Next month we are focussing our efforts as a church on the Great Commission; to make disciples of all nations (Matt 28:19). We are being encouraged to (i) devote ourselves to prayer, and (ii) invite one person along to a church event, regardless of the outcome. It is this second step that instils fear in Christians, due to the pushback we might experience. It is just uncomfortable when people look down on us, reject us, or outright attack us for sharing our beliefs.
Our western individualism has taught the modern church that this suffering is just not worth it. The narrative being sold to modern society is that true joy and fulfilment comes from finding your own personal dream, and doing everything to make that dream a reality. This means throwing off any duty we may feel towards others (e.g. a mission), and focussing on ourselves. There is tremendous freedom in this.
Yet it comes at a heavy cost; feeling empty and unfulfilled. The reason being that the more we focus on our own significance, the less we end up impacting others. That in turn makes us less significant in this life; not more. We might have a cosy little life, with all our own interests, needs, comforts and freedoms met; but it brings very little by way of fulfilment.
True fulfilment in life comes from being a part of something bigger than ourselves, where we can have an impact on large numbers of people; not just ourselves. Another word for this is having a ‘mission’. And mission brings with it brings both suffering and joy. Take Heb 12:2 for example, which says that Jesus, ‘for the joy set before him endured the cross’. It is not the cross that brought Jesus joy; it was the MISSION of saving his people from their sins. Yet that mission came about through suffering. We know we’re on a mission when our comfort, happiness, needs and even freedom come second to the cause. So over the next 6 weeks, will you step up for Jesus’ cause?
Brendan McLaughlin
