“Missions - Expanding God’s Kingdom by making Him known and helping people come to know Him through Jesus Christ.” GTBN Values Statement
One cannot be a Southern Baptist very long without hearing about missions. It’s at the heart of why autonomous, independent congregations form associations, state conventions, and national entities. But what do we mean when we say missions?
Missions is, of course, THE MISSION… the Great CoMISSION. You know, that verse where Jesus tells the church that all authority is His. Then, with this authority, he says to them, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” That’s the mission.
But one might say, “What about loving the Lord with all your heart, and your neighbor as yourself?” Good question. The answer: this is precisely what disciples do. When the church values the Great Commission, more people will love the the Lord wholeheartedly and their neighbors as themselves.
Another asks, “But shouldn’t the church be an agent of community transformation or justice? Answer: In a world broken from sin, only the gospel brings lasting solutions. When more people love the Lord wholeheartedly and their neighbors as themselves, their influence will only enhance their communities. Justice isn’t the goal of missions, it’s an outcome when lives are transformed through missions.
Finally one asks, “So, you’re saying that we should ignore the problems in our community and just preach the gospel?” No, No, NO! Just as Jesus and the first disciples did, today’s disciples minister within their world, but we do so not as an end in itself. They are means for elevating Christ as we continue the mission.
So the mission God has given His church is, as we gather to love and worship Him and to build up one another, to make Him known that more will respond in repentance and faith and follow Him as do we.
As I write, having just reviewed today’s news, my heart is heavy (at least the old newspapers had “the funnies”). There’s so much hurt and evil going on. It’s hard to know where to begin, what need to address, that peace would reign over the chaos.
But God gives His church a clear place to start, the mission. The value statement begins with “Expanding God’s kingdom…” Because where the Prince of Peace reigns, order emerges from chaos.
And this is why everything we do in partnership with GTBN is about missions. It’s why we exist.
Blessings,
Bro. Jim