andrew dodson

Yesterday, I watched “End of the Spear” for the first time.  I don’t want to spoil the details for those that haven’t seen it, but I do want to talk about missionaries.  By the way, if you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it.

I went into the movie expecting to feel convicted for how little I do to spread the Gospel.  Turns out, my expectations rang true, and here I sit in my conviction.  My point is this:  American Christians have it too easy.  We have our cushy lives with roofs over our heads, clean water, nice clothes, dependable transportation, iPods, reality television… need I go on?  How many of us truly care if our neighbor is a Christian?  We have everything we need, so why would we care about anyone else?

Missionaries live a far greater life.  They risk their lives for the sake of the Gospel.  Hundreds and thousands of Christian missionaries are risking their life this very minute in countries all over the world.  They’re in places where this is no such thing as “freedom of religion.”  In fact, if people in these places don’t submit to a particular religion, they’re killed.

All Americans risk is our reputation.  If we share the Gospel with our neighbor or co-worker, we’re just risking them thinking we’re one of those crazy Christians.  They’re not going to pull out a spear and send it through our chest.

Someone I know attempted to say he had “stuck his neck out” for running a Christian business.  He was risking everything he owned to open a business.  To him, ending up broke and homeless was just as risky as a missionary putting their life on the line.  How can this be?  In my opinion, he was putting more value on his worldly possessions than caring about giving his life for another’s salvation.

From a Biblical standpoint, we’re told there’s no greater thing than laying down our life for another.

John 15:13 Listen

13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

All the while, we’re called to think very little about our worldly passions.

Titus 2:11-14 Listen

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Being a missionary isn’t a calling.  It’s a command.  I pray that all of us will at least be a little more willing to risk our reputations since there are others in the world risking their lives.

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