In years past, as winter would set in and the darkness of the season would fight to blot out the joy of my soul, I would find myself stumbling into depression. I would spend countless hours sitting on a couch and watching movies. This allowed the images before my eyes to falsely convince me that I was, in fact, living. This temptation besets many Christians as they withdraw from others and become inwardly focused. This disconnection is not only detrimental to the life of a believer, but serves to deconstruct the church body. For if we are truly living stones that make up the temple of God, then we must know that our job as weight bearing stones is to support the overall integrity of the church. As our brothers and sisters are buffeted by blows from the enemy, it is the divine charge given to the stronger Christians to carry the burden and encourage those in the midst of trial. Paul speaks to this in Philippians 2:1-6:
1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love,
any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete
my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full
accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit,
but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let
each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests
of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ
Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality
with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form
of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in
human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of
death, even death on a cross.
How Did My Sin Hurt the Church?
Taking Paul’s warning of the danger of selfish ambition seriously, I began to wonder how the church was affected when I became inwardly focused. It took several recent conversations that I have had with missionaries on the field and missionaries preparing to go to the field, to uncover the answer to this question. It is that of missionary care. In my defense, I feel like I was set up to fail in this area, just because of the speculation that surrounds life on mission. The term ‘mission’ even carries with it the connotation that it has a singular focus, holding only those who have been ‘called’ by God accountable for achieving its goal. I was satisfied in taking the backseat, watching God’s plan unfurl without me, thus being lulled into sinful apathy. And it was this same apathy which was the painful thread woven through my missionary conversations.
God did not save me for works of self-indulgence, but gave me as His child the function of obediently humbling myself for the betterment of the church. If the church is filled with saints who don’t act in humble obedience, it becomes blind to the volleys that Satan hurls toward those on the frontlines. Missionaries are assaulted with this hellish fury in the attempt to halt the procession of God’s glory throughout the world. Therefore, we must encourage our brothers and sisters so that they may be strengthened in their mission. Charles Spurgeon speaks of the double edged sword that is the burden most missionaries carry, reaching lost souls paired with hatred of Satan.
‘If the watchman warn them not they shall perish, but their blood will
I require at the watchman’s hands.’ To sit down and spell over the
question—’Am I free of his blood?’ is terrible. I have sometimes
thought I must have a day or two of rest, but I frankly confess that rest is
very little rest to me, for I think I hear the cries of perishing souls, the
wailings of spirits going down to hell, who chide me thus: ‘Preacher,
can you rest? Minister, can you be silent? Ambassador of Jesus can you
cast aside the robes of your office? Up! and to your work again.’… It is a
work so solemn that if you do not encourage your minister, your minister
will probably sink down in despair. Remember that the man himself
needs encouragement, because he is weak. Who is sufficient for these
things? To serve in any part of the spiritual army is dangerous, but to
be a captain is to be doubly exposed. The most of the shots are aimed
at the officers. If Satan can find a flaw in our character, then it will be,
‘Publish it, publish it, publish it!’ If he can lead us to keep back a
doctrine or go amiss in practice, or wander in experience, he is glad
enough. How delighted is the devil to break the vessels of mercy. Pray
for the poor man, whom you expose to perish, if you do not preserve
him by supplication.
If you have ever watched a fight, you know that the weak fighter does not attack his opponent where he is strong, but focuses on his weakness in an effort to cripple him. As missionaries become weakened by the strains of ministry and their endless pursuit of the unsaved, the enemy studies them for the areas in which they are letting their guard down. He lingers patiently until he can strike them. And without brothers on guard, the missionary is blindsided and falls.
Ministry and mission can be heavy. However, the yoke of the gospel mission becomes light when many shoulders of the saints bear it. This usually is not the case, for the church falls prey to the costly lie that missions are a holier breed, of whom sin does not touch. “Well, they looked happy in the picture from their last update, life must be good!” becomes the false thought that we entertain in our heads. Church! Be careful not to make this assumption! A picture cannot capture the suffering and the trials of a missionary that is hidden behind a smile. Let us not wait for the cry of the one who has fallen, but let us be as sentries, looking out for those undergoing the labor of missions and calling the church to their aid. Let us not sit idly silent and then act shocked when they become burned out or are tempted into sin.
God has awakened me to my role in this cycle with questions of conviction. Might it be that the missionary is doing so much work to advance the gospel, that they do not have the time to voice their sufferings? More painfully indicting is the thought that maybe we as a church have trained them not to complain. For we can say to them, “We want only good news.” “We will have to rethink your funding if we don’t see success.” “Christ didn’t complain, neither should you!” These words smell of arrogance, and might I say that frightfully, they generally come out of the mouth of one about to slip down to the pit themselves. So church, be seldom and be wise in your comments of critique, yet be bountiful in words of encouragement. For while it takes many words of encouragement to shore up a soul, it takes but one wayward criticism for it to collapse. Do not make Spurgeon’s words true, “They are more knowing than wise”.
How Do We Encourage Those Who Go?
So brothers, after repentance, we have work to do. But where do we get started? The firstmost powerful and practical step would be to pray for missionaries. Intercede for them as Christ interceded for us to the father. Paul in Colossians declares that Christ is the first over all creation. All things submit to him, for it is through him that all things are sustained. That means there is no power that he cannot overcome. Also, let the missionary know when you pray for them as for what you prayed. Second, speak words of scripture and encouragement to them. Spurgeon writes,
Oh ye that have searched the scriptures through and know its
promises- ye that have been among these beds of spices, and whose
garments smell of frankincense, be sure to quote the promises of
God to trembling hearts, and especially to those engaged in arduous
labor for the Master. Comfort them. Repeat the doctrine of God’s
faithfulness; say to them, ‘He will be with thee, he will not fail thee,
neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.’ Oh that the
wise-hearted in the Lord’s family would be thus employed at all times.
Lastly, there are many creative ways that you can encourage your missionaries:
While missionaries certainly do appreciate the practical gifts that you send, how about sending something that you know that they would
rarely, if ever, treat themselves to.
For missionaries that are married, ask them how their marriage is going. Ask them how they are maintaining God’s view of mission in their
relationships (spouse, children, friends).
Ask married couples what kind of date they would like to go on somewhere near them. They are usually so frugal with their funds, that they
would feel guilty spending lavish money on a date.
Arrange a day that they cannot turn into a mission, but is strictly for the sake of pleasure.
Plan a trip to go and encourage, trips don’t always have to be focused only on some type physical labor, but plan a trip with the focus to
encourage the missionaries heart.
If money is an obstacle for you, here is a website with 13 creative ways to help a missionary that won’t break the bank.
It is a grace that God has awakened me to this blindspot in my life. And as He has shed light on this area in my life, so I want to shed light on this area in your lives as well. But do not be discouraged, for God does not awaken us to areas of oversight or sin that we should dwell there, but He awakens us with a purpose. In the same way you rise out of bed in the morning, not consuming yourself with thoughts of the bed, but about the day ahead, rise from this area of darkness into the light of God’s words with a task to do. If you already are faithful in encouraging, I urge you continue! If this is an area of weakness, start with simple ways to encourage a missionary and see how our God will bless!
This blog post was written by Jesse Bowers, Team Lead for Missions.