There are only 2 chapters of Radical left. And I can sum Chapter 8 up pretty fast.
Everyone is scared to go overseas on mission and be killed. But death is a reward, not a punishment.
I’m just going to go out on a limb here and say no one wants to be a missionary not because they don’t want to do the work or they don’t care about people who don’t know Christ but because no one wants to die. I mean, isn’t that the assumption? If God calls you to Africa or Asia you will eventually die an untimely death? I’m not even trying to sugar coat that because it’s the truth. Everyone gets scared when you start talking about going overseas. There are planes to crash, needles to run into, jails to sit in, hurricanes and earthquakes to survive. I mean the list goes on and on. So many reasons not to GO.
You know that song by MercyMe Bring the Rain?
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there’ll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that’s what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain
I have to admit. I usually don’t sing that out loud. Because really? Do I want anything that brings Him glory? I mean, seriously? Am I ready to go on the front lines of unreached Indians and be cannibalized just for approaching like Jim Elliot? I’m not going to lie, I don’t know if my battle with fear has gotten that far.
But Platt suggests if you’d just take your lens and zoom out just a bit you’d see that the stories after these untimely deaths weren’t so untimely after all. God uses the pain and death to bring glory to Him. The tribe that killed Jim Elliot was eventually won to Christ by his wife Elizabeth. And that’s the catch with Christianity. It’s not about you. It’s not about your pain. It’s not about your death. You have to have a kingdom mindset and care more about others than yourself. And when you do, death can be a reward when it accomplishes His purpose.
But I’m going to be honest and say this chapter is a struggle for me. Because I don’t worry about me in my death as much as I worry about those who love me. My heart breaks when I think about my kids losing a mother. Yeah, that’s tough to even type but that’s the truth. But if God calls me to that end, He will take care of my girls. I know that. In my head at least. Maybe not in my heart yet.
It’s at this point I kinda want to throw Radical in a closet and forget that I read Chapter 8. You too?
See what others think over at Marla’s.
Actually, my fears of foreign missions are far more pathetic than death. I’d intimidated by the thoughts of living in a different culture, language barriers, new foods, inconveniences, uncleanliness, etc. Pretty sad, I guess. I’ve never gone on a foreign missions trip. I just feel like it isn’t my thing. But I’m sure I’m missing out on a fabulous growing experience.
Those definitely aren’t pathetic! You may be challenged though by Chapter 7 which I skipped blogging about entitled “Urgent Not Optional”. Tough stuff!
Definitely not an easy chapter! I haven’t even read the book and I can tell that would be hard to read.
Becky recently posted…God’s Heartbeat
Becky, you would love this book…you are free to borrow it after I’m done writing the last post 🙂
I wanted to add here that our assumptions are all these bad things are going to happen but they are definitely not a guarantee. There are a multitude of people that go on short-term missions or even long-term that don’t face these kinds of things. I think my post just targeted my worse-case scenario.
Great post. Thank you.
Jim Elliot once said, “Forgive me for being so ordinary while claiming to know such an extraordinary God.”
As a small boy, I knew Jim Elliot well – he was truly the genuine article.
God bless you and your ministry.
Robert Lloyd Russell recently posted…Everyday Christian Life
Thank you for your comment. I will definitely be browsing your site.
I loved what you said about having a “kingdom mindset”, that really is what it’s all about.
Great post!
“I’m just going to go out on a limb here and say no one wants to be a missionary not because they don’t want to do the work or they don’t care about people who don’t know Christ but because no one wants to die. I mean, isn’t that the assumption? If God calls you to Africa or Asia you will eventually die an untimely death? ”
I don’t know anything about this specific book you are reading but this post doesn’t make much sense to me. I sat here and wondered if you were being sarcastic. I thought maybe I just didn’t understand something. People are genuinely afraid to travel oversees on a mission because they will die? And its a common thing?
There are many, yes, that feel this way. And I was speaking mostly of full-time missions, not just short-term missions that would last a week or two.
Are you familiar with mission-work? Curious as to your point of view and why it surprises you.
I wouldn’t say I’m familiar with mission work. I know people who have done long-term and short-term missions. I volunteered in a developing country for 2.5 years with my husband. There were safety concerns but as far as I know none of us (a group of about 35) thought that death was imminent. I would even go as far to say that I honestly think more about dying in a car crash here in the US than I ever worried about my safety abroad. Perhaps the difference is in the mission field vs a more strictly humanitarian experience. Those are the best terms I could come up with anyway. Your post got me and my husband having a great conversation over dinner, thank you!
PS I don’t comment much but have been following P2P for years. Just so you don’t think I’m some kind of troll or something 🙂
Danielle, thanks for replying. I thought a lot about your comment and wanted to shake off that fear but alas, articles that come out like this one just today remind me that Christians do face very real threats of death in unreached countries.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/11/10/iraq.christian.attacks/index.html
And most of the time, these are the reports that make the news so I guess the threat is a little more amplified than it actually is. At the same time, I don’t think it’s unfounded.
By the way, thanks so much for being a faithful reader!!
Amy, this makes me think of something I wrote last week. I am not at all trying to do PR for my blog but thought you might find it interesting – we are somewhat on the same wavelength here.
Good points, yes. I do believe though that sometimes what we are doing, right here with our families in an upside-down world can be just as dangerous. Maybe not physically dangerous but the kind of danger that robs our youth of their hope, their spirit, their faith. I’m raising children to counteract that and somedays it feels like I’m in a battle.
I’m enjoying your blog, Amy!
Natalie at Mommy on Fire recently posted…On Sugar and Cigarettes
Thank you Natalie, and same to you!
I will definitely check out that post! I have been thinking the same thing…yes, there are still important and sometimes dangerous struggles we face here!
Amy recently posted…Emma and Lexi’s Build-a-Bear Party
Oops – the post is called “A Conversation With God.” Sorry.
Natalie at Mommy on Fire recently posted…On Sugar and Cigarettes
Oh, how this post resonated with me. I don’t know if my battle with fear has gotten there yet either. I, too, worry about my kids and not just their physical safety but their well being as well. Hard chapter, really hard!
Love how honest you are with the material and the implications of what it might mean.
I had similar thoughts about the things that might happen going overseas. As I was preparing to go to Kenya, I had a pastor friend tell me that it’s safer to be in a riot in the middle of Africa, in God’s will than to be in Canada outside of God’s will. I lived in Kenya for a year and had no troubles.
But we are called to be Jesus’ hand and feet where we’re at as well. That is more challenging to me. I pray that I can live for Jesus in my daily life, where the only persecution I experience is being misunderstood by my co-workers. I pray that we all can live as we need to, in order that Jesus be glorified.
douglas recently posted…Volunteer Quest
Yes, sometimes it is easy to forget that we are called to a challenging life right where we are! Thank you for the encouragement!
I can completely relate with what you wrote. These are the same thoughts that ramble around in this head of mine. Back when I was in college and was first introduced to Elizabeth and Jim Elliot’s story I was ready to storm the world for Jesus…one tribe at a time. I imagined my life on the field…raising babies in huts:), but now I have four babies…my husband is flying to Ecuador in four months to start a church….and I’m scared. What if He calls us there full time instead of just being a planter?? I’m thankful that His grace is sufficient…and that the risk is worth taking. Thanks for always sharing your heart on your blog…I have loved reading every word! God bless!
I really need to read more about the Elliot’s. It’s been on my list for a long time but it might be time to buy some books!
I completely agree with you that my biggest fear is not dying but what my death would do to my children. And, then when I type that I feel arrogant..isn’t God bigger than that? and maybe my death would be an event that led them to complete and utter dependence on God in a way they never had before…and then wouldn’t it be worth it..and on and on I could go. This book makes me re-think things in so many ways. Glad to know I am not alone.