Evangelism Is For Missionaries
Sometimes, people think I am a vocational missionary. It’s a simple mistake: after all, I’ve got the suitcases, passport, cargo pants and Chacos to look it. There are some stark differences between Christian international relief work and mission work, but I often receive comments like, “May God bless your mission” and “What you’re doing is kingdom-work.” Sometimes these words, kindly meant, lead me to wonder: are we, in the Church, shirking our own responsibility to make disciples?
I wonder if we (myself included) like to elevate overseas missions because it means here, at home, we won’t be expected to disciple others. If we raise the title of “missionary” high enough, perhaps we can convince ourselves it no longer applies to us at all.
When I think of missionaries, I picture Jim and Elisabeth Elliot in Ecuador, Hudson Taylor in China, Adoniram Judson in Burma, and Amy Carmichael in India. I think of people who sell their house, car, sofa, and dishes in their home countries and choose to build their lives overseas, ministering to others as a full-time job. Often, they are sustained by raising financial support for their ministry. I don’t consider myself a missionary in that sense. Most days, I sit at a desk supporting hurricane relief and recovery programs. I get a paycheck via direct deposit twice a month. And I still have a good many earthly belongings crowding my parents’ garage (as my dad likes to remind me).
In Matthew 28, Jesus gives the Great Commission.
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”-28:18-20 NIV
In the English translations, the first word out of His mouth in verse 19 is “Go,” which implies it is the subject, the main action, of the paragraph. We then mistake “go” for “travel,” or “leave” to take the gospel beyond the borders of our hometown, home state, or home country. But when Jesus spoke these words in Aramaic, the main action in the phrase was “Make disciples,” not “Go.”
Essentially, Jesus means we must make disciples while we’re going through life. Making disciples is what we should do; baptizing and teaching are how we should do it. The thrust here is not on going, leaving, or even “converting,” but on teaching and showing people how to follow Jesus.
There are those who argue Jesus’ last words on earth were only directed to those standing with Him on the mountain before he ascended. The danger in that, however, is it inherently calls into question everything else Jesus said only to those physically present with Him. If we question whether the Great Commission is relevant to us, we have to ask whether anything Jesus said is relevant to us.
A devotional Bible study on mentorship, callings and discipleship. Includes a downloadable 33-page PDF study with accompanying recordings of live video studies from our Summer 2019 small group.
More than likely, you didn’t find Jesus on your own. Someone else introduced you: either through their lifestyle, personal testimony, or the message of the gospel. Someone was a missionary in your life. When He spoke his last words on earth, Jesus was speaking to all who would come to be part of His body, the church, until the end of the age. He instructs us ALL to be missionaries, in the sense that as we go through our days, we make disciples in whatever nation we happen to live.
The Lord convicts the hearts of some to make disciples overseas, and we desperately need those in the Church to rise up. Maybe that’s you. Currently, there are about 7,400 unreached people groups worldwide representing 3.23 billion individuals. Refugee crises are rising across the globe, and some of those individuals may be fleeing the borders of their homeland to seek peace and safety in your backyard. There are two fronts within this spiritual war, and we need people fighting in both: for those who have heard but not believed, and for those who have not yet heard.
If I’m honest, evangelism is—and has always been—difficult for me. It’s not that I lack passion for Jesus or His truth, but I will never be the person standing on a street corner, trying to strike up gospel conversations with anybody walking past. I’m just not good at that. But, I have friends (and I’m sure you do too) who are gifted that way. They have blessed countless people by offering a listening ear and being willing to discuss spirituality in a culture that despises vulnerability.
Now, don’t misunderstand: if your personality makes evangelism hard for you too, this is not an “out” for us. Just because we’re not good at talking to strangers does not mean we stop trying, or stop boldly investing in the moments we do find. Rejecting our unique responsibility to make disciples is nothing less than disobedience.
Reading through the book of Acts, no characteristic embodies the apostles more than boldness. You and I could probably use a little more boldness in our lives (the Lord knows I do). Consider this: if we believe the gospel is true (and, therefore, that anyone who doesn’t receive Jesus’ atonement for their sins will indeed spend eternity separated from God), shouldn’t our evangelism resound with an urgency in line with that reality?
These words from Jim Elliot always pierce my heart: “Oh that God would shake up some of those…with their prim unconcern for souls and saints, dabbling with building lots, houses, jobs, babies, silverware—while souls starve for what they know!”
Souls starve for what we know.
My college pastor put it like this: “Don’t assume people don’t want to hear the gospel. They do. Who doesn’t want to hear good news? In fact, it’s the best news ever.” Many, especially in the United States, are wrestling with deep spiritual questions and they have nowhere to go for answers but the Internet.
A few years ago, I was on a plane home and a guy about my age sat down next to me. We started chatting and eventually he asked about the book I was holding. It happened to be Shusaku Endo’s novel, Silence, about Japanese Christians being martyred for their faith.
After explaining the plot, he began asking deep questions about spirituality and Jesus. He even referenced several confusing passages in the Old Testament (many of which I had wrestled with myself). It didn’t end with a prayer or anything, but praise God, we had a good conversation and I hope he left with a little more clarity.
I heard about Jesus because my parents are Christians and I was raised going to church. But I stayed in church because of a handful of mentors who guided me through some hard seasons when, left alone, I might have chosen to walk away for good. There are people out there, right now, who will only listen to the gospel story if they hear it from you. God created YOU with certain gifts and abilities that He intends to use, so you can walk in the good works He prepared for you to accomplish (Ephesians 2:10 NIV).
No matter where you live or how you earn a paycheck, make disciples as you go. Ask and invite meaningful spiritual questions: don’t settle for skimming the surface of relationships. Don’t assume the Christians around you are fine; we all need to be regularly encouraged in our faith.
Seek the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, and don’t close your heart to God’s conviction as you read His Word. Proclaim Christ boldly and remember that souls starve for what you know. Within the pages of that Bible you hold, lies the best news humanity has ever known.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Claire Zasso was born and raised in California with many books and mountain air. Currently, she works for a Christian international relief organization, supporting hurricane recovery programs. She loves coffee, scuba diving, leading worship with her guitar, hiking in the Sierra Nevadas, jamming to classic rock, and showing others the freedom found in knowing Jesus.