Our missionary friend reported that Jonathan Edwards wrote that evangelistic efforts must never lose sight of their place in God’s plan, or they will degenerate to mere social, moral, and political ends. The missionary endeavor takes place for the sake of God’s name.
What does it mean for missions to be for the sake of Gods’ name, or for His glory? The biblical idea of ‘glory’ has two major components. First, the Hebrew conception of glory is that of weight or influence. Something or someone who is ‘weighty’ is influential. This is reflected in our language when we refer to someone using the phrase ‘the seven-hundred pound gorilla in the room was….” What we mean is that such a person is far more powerful, influential, or ‘weighty’ than anyone else. God’s glory, then, is measured by the influence that He exerts in the world. As His influence is made manifest we can say that He is glorified. Second, the Greek idea of glory is that of fame. It also has the notions of both praise and splendid excellence. God’s glory is made manifest when He is praised, when He is highly regarded and sought after (i.e. famous), and when His infinite perfections are displayed.
Missions, then, exist to increase God’s influence in the world and to increase His fame among the nations. This is purpose described in the book of Acts, when James says that “God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name” (Acts 15:14). Bringing Gentiles to worship Him was fundamental to God’s plan in the world. It was understood by these same men that Paul and Barnabas had risked their lives as missionaries explicitly for the sake of the name of Lord Jesus (Acts 15:26). Paul himself regarded this as one of the reasons for his work among the Gentiles (Rom. 1:5).
Since this is the case, modern missionaries should guard their hearts and minds against false or secondary pursuits! Every Christian, missionaries included, should do all that they do for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31), but missionaries must be especially careful in the modern era to avoid the excesses of our day. It is popular to see missionaries as evangelists of Western culture, dress, and politics, as much as of the gospel of Jesus. This is wrong.
I am not saying that there will be no social, moral, or political benefits and changes that arise from a missionary’s presence in a foreign society—that is almost unavoidable whenever different cultures meet. What I am saying is that the driving emphasis that missionaries should place on their own efforts is that of converting lost sinners to Christ through the preaching of God’s Word. Salvation through the gospel magnifies the grace of God, displaying His great mercy for rebellious sinners (Rom. 15:9) and, thus, glorifying Him. It also brings lost sinners under the explicit, obedient, willing influence of God (Phil. 1:9-11) and, thus, glorifying Him.
If you desire to be a missionary, then, examine your heart. Is Jesus the Lord of your life, the Lord of your desires, the Lord of your intentions? Do you value the things that He says are valuable, or do you follow the world’s valuations? Is your express purpose to glorify God, and to take the gospel around the whole world to bring sinners to willing obedience for the sake of His name? If it is not, you should repent. This is the goal that God is pursuing: a display of His saving love for the sake of His great name. May God make that your goal—our goal—as well.
--Dean of Admissions
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