Christians and missions

I was thinking about "people groups" in the world, what's dear to them, and why they do or do not want to share what they have.

As I thought about it, genuine Christians seem to be an odd bunch. Go figure. Believers who hold that missions are important and who try to share the Gospel and be intentional about spreading the love of Jesus to others, do so for the benefit of those others.

There aren't many groups in the world with that sort of mentality. Now, I realize, I have to qualify this post quite carefully. The "Christians" I'm referring to are those that hold that missions are an inherent part of their walk with Jesus. And no, this doesn't mean going to a foreign land. There's all sorts of mission opporunities right here at home. Next door. It's not up to me to qualify who is a real Christian and who isn't. However, in reading Scripture, I am of the opinion that it's really hard NOT to care about missions if you are someone who genuinely desires to seek and pursue Christ.

There are certainly "Christians" who are in it for personal gain, and who seek their own benefit by using missions as a means to their own selfish goals and desires for comforts. But please keep in mind, when I refer to Christians from here on out in this post, I am meaning it to mean those who think missions as a means for sharing Christ's love and the knowledge of His grace.

And so...Do the rich people of the world try to share their secrets of being wealthy with numerous others, so those that lack wealth can become like the rich ones? (no, that doesn't happen, wealthy people don't want competition that would endanger their wealth)

Do the American citizens of the world go around trying to share the greatness of America and offer citizenship to non-Americans because, "hey, America is so great!" (no, this doesn't happen either. Americans share American values sometimes to show off, brag, or because their ignorant sometimes, but hardly do many Americans voluntary about inviting or offering citizenship to others)

Do the professional athletes of the world go out to foreign countries to share their highly valuable skills with other players so that they too can become really good? (no, this doesn't happen, athletes are busy working on their own skills to have time to share them with others)

I could go on with more examples, but hopefully my point is starting to become clear. There are many people groups out there, joined together by some sort of common denominator, but few of these groups have a desire to share what's at their core in a way that they're primarily seeking the benefit and good of others.

With different people groups, there is a natural built in hindrance to sharing what each of these people groups holds so dear. It might be competition or fear or unintended negligence, but many "people groups" of the world don't go around sharing the core of what they care about deeply and what their lives revolve around.

So why do Christians do it? Is there something different about the core of them, what makes them tick, that they feel they have to go and share with others?

Well, part of the reason is Jesus wanted them to. "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:19 NIV)

I think the other reasons Christians care about sharing the Gospel through missions so much is that they get a sense that the size of Christ's love is way too big for any one individual to handle. It has to be shared with others! It is so wide and high and deep and everlasting, more people gotta know about this Jesus!! It's too incredible to believe!! But it's true!!

I gotta run out and share this with the people I know, and the people I don't know!

May we as broken vessels and genuine seekers and followers of Christ be impassioned by the Holy Spirit with a desire to share Christ's love to all nations and peoples...