RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2020-09-02	'Go' Versus 'Stay' in Our Ministry Calling
		Where should I serve in ministry? Mat 28:19  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Mat 28:20  teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. Mar 16:15  And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. There is a famous missionary quote from Hudson Taylor. “With these facts before you and with the command of the Lord Jesus to go and preach the gospel to every creature, you need rather to ascertain whether you have a special call to stay at home” The thought is that we have a command to “Go” unless we have a special call to stay at home. The heart and spirit of this statement is clear. But does this line up with Scripture? Yes, there is the command to “Go” and make disciples (Mt.28:19; Mk.16:15). What Hudson Taylor was saying was to become a missionary in a foreign land. So who is Jesus giving this command to? 1. Some would say it is to the APOSTLES specifically. But in verse 20, it says, “to the end of the age” which is well beyond the life of the Apostles. 2. Some say it is given to the WHOLE CHURCH in general? But Paul writes to the Roman church to ask for support for his mission to Spain (Ro.15:22-26). He did not say anything about anyone from Rome going with him to Spain. 3. So then is this a personal commission from Jesus to every INDIVIDUAL BELIEVER? A reasonable understanding of spiritual gifts will tell us not everyone will be gifted to be a missionary and bring the gospel to the nations. So who is left? Who else is this command given to? What pattern do we see in Scripture that will help us answer this question? God called His prophets which were very few in number compared to the general population of Israel. They were individuals from among the people of Israel. God does not say all men should become Pastors or Elders (Ep.4:11-12). The epistles of the New Testament are written with the implied assumption people will mostly stay where they are. Salt and light are to be an influence in their current location. You influence people where you are. 1Co 7:20  Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. The pattern in the New Testament was that some were called to foreign missions, some as Pastors, but most were to remain where they are. Rom 12:6  Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; Rom 12:7  or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; Rom 12:8  he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Here in Romans 12 believers use their gifts, as given by God, where they are located. So who is actually going to risk their life to penetrate the remaining unreached peoples of the world? 4. God will call SPECIFIC BELIEVERS to become missionaries (called “evangelist” in the Bible). There is a calling from God that places a burden and zeal on certain hearts to “Go” and evangelize unreached peoples. This in no wise negates our personal responsibility to speak the excellencies of Christ (1Pe.2:9). 1Pe 2:9  But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1Pe 4:10  As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1Pe 4:11  If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

An Evangelical Free Church of America

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