Why people gravitate to God’s global purposes and why they run away.
By Shane Bennett
Who wouldn’t want to have a book in the Bible named after themselves? My guess is that Jonah wouldn’t. As far as I can tell, though, he’s the only one to get four eponymous chapters dedicated solely to himself. And it couldn’t be the recounting of noble exploits or sharing of time-honored, God-revealed truth. Not even an angelic visitation. No, it had to be a giant, unmitigated foul-up. It may be Jonah’s one and only foul-up, but it’s preserved so we can read it, raise our eyebrows, cluck our tongues, and judge poor Jonah.
Or maybe he’s not so much “poor Jonah.” He clearly disobeyed. And in the process, he may provide mission mobilizers with a moral on a silver plate: “Obey God. Become a missionary. Don’t be a dope like Jonah.” Powerful stuff if wielded well, but not as interesting to me as the “why?” behind the “what?”
Why did Jonah, on hearing God’s call to Nineveh, head to Tarshish? Sometimes we go for a secondary moral: “Jonah was afraid of the Ninevites, so he ran away. Don’t be a baby like Jonah. Be brave. Follow God to where there aren’t even any Starbucks!”
But Jonah tips his hand at the end of his short bio and shows us it wasn’t fear that made him run. It was his conviction regarding the character of God: “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” Essentially, “If I preach, they might repent. If they repent, you’ll relent. Ergo, no Ninevite carnage.”
Apparently Jonah was compelled by his logical conclusion that dead enemies are less likely to visit their nefarious plans on your beloved homeland. He prioritized his perceived national security over God’s glory and Ninevite salvation. He didn’t go because he didn’t want them at the party.
What about us? What about us? What causes us and our people to run away from or toward obedience to God’s purpose?
In the course of my job, I ask tons of people to jump into God’s global purposes. Many of them don’t say yes. And since I can’t stomach the possibility that it might be me or the way I ask, I have to wonder why. I frequently ask students the following question in Perspectives classes: “What are some of the reasons people, perhaps including you at some point, run from involvement in God’s purposes for the world?”
A bright class will generate a long list. Long enough sometimes that we have to stop before we all get convinced to bail out! Here are some of the top reasons.
Reasons to Run away from God’s Global Purposes
- I can’t learn a language.
- I don’t measure up.
- I’m really happy here and don’t want to leave what’s comfortable.
- I’m engaged in ministry locally.
- I can’t (won’t?) raise support.
- I don’t understand what it looks like. No role models.
- I don’t really care.
- I don’t like foreign stuff.
- Life is so full and crazy, it’s all I can do just to get by.
- I just don’t see the need.
- I didn’t know God was into that stuff.
- It feels so imperialistic, intolerant, and non-pluralistic.
Reasons to Run toward God’s Global Purposes
- I want to obey what the Bible says.
- I feel compassion for people in need.
- I sense an opportunity for adventure.
- I honestly think I can help.
- I want to join in what God’s doing.
- I want to live a life of purpose.
- I believe God is worthy to be followed by all peoples.
For people like us, these lists do a couple of things. One, they give us language to articulate our judgmental, Pharisaical attitudes. I don’t recommend using them that way. (Although I should probably add, “Do as I say. Not as I do!”) But they also give us a window of understanding into the people we hope to mobilize for God’s global purposes. And maybe if we’re smart and work together, we can mitigate some of the first list and maximize the second one.
That said, I’d like your help. Can you take one minute right now and do something for me? Pick an item from each list and suggest a way to decrease its impact (first list) or increase its effect (second list). Because I’d really like this exercise to change things, pick items you feel have the best combination of “easy to address” and “high potential to make a difference.”
This article is a full 25 percent shorter than normal! Whoop! Please use the extra time that just landed in your lap to share you smarts with the tribe. I’ll follow up next month.
Editor’s note: For some more on Jonah, listen to a message from Shane, “In the Steps of Jonah or Jesus?”
Hey Shane — just a thought that’s rattling around in my brain. I’m a missions assistant at a fairly large church. One of our supported workers to the unreached constantly advises us as we mobilize our congregation that only God’s glory (#7 on your list) will keep people on the field: not a love for the lost, not compassion for their state, not a love for a certain people group … but only love for God and a desire for His glory on the earth. FWIW …
Shane,
I loved this article and your lists on reasons people do/don’t go into cross-cultural missions. I’ve been thinking about those lists and keep thinking the best ways to minimize the reasons we “can’t” do something is by talking to people who have done it (i.e. missionaries who have raised support and can share about the incredible ways God provided, how relationships grew and were incredible because they were partnering together, etc.)
Similarly, it sure helps me to keep my heart focused on being “IN” missions when I am surrounded by sermons, conferences, passionate people who are in the trenches of cross-cultural ministry. Seeing how God’s moving, the passion and ‘realness’ of it all is profoundly changing and focusing. It helps keep the “this is about God’s glory” part very clear.
Again, thanks for the great article. Always love reading them!
Amber
Michelle: Thanks for reading Missions Catalyst and writing in. I agree that God’s glory is a fundamental motivation for joining in his purposes, probably the best. I was presenting the list as a reflection of the variety of motivations people respond to. Pragmatically, I think we could use most of them to get people moving, while always undergirding everything with desire to see God get what he wants.
Amber: Thanks for the kind words. I think you’re on to something regarding talking to people who’ve done it. Since a lot of the best people “who’ve done it” are currently “doing it” far away from the people I want to convince, maybe we should work on a series of 2 min. videos. Something like, “How Dopes Like Us Changed the World.” Are you feeling it?
Shane, Excellent article and beautifully written. Thank you!
I think one of the additional things in the “Reasons to Run Toward God’s Purpose” is the believer’s pursuit of honor and glory. Why did Abraham obey God? Gen 12:1–3 demonstrates that God will bless Abraham. “I will make your name great.” So abundantly will Abraham be blessed, so honorable will be his offspring, that all the families of the earth will be blessed through him.
Could it be that honor given to us in Christ is one of the reasons why we follow Jesus? Could it be that this is why we get involved with his grand story to bless the peoples—because God himself shares his honor with those who follow Christ (John 17:22, Eph 2:6, Col 1:28, 1 Pet 2:7, etc).
When our shame is covered, our honor is restored in Christ—and we actually experience this love (Rom 5:5)—something special happens. It sets us free from the honor-status demands of this life. We can live with joyful obedience to God in his mission to bless the nations.
Well anyway, this is one of the things that motivates me. I long to share in the honor and glory of Christ.
Thank you again, Shane, for stimulating the conversation. I appreciate how God has gifted you as a communicator and mobilizer.
I pick #6, partially because it helps address some of the earlier excuses. I think what can be done about “no role models” is for those of us who have been exposed to missions and had experience to be more intentional about sharing our stories. However, if we are sharing those stories in ways that makes the mission so otherworldly and out of reach of anyone who isn’t some kind of spiritual giant, we can actually contribute to some of those excuses. Sharing the tedium as well as the excitement and the embarrassing failures along with the shiny successes help others ask, “Why not me?”
My immediate response when I felt the tug to jump in was #6. I’d had no exposure to missions and felt totally lost as to what living on the field and ministering cross-culturally even looked like. I dove into reading people’s personal blogs–not the ones with missiology and theory, but the women who posted about their families and their ministries and their everyday life. I’m a huge fan of the 2-min video idea, too. Something to dispel some of the fear of the unknown….
Werner: Wow. So much to think about in your comment. Thanks for sharing it. And thanks for the kind words. Do you have stuff written about honor and shame in the Abrahamic Covenant that you could share with me/us? Thank you.
Duane: Thanks for the comment. I think you’ve tapped into a tricky area: How do we tell stories in a way that inspire, but don’t cause delusion? On the other hand, we don’t want to bore people or tell stories that mainly complain! Thank you.
Christie: Thank you for weighing in. Can you tell us some of the blogs that you found particularly helpful? Thanks.
I could tell within the first sentence you were writing this installment of Missions Catalyst. You have an infectious desire to see people become engaged and excited for God’s purpose. Jonah’s story is a great one for us to soak on for awhile.
I chose to address #3 & 5.
#3. I like the way taking Perspectives actually facilitates the transition from being “comfortable” to being “uncomfortable and engaged” AND you like the change because you see bringing God greater glory is so satisfying. People in general are a lot like Jonah but thank God we’re a work in progress.
#5. I get so excited to receive newsletters from those we support in missions. I am there with them. I’m part of their team! I am working where God is working, no matter where I am or go, or stay. Partner up with someone who is on the field and you will be doing #5.
Shane: The material about the Abrahamic covenant are all in the book I’m writing — about honor and shame in the Bible and cross-cultural ministry. If you look at my blog http://wernermischke.org, you’ll see that there’s a free download available of the almost-finished manuscript for: THE GLOBAL GOSPEL: Achieving Missional Impact in Our Multicultural World. The book is not yet complete, but all the stuff about Abraham is in Section 2, Chapter 7, along with Section 3, Chapter 7. It is an exploration of the honor/shame dynamic of “patronage”, and that Abraham was invited to become a “co-patron” with God to the nations. Abraham would’ve never thought of “You shall be a blessing” as a duty, but rather, as an incredible privilege which demonstrated the wealth/honor of his being blessed by God … it accrued to an immense, unimaginable rise in his honor status. Therefore, to be involved in blessings the nations, like Abraham, is way, way beyond duty. This line of thinking exposes the whole top-line/bottom line thinking — that we have a responsibility to do mission, and we better get on with it. Mission is ultimately not about ethics, it’s about glory … glory for Christ, and His honor shared with all the peoples. So check out the manuscript; I’d be truly grateful to know what you think.
David: Thanks for reading and the kind words. Great points about Perspectives and partnering with workers. Thanks.
Werner: Wow, thanks for giving away the store! I’ll download the manuscript. I love the way you’re thinking and expect it’s going to impact me significantly. Thank you.
Shane,
Regarding: It feels so imperialistic, intolerant, and non-pluralistic.
I think we need to take this bull by the horns, because there is so much truth to the complaints that those of us from the west are causing as much (or more) harm than good in many parts of the field. We can attract more young people by both changing our methods and making it clear that we are not “business as usual” in our vision. Discover the truths in their post-modern mindsets and utilize their insights, and then provide training that will balance them, rather than simply inviting them into a society of people they have already seen through as being stuck in our deficient ways.
As for the lists and how to encourage people in the pursuit of global missions, here is my two cents’ worth.
The first question to ask someone might be this, “If God were to call you into foreign missions, would you be open to going?”
It is true that God doesn’t call all people into global missions, at least not to go into a foreign land.
If the person says that they are open to it, then the second question might be this: “Will you begin the conversation with God? Ask Him if He wants to send you, to do what, where, etc. Then listen to what He speaks to you. And, while you are at it, express to Him the desires of your heart, your fears and all the reasons why you do want to go or don’t want to go. Then let the conversation between you and HIm begin.”
The Lord is the One who changes hearts and prepares hearts for His mission and plans and He longs to draw us close to Him and help us overcome the things that keep us from fully walking with Him.
Mark: Thanks for reading and commenting. I’d love to hear more of your thoughts on this, “Discover the truths in their post-modern mindsets and utilize their insights, and then provide training that will balance them.” Have you written anything addressing these ideas?
Cecily: Thanks for the warm and winsome thoughts. They are a good reminder that this is God’s work, before it is ours.