Mission Gone South, Part 2 (Why we're doing this)

Many of you may be wondering, “Why are you doing this?” Some of you may be thinking, “Why not let sleeping dogs lie? Why bring things out into the open?”

It is not just to point fingers at these persons and the situations. Nor is it to make mockery of them. It is to show the symptoms of deeper spiritual issues. To show the seriousness of the situation. Besides that, in what ways may you have been just like these same people who caused these things to happen to us and to the others affected? Where have you fallen down on your responsibility to your brother or sister (fellow human being)? Look at what happened/is happening and examine yourselves, just as we’ve been examining ourselves.

We share our experience to help other missionaries who were/are in the same/similar boat to be able to debrief. To bring the overseeing mission organization to task about its operations. To bring the church to task about its own part in all of this. To shake the persons involved out of their stupor. To highlight the real needs of the villagers with whom we lived and worked.

Sin is not something to be coddled and hidden. It is in this state that it is allowed to take root and grow into the monster that is holding this world at ransom. Why do you think there is so much devastation and so many suffering innocents, greed, selfishness, disease, death? It’s not because God doesn’t care or because He’s too busy or too far away. It’s because of sin. The Bible says, “by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men...” (Romans 5:12). Thus, we are told that “the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). The angel that appeared to Joseph in a dream told him that Mary would bring forth a Son, conceived of the Holy Spirit, adding, “and thou shalt call His name JESUS [meaning, Savior]: for He shall save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

There are many unconverted people in the church who have not allowed the power of the sacrifice of Jesus to give them the victory over sin. Jesus is the only way provided for salvation. No other man or woman, church or philosophy can grant you that. Romans 12:9-11 says, “if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.” In Mark 16:15-16, Jesus is recorded as saying to his disciples (inclusive of future generations), “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel [the good news of salvation] to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

Time is running out for the church (the body of believers) to get its act together. To wake from its careless sleep and get its priorities in order. Pretty soon, the work that Jesus left earth to do in heaven will be done. He would have done His investigations and proven and identified His true people on earth. In Revelation 22:12, Jesus says, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” When He comes again He will already have His reward in hand. He would have already decided who was righteous and who was wicked based on their words, deeds, thoughts/intentions over the course of their lifetime—both for the living and the dead. So, it behooves us to be ready. Are you ready? Especially to the missionaries who claim to work under the banner of Christ; will you be left a castaway after your time of service? Will you hear those fretful words, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:23)?

Let us study to determine what we believe and seek truth. And when we find it, let us decide whether we will accept it or not, for it is not to be debated.