In This Issue: Four Ways We Motivate People to Engage the World
- ARTICLE: Why Do We What We Do and Expect Others to, Too?
- EVENTS: New on the Missions Catalyst Calendar
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Practical Mobilization by Shane Bennett is published once a month.
Why Do We What We Do and Expect Others to, Too?
By Shane Bennett.
Introduction
I was recently sitting in a board meeting for a small mission agency, feeling slightly distracted, when I began to wonder how everyone else ended up at the table. (I was there because I know how to pick good donuts. Really, I do.) I began to realize that nearly everyone there had been living a fine life, loving God, and doing their work with gusto, when something changed dramatically for them. Burrow 5-10 years into their pasts and you’d find little or no interest in God’s global purposes – certainly not interest as specific as serving the Central Asian people we were now praying and planning for.
I wondered what made the change. What had caused these bright women and men to pledge their lives, their fortunes, and maybe even their sacred honor to this winsome, God-loved people group?
And then I thought, “Whoa, whatever happened to these people could happen to others!” How many dozens of people warm our pews each Sunday, people prepared by God and waiting for the word, the challenge, the invitation that will open up a whole new passion for them? Mentally I began to paint targets on the foreheads of several relatively innocent churchgoers. Maybe that is going too far. But honestly, I was deeply encouraged to find ways to appropriately invite people to take the next step – maybe their first step – into cross-cultural involvement.
The next couple skips in my mental hopscotch game led me to the square labeled “motivation.” I knew I was motivated to mobilize, but I wondered what might motivate people to respond to my invitations. How might I – how might we – motivate people to get involved in what God is doing? Which of those strategies would sound good to Jesus? Do we appeal to godly motives, or are we pragmatic enough to use whatever works? Have we borrowed too much from late-night infomercials?
Here’s my swing at four main ways we motivate people to engage the world. I’d love to have you weigh in on this .
1. Duty
We should share our faith with people who don’t follow Jesus because the Bible says we should. It is our duty. This motivation scores high on the “true” scale in my mind. If we believe the Bible, we should do what it says. It does, however, tend to score dismally on the “it works” scale. I’m not sure duty inspires as much deep vision and costly commitment as it did in the good old days. Having not lived through them, I’m not sure if it worked well then either.
Perhaps this isn’t such a good motivator, particularly for Americans. Maybe Americans have so sold out to a season of self-actualization that someone asking us to “do our duty” might as well be speaking in dog language. It just doesn’t connect. On the other hand, your culture (or subculture) may respond to a call to duty.
2. Fear
Though wildly popular these days, this is definitely my least-favorite mobilization motivator. In fact, I take a bit of pride in the fact that I don’t sell a lot of books by resorting to fear mongering. (Or maybe I don’t sell a lot of books because I don’t write them!) While I delight that so many Christians are thinking, talking, and writing about Muslims these days, I’m troubled that much of that discourse is fear-based. Do we ever see Jesus motivating obedience based on fear? I don’t think so. Do I regret motivating my children with fear? Yep.
Fear works as a motivator (at least temporarily) because it touches such a deep part of us. To varying degrees we fear death. We fear failure. We fear looking stupid or being marginalized. It also works because it has to do with a disastrous, though improvable, potential future. And sadly, that may indicate a deep down lack of belief in a good God. Is there a part of our hearts that says, “Maybe God is getting beaten. Maybe this whole thing doesn’t have a good outcome. Maybe the Muslim will win”?
3. Fun
Moving from the motivation I like the least to the one that, by objective assessment, I realize I use the most. True confession time here, though: I’m not at all sure that this is the most biblical motivator for missions.
Here’s the way it works out for me: I tell people that following Jesus to unreached peoples will be the coolest, scariest, most challenging, painful adventure you could have. Who would want to miss that fun?
Or as my friend and mentor Steve Hawthorne says, “You’ve heard this haven’t you: ‘If not you, who? If not now, when?’ Well, I say, ‘If not me, somebody else. If not now, then later. But if God is doing this, I don’t want to miss out.'” Well said, Steve. I don’t want to miss it either. Nor do I want my friends to miss it.
Now put it to the Jesus test. I don’t know if I see him motivating the disciples to follow for the fun of it, though they certainly did get a head-spinning adventure. And maybe the less thoughtful among us might say, “Yeah, it’d be fun to follow Jesus around Palestine for three years. I could go for that.”
4. Hope
Appealing to a sense of hope scores high on both the “true” scale and the “it works” scale. So perhaps it is the best way to motivate people to join God’s purposes for the nations. God is going to do this great thing. God is gathering the nations to himself. This is both the history and future of our planet. It is the destiny of the cosmos because God is true. He keeps the audacious promises he’s made to his people and to himself.
The first part of this hope motivation is the character, the greatness, the intentionality of God. Now add the second element of hope: God uses people like us to partner with him in the completion of his purposes. Talk about honor, about treasure in jars of clay. What amazing hope, that God is doing something huge and that we matter hugely in the doing of it. Stunning. Put the two together and it’s like pouring vinegar on baking soda! I know my heart and hands rise up to the motivation.
Conclusion
What about you? What motivators do you find yourself using? What do you see Jesus using? Any appeals and approaches that really rankle you? Join the conversation in the comments on our website or Facebook page and email any personal rebukes directly to me!
In the meantime, may you motivate God’s people with truth and honor, and may God grant you great success in your efforts for his kingdom.
EVENTS: New on the Missions Catalyst Calendar
Come to a webinar! Our friends at The Mission Exchange are offering several interesting web-based learning initiatives in weeks to come:
January 20 – Trends in the Global Missions Movement, featuring Michael Jaffarian (World Venture).
January 27 – Eight Full-Funding Essentials (that We Too Easily Neglect), featuring Scott Morton (Navigators) and Ellis Goldstein (Campus Crusade).
February 3 – Engaging Boomers for Missions: Overcoming the Obstacles, featuring Don Parrott (Finishers Project).
February 10 – Building Ministry Teams, featuring Paul Ford (Church Resource Ministries).
February 17 – Health Care Reform: Implications for Missionary Sending Organizations, featuring John Butler (Capin Crouse).
> Learn more or sign up. See more listings on the Missions Catalyst events calendar.
Excellent article! We are heading back to the US for a one year home assignment and your article greatly encouraged me to motivate people using appropriate means. Keep up the good work. Thanks!
Hey Shane, great thoughts on motivation. I struggle with the lack of effectiveness when I use statistics. They work for me but I guess most folks just tune out the numbers. And what about God’s glory being a motivator? By that I mean that he receives MORE glory to his name as more peoples acknowledge his worth. Isn’t this Steve’s mantra??? I am curious as to his and your ideas on its effectiveness.
David: Thanks for the kind words. May God use you in wonderful ways. Where are you returning from? Care to say?
O.k, so I’ve been trying to figure out how do we motivate our church to catch the global vision without “going”. It seems that the people who catch the vision, have been impacted by a story, by a personal testimony or by actually going and seeing for themselves. I’m wondering if we can begin to raise awareness by highlightening one country/mission minstry each month in our church. Perhaps the first sunday a short video clip, perhaps the following sunday “after service” a hands on project specific to that month’s country focus, that they can be a part of. I’m thinking the third sunday, gather for a short time to pray for the real needs of the country including a specific request from a REAL person on the field (mission partner or someone they have encountered), I’m thinking we need to help people to SEE, FEEL, UNDERSTAND, the needs, but more importantly the impact they can have by getting involved in a small way, that makes a kingdom differance. “impact stories” can be great motivators!
Pat: Thanks for the comment. One of the trouble with statistics has to do with lack of trust. I have a hard time believing most statistics that I hear. However, I trust whatever you say or write! I love overused saying, “89% of statistics are made up on the spot.”
Regarding being motivated by God’s glory: I like what Piper says about the advent of this thinking at Bethlehem, “Hearing this idea is like being run over by a truck laden with sweet fruit: If you survive the impact the result is very nice.” (Something like that.) It’s wrapped up with the hope motivation in my mind. Although it could have easily been a separate thought. On one list of motivations in my notes for that article I had these two items: a. glory, God’s,; b. glory, mine. Sad to say, I too often have to wonder which I’m pursuing.
Shane,
I always enjoy reading your insights. Since taking the Perspectives course in Hudson 2 years ago, we have found ourselves seeking His will for us in this thing we call missions. I have experienced all of the things you mention here: duty, fear, fun, and hope. I think that each plays a part but the hope of knowing that we can be a part of God’s work on this vast planet is an amazing thrill and opportunity. There is nothing that measures up to seeing how He can take hearts and change and mold them from worldly sinners into saints about the work of His glory.
Hope you are well and that we shall meet again someday.
Take care.
Jackie and Craig
Shane, we are returning from Germany where we serve as short-term coordinators for Europe.
Shane,
Awesome morning reading! Thanks. My thoughts- substitute “Joy” for “Fun” and I think this is a great quadrilateral complex for biblical motivation. Fun has an element of joy in it, but joy- the road to deep joy, isn’t always fun. “For the joy set before him, Jesus endured the cross….etc.”
Fear, the fear of what will happen if we do not obey our Lord, is a very valid motivator– the parable of the talents leaps immediately to mind. I don’t think we need to be ‘afraid’ of at times appropriately reminding ourselves of the consequences of our disobedience. That Jesus is Lord, full stop.
I wonder if gratitude might not fit in here as well. This would involve deeply reflecting on, talking about, and experiencing the grace of God in our own lives- and then gratefully waling in the good works God has prepared beforehand for us to walk in.
Great stuff… thanks again!
grace & peace,
dm
Dear Shane,
Your article was forwarded to me by my dear friend Anneli Dietz. You have touched on many great issues and subjects here. This is a wonderful topic to bring out for introspection, discussion and discovery.
I applaud and admire all you do as God leads you.
What I would like to add to the four ways you presented is an invitation and encouragement to go deeper into each of these areas to the heart of the matter.
You started off with Duty. My question would be; what can truly motivate us to be faithful to perform our duty? My first thought is Love. Because He first loved us, that gives each of us value, worth. That is the greatest movtivator in the world: Love! I can perform my duties as though they are new everyday when it is based on pure love. Do we love those we want to motivate? Do we let Christ’s Love emenate through us so others feel it and want more?
Next motivator is fear. Very interesting discussion you shared regarding fear. Personally I would not follow or be interested in a fear-based offer. Yet, the one thing muslims have plenty of in their relationships is fear. Going deeper, to the heart of the matter, one would more likely be motivated by the sincere expectation to obtain Peace, the “Peace of God that passses all understanding.” Peace would be a rare commodity, highly sought after. Who could ignore the promise of peace in their heart and mind?
Fun is very attractive as your offer is straight forward and honest. Moving into deeper water here, I believe what you are describing is Joy! For the Joy of the Lord is your strength.
No matter what circumstance, our core strength comes from the Joy of the Lord. Those whose joy comes from the Lord are atmosphere changers by their very persence. I would follow that person even if it is just to challenge their continual joy.
AND last you hit the mark on hope! Christ in us is the HOPE of glory!! Standing strong in faith and hope in the face of extreme circumstances is one of the greatest movtivators.
In fact, I noticed in your closing lines you said
“may you motivate God’s people with truth and honor” AMEN to that! Living honestly with God, yourself and others, honoring God, yourself and others is the absolute key to motivation!
So what I see described here is living one’s life “out loud” in such a way that other’s want what you have speaks volumes
without words.
I thank you, Shane for bringing this to the forefront. May the Lord bless you mightily and keep you in all your ways to ignite your spirit in new areas for His Glory!
Jackie, Wow. Great words. Thank you. I’m glad to hear of the journey you’re on. May God use you in wonderful ways.
Dave, Thanks for chiming in all the way from Alaska! I appreciated what you said about fear and gratitude. I need to think about fearing the consequences of our disobedience. I admit that I hesitate to go down that path. The gratitude idea is spot on. It is a powerful motivator.
Melanie, Wow, great thoughts. Thank you for taking the time to push the conversation forward. I hope you’ll subscribe to Missions Catalyst and way to go: having Anneli as a friend!
Steve,
Re “Four ways to motivate” – thanks for raising the question; it’s a one I’m constantly dealing with. I have used all four motivations on your list and not with much success.
In my old age I think I have come to the conclusion that a “passion for the unreached” is closely associated with a sovereign move of God. From my experience, those who seem to “get it” seem to get it enthusiastically with a fair to great degree of passion. The whole concept of “responsibility for the world” seems to click with them. They didn’t need my exegesis of what the Bible teaches about our responsibility. It seems that my elevator speech was sufficient.
Could it be that God in His sovereignty has selected those who would catch the vision and our job is to simply tell the story? I know that most of us evangelicals would say we believe that way, But when it comes to making the plea we somehow fall prey to the need to motivate the people – as if the result rested in our abilities.
Thanks for your article, it caused me rethink my approach to casting the vision.
Larry, Thanks for sharing your thoughts here. It’s an interesting question: Where does the sovereignty of God intersect with the persuasion of man? Thanks for bringing it up.
Is Steve Addison a reader of Missions Catalyst? I’m not sure but I think he is. At any rate, he blogged about the question of how you can motivate others to be involved in mission. (Starting off with the claim, ‘you can’t’). See http://www.movements.net/2011/01/14/everyone-a-missionary-i-dont-think-so.html
Marti
Great article Shane! A partnering church recently asked me to share about this topic. I wish I had had your article at that time.
The third category of motivation below is sort of the ideal and I often find myself in the first or second categories. Somehow it seems to be a real struggle to be consistently motivated in missions by the glory of God. Love the “run over by a fruit truck” statement above.
Motivations for Missions
1. Poor motivations – Me at the center!
* Guilt or pressure – powerful motivator, if a missions presentation can make me feel guilty enough then I will do some thing. Problem is it is short-lived and can easily lead to resentment and bitterness.
* To be more acceptable to God or ourselves – the lie of works righteousness, imagine that God is somehow more pleased with missionaries
* To prove our spirituality – the subtle falsehood that “the ultimate in Christian commitment is becoming a missionary”.
2. Good, but not the best motivations – Man at the center!
* Duty as a Christian – Duty and obedience is important but it can easily lead to the Martha syndrome. In middle of an unreached people group and asked why are you here, is my response “I am here because it is my duty, because it is my task, my job. I have to do this.”?
* To “help out” God – God is seemingly presented as a busy, frustrated, overworked cosmic manager desperately seeking help to carry out His plan of redemption. Appeals like “heaven is counting on you … if you don’t go, how will they hear … their eternity depends on you” give the subtle impression that God is wringing His hands in heaven just hoping and hoping enough people will somehow get involved in world evangelization and pull off His plan.
* So “Christianity will win” – global struggle of major religions, we want our “team” to win. We live in a competitive culture motivated to be involved to win.
* The lostness of men and women – a very real and noble motivation, born from a compassion for fellow man. The physically and spiritually poor require our involvement. The need is and should be presented as staggering and overwhelming. Every day thousands of people pass into eternity without saving faith.
* The reality of hell – a very real and appalling place. Clear teaching in Scripture that it is eternal and terrifying. Sobering and soul-searching. A powerful and vital motivator, but not the highest.
3. Highest motivation for missions – God at the center!
(Most of the following is from John Piper’s writings)
* The glory and greatness of God – Isaiah 26:8 “Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you. Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.” Renown: The quality of being widely honored and acclaimed” synonyms: prestige, fame, glory, honor, distinction, eminence, prominence. The desire, longing, hunger, burden, passion, drive, zeal is for the global renown of God. Roms 1:5
* Missions is not God’s ultimate goal, worship is. Missions exists because worship does not! There will be no missions in heaven; missions is a temporary means to an end.
* Worship is both the fuel and the goal of missions.
Fuel – Cannot commend what I do not cherish. Little enthusiasm for the Kingdom because there is little enthusiasm for the King. When we are not stunned by the greatness of God there will be little zeal for missions. Goal – to bring the nations into the white-hot enjoyment of God’s glory, the gladness of the peoples in the greatness of God. Rev 7:9-11.
* Worship given to idols belongs to God exclusively. God alone is worthy of worship.
Hey Patti, Thanks for chiming in. Sorry I overlooked your comment initially. May God give you success in your efforts. I totally agree with the idea that we need to help people take baby steps to engagement. Here are a couple of ideas that may or may not fit in with your plan: How about employing skype to bring the image and voice of a someone working far away right into your meeting? Also, you could check this older Practical Mob article on close to home cross cultural exposure experiences: https://missionscatalyst.net/?p=165.
Dan: Great thoughts. Thanks for adding them to the conversation. I appreciate it.
Shane I agree with the people above , my main agreement is that this is a heart thing. The enthusiasm we have for World Mission, and local Evangelism, is not communicated by strategies but by our love for Jesus and those we are dealing with. Statistics too leave me cold unless they are communicated with applicable enthusiasm, unfortunately most times they are presented flat.
I have taken the title for years. I have no idea how many I have pointed to the call of God on their lives, and that includes senders and supporters. To me the numbers are not important, but I do sometimes fell that question about effectiveness and eventually answer it with He is the Lord of the Harvest I am just the fertilizer.
Hello BJ: Thanks for the thoughts. I agree, passion is key. I bet you are excellent fertilizer (And I mean that in the kindest sense!)