic notion that inflated egos argue over who can define it best. Jesus did not say, “If you love me you will worship me;” instead, he said, “If you love me you will keep my commands” (John 14:15). True missions, therefore, is not a call for spreading happy worship services across the continents but is instead a call to create, out of every people group, learners who will joyfully obey Jesus in every aspect of their lives (Matt 28:19-20). So it is with that perspective I can honestly call Jeremiah a missionary albeit with a different message. If he had written a book, it would have probably been entitled “Let the Nations Be Warned” with a disclaimer that the chapters would probably not become the required texts for roster-filled seminary classes. The three parts of his book would be: 1) God has a Controversy with the Nations, 2) God will Judge All Peoples, and 3) Evil Missions from Nation to Nation (Jeremiah 25:31-32). Jeremiah would say, “Missions exists because obedience does not.” And this sobering reality of God’s wrath, brothers and sisters, should drive our missiology as much as jubilant word pictures of music and prayers. So when I meet my neighbor today what is my missionary message? My fear is that my neighbors will be taught to worship and sing “Lord, Lord” on their way to hell (Matt 7:21). Jeremiah 25 is a reminder that God owns the message as much as He owns the messenger.
Posted on: Tue, 03 Jun 2014 14:16:36 +0000
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