Rethinking and Rediscovering

I'm beginnging to rethink many things recently. It seems that some of the things I thought I knew were more "assumed knowledge" than really understanding what they are really all about. As I began to reflect on how I approach missions and what I really understand about it, I realised I've missed out a big part of Christ in the equation. The first thing that comes to our mind when we talk about missions is usually about the obedience to the great commission or about reaching out to the poor and oppressed. This is not wrong, but there's something more. It is Christ.

I've realised that my motivation for missions has been about going all out to help the poor and to win them to Christ. It is about the doing and the action. Prayers have often been "Lord, show me how I can do this & that. Teach me how to talk to them. Have mercy on these souls." There is nothing wrong with such prayers, but it is not complete and the focus is not the most excellent. I've come to realise that I've lost the wonder of Christ in my missions endeavours. That is to stand in awe of Him and behold His glory. That my motivation and passion for missions should first come because of Him, simply Him and Him alone - my awe of Him, my wonder of Him, my speechless expression of His glory. It is all about Jesus.

'Strangely' enough, a day after I've received this 'revelation', I read John Stott's excellent paper on the Christology of Mission. I cannot agree more on one of the things he wrote. He says:
"The primary motive for mission is neither obedience to the Great Commission, nor even love for those who are oppressed, lonely, lost and perishing, important as both those incentives are, but rather zeal or 'jealousy' for the glory of Christ. It was 'for his name's sake', in order that it might receive the honour which it deserved, that the first missionaries went out. The same passionate longing should motivate us"

Read John Stott's excellent Christology of Mission at http://www.servantsasia.org/Article-Christology.asp