Mercy Ministries and The Gospel

PAT HOWELL MISSIONCROSSROADS COMMENTARY Another reason why we “are not all missionaries” from Frank and Barb Tetreault in France, serving with Biblical Ministries Worldwide evangelizing Muslims.

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Lice and the ministry of preaching the gospel to Muslims.

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For the past eight years, we have dreaded the “Back to School” signs in stores, because it has meant “Back to Lice” for our family. Oh how we have longed to hear someone say, “Stop all your nit pickin’!” We also have a much greater appreciation for one of the ten plagues that God inflicted upon the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh (see Exodus 7-12)! In sharing the gospel with several Muslims recently, a couple of them have tried to curse me and cast a spell on me. We have sometimes wondered if it was a curse of lice.

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Oddly enough, we have been hit with lice at the end of the school year, and since the beginning of May, Barbara has used every product known to man on our hair which has cost us hundreds of dollars! We have washed sheets and clothing so much that everything is two sizes smaller. It is a miracle that our washing machine is still spinning after dozens of consecutive washings. We have sprayed cars, beds and furniture numerous times with expensive chemicals. It has brought Barbara to tears on many occasions when spending countless hours combing through hair only to find more lice!

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Please pray for Barbara as she is the one who spends so much time on this, taking her away from so many other things she would much rather be doing with her time! We want to learn the lessons the Lord is trying to teach us through this trial! Frank & Barbara Tetreault (BMW – France)

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PAT HOWELL –

MISSIONCROSSROADS

COMMENTS & COMMENTARY

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I wonder if our first reaction might be something like, “I’m just not called to that sort of thing. I, or my wife, just couldn’t deal with that sort of thing and how it might effect our kids.” It seems that some Christians think that certain other Christians have a natural or perhaps a supernatural ability to be unaffected by the unpleasantness of trials like having your family and home infested with lice. Not so. I know many, many international workers who have come to live with many kinds of difficulty and hardship as a necessary part of the work. However, I do not know any who are oblivious to the frustration, disappointment, anguish, or pain those trials may cause.

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As you pray for your international workers and as you consider how God might use you overseas, remember two things. 1) Your international workers are very much like you in virtually every respect. Pray for them as you would pray for yourself. 2) Your natural abilities and inclinations are not what determine your suitability for international ministry. Rather, it is your convictions as they pertain to the sovereign working of God who provides grace sufficient for all these things. When Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” he was not referring to his need for Christ’s strength to endure what to us might be similar to a flat tire, a frustrating relationship at work, or similarly real but not encompassing trials. We all too often consider inconveniences as trials. No, Paul was referring to the hardships and suffering that accompany life challenging—even life threatening—ministry. Ministry in hostile cultures where persecution or imprisonment was the order of the day, not the exception.

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Consider Paul’s chagrined autobiography in 2 Cor. 11. Humbled to have to defend his apostleship before the Corinthian’s arrogant criticism, Paul records the multiple hardships, labors, and dangers that have been his portion in the course of his ministry. False brethren. Sleepless nights. Hunger. Beatings. Shipwreck. Robbery. Escape from pursuers by a basket over a wall (how distinguished), and much more. All these things he identifies as “external things” (vs.28) He then makes this amazing and defining statement: “…there is the daily pressure upon me of all the churches.” Paul, more than any other person in the New Testament save the Lord Himself, understood what I call the “eternal perspective.” This life and all that accompanies it is a temporary means to an eternal end. Simply understood, Paul was “seeking first the kingdom of God.” Having set his mind on things above and eagerly anticipating the magnificent display of Christ’s glory, Paul’s persevering life give definition to his words in Colossians 3:1-4.

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I fear that the American church’s proclivity towards being “a mile long and an inch deep” also applies to our often shallow perspective of what constitutes hardship and suffering. (Yes, even to those of us with a deep commitment to sound theology and Biblical ministry—as though such a commitment and the ability to make a theologically sound and exegetically supported argument is sufficient to prove fidelity to all things Biblical and submission to the Lordship of Christ).

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Could it be that our propensity toward compartmentalization of almost everything hinders our ability to understand the larger picture of the purpose and work of the church in the world? Frankly, as those who pursue ministry that is Biblical theologically, philosophically, and methodologically, I believe we have yet to consider many elements of what it means to live under the Lordship of Christ, particularly as it pertains to the great commission. Take for example, the matter of mercy ministries—the hungry, the homeless, orphans, widows, and the like—we do not pay much attention to these. (Maybe because they do not have a category in our theological section on ecclesiology or perhaps it is our reaction to “the liberals” embrace of social issues and virtual abandonment of Biblical authority—perhaps we fear that guilt by association)?

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Certainly, we are fortunate that we live in America where there are at least to some degree our government tends to address these issues , and thus in a de facto way, so do we via our taxes. However, does that relieve us of any need for responsible Christian involvement? Are we robbing ourselves of God’s blessing and ignoring the opportunity to establish a very real and visible Christian testimony before the world? How does the Old Testament’s multiple mentions of the poor, the orphaned, the widowed, and Christ’s tender compassion for the needy of every sort, as well as the example of the early church inform our philosophy of ministry? Just something to ponder.

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I just returned from Myanmar (formerly Burma) where Chris Williams, Steve Fernandez, and I enjoyed the rich privilege of ministering to churches and church leaders. Among the many needs in this historic country, many evangelical churches are starting orphanages to feed, house, and educate the 1,000’s upon 1,000’s of children who through death or abandonment are in profound need of the basics of life--physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Moreover, they are doing it in the midst of the vital struggle to remain Biblical in their theology as liberalism and other theological aberrancies’ attempt to infest their churches.

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While compassion certainly drives this effort, there is also the rebuking reality that the Buddhist monasteries will take the children in and raise them as Buddhist monks and nuns, thereby strengthening and perpetuating Buddhism. Thus, many Myanmar’s evangelical churches believe they must embrace this ministry as a responsibility toward the next generation of the church in their nation. Frankly, they can ill afford to do so financially. But that is not the question they ask—they simply see no alternative and embrace the responsibility. It is hard work and at the same time heart breaking and heart warming.

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It requires resources of every possible kind. Resources that are already in short supply at best. (Having visited several of these places we can attest to the severe paucity of money and food among many, many other things). But Myanmar’s churches do it, and do it with zeal, with joy, and with a sense of mission.

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What a testimony to a watching world—and I believe something of a rebuke to western Christians.

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A couple of years ago I stood in George Mueller’s office in Bristol, England. I am still deeply moved by his relationship with God. For Mueller, there was no bifurcation of spiritual and practical ministry. His theology of faith in the God of the Bible was manifested every day in multiple displays of God’s guidance and provision, and Mueller’s well worn and note laden Bible suggests that his faith in God was well informed by Scripture.

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That is the real story—Mueller’s study was a place of doing business with God in Bible study and prayer. His faith and his labors resulted in real ministry to people in real need and he being dead yet speaks today. I wonder if our generation and those of our theological conviction have the capacity to encourage and embrace a Muller today?

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Amongst graduates of The Masters Seminary I am familiar with two ministries to orphans are established and growing in Johannesburg and Pretoria, South Africa. In Africa, AIDS and other manifestations of sinful irresponsibility are resulting in multiple 100,000’s of children without God, without family, without means, and without hope. I encourage you to investigate these works and see if there might be a way for you to bless these efforts. Contact Virl Tait in Joburg or Joel James or Josh Mack in Pretoria via The Master’s Seminary website.

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Very recently I learned of a hospital ministry in Bihar, India. Remote, forsaken, destitute. But the villagers in and around Bihar are hearing the gospel--in their own language and expressed through the lives and lips of Dinesh and Shannon Panjwani. Dinesh is an Indian national and a surgeon. Shannon is a Physicians Assistant in Oby/Gyn and long time member of The Bible Church of Little Rock. Together they and their co-laborers are living demonstrations of what it means to "poured out as a drink offering," as they evangelize and teach--as they tend to the physical needs of people in Bihar. If you were to hear them speak of their work and see what they are doing, you would be moved to worship a gracious God who manifests His compassions through His servants.

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But as you consider the international needs, be sure to look into what opportunities God may have for you in your immediate area. Bobby Scott who ministers in the inner city in Los Angeles is making a strong and urgent plea that as we look to the regions beyond we not overlook the needs in the very cities in which we live. And he is so very, very, right.

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I understand the potential of what is known as “compassion fatigue” in these matters, but that will be a painfully lame excuse at the judgment seat of Christ. (Perhaps Mueller should be our example here)? All too often we who profess to understand and proclaim the truth of Scripture are known for what we are against—theologically, morally, socially, culturally, politically, ad infinitum, ad nauseum.

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Mercy ministries are a divinely ordained means of visible testimony and expression of God’s love toward those in need, the just and the unjust alike. We are created for good works and we should desire to walk in them (Eph. 2:10), being zealous for good deeds (Titus 2:14). It is worthy to note that both the Ephesian and Titus contexts are salvific in nature, thus establishing a clear and unqualified divine expectation of good works on the part of the redeemed in Christ. I would suggest that these works extend beyond a pursuit of personal holiness, edification, and participation in the ministry of local church. I would propose that those good works under God’s direction and in accord with His Word, should be directed toward all and pursued for the purpose of being the means of His mercy to those who do not deserve it and may not ever recognize it. Should we not let the Judge of all the earth sort those things out?

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And please, may we refrain from adding any caveats upon these comments so as to avoid the death of a 1,000 qualifications? We are not, repeat—we are not—in jeopardy of expressing too much compassion, of extending our energies too far, or directing too much money toward the poorest of the poor. Neither are we in danger of being run over by a multitude of Christians “unnecessarily” going to the mission fields of the world. It just is not happening. Numbers, both in terms of personnel and dollars are decreasing every year—but not so the needs and opportunities. Not to put too fine a point on this, but the great commission is not yet fulfilled. Think about that.

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If anything, the evangelical church in the USA should shudder at the thought of standing at the judgment seat of Christ as the stewardship of all of our God given provision, privilege, and responsibilities are examined and rewarded—or not. (1 Cor. 3 says that we may “suffer loss.” That cannot be good). Just think of our buildings, our budgets, our banquets, etc. The number of Christian hours served in and the amount of Christian dollars directed toward international and compassion ministries is wholly disproportional to that which serves our own needs and desires here in the USA. To whom much is given, much is required.

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Moreover, we would all favor ministries that help people become self-reliant. No one is affirming perpetual assistance so as to enable irresponsibility. That is not in view here. But, a thoughtful, thorough, and pervasive examination of our individual and our church’s responsibilities in the area of mercy and international ministries is long overdue.

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If you would like to learn more about how you might become involved in the ministries in Myanmar, India, or South Africa, or if you would like to develop your church’s philosophy of international ministry, you may write to me at pat@missioncrossroads.com or call (501) 821.2272.