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SCRIPTURE READING
2 KINGS 5:1-14
GALATIANS 6:1-6
LUKE 10:1-9,17-20

REFLECTION

“Missionary Christianity” is the theme of our reflection. Missionary Christianity means carrying the Gospel beyond our comfort zones and boundaries to other places and making it socially, culturally, and economically impactful. Again, missionary Christianity is the church engaging in evangelism and other socio-economic interventions such as education, health, and human resource development in the world with the purpose or objective to project Christ and to win souls. We shall reflect on the two important pillars of Missionary Christianity.

1. Missionary Christianity must respond to the existential needs of world.
2. Missionary Christianity must ultimately propagate  the Gospel and draw people to God.

Firstly, Missionary Christianity must respond to the existential or physical needs of the world. Human beings have material needs, and often, many people concentrate when they are material needs are met. In other words, many people will focus on their spiritual needs when they experience a spiritual void after their physical needs have been met. It is for this reason that when the 72 disciples or missionaries were sent by Jesus, they were instructed to “Heal the sick who are there and tell them…” (Luke 10:9). Sickness and medical attention are existential or physical needs of every human being. A person who is sick may be in pain and would hardly concentrate on hearing the Gospel, especially if the person had no prior relationship with Christ. Again, receiving healing gives confidence and proof that God exists and ought to be feared and worshipped. We see the God of Israel healing Naaman, the commander of Aram of his leprosy, when he was asked by Prophet Elisha to wash in the Jordan seven times. We are told, “... he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. (2 Kings 5:14) After Naaman’s existential need had been met, we are told, “Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. (2 Kings 5:15) Just after God healed Naaman, he and his cohort came to believe that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. Just as Elisha was used by God to reveal His glory in the lives of non-believers. Missionary Christianity must also be existentially impactful so that the beneficiaries can say that now we believe in Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, through whom we have become sons and daughters of God. Missionary Christianity must respond to nations battling with war and diseases, feed the poor, and protect the human dignity of the vulnerable in society. The world must feel the missionary impact of the Church through the building of hospitals, orphanages, scholarships for poor children, and caring for vulnerable and aged people. Jesus who is the originator of Missionary Christianity made it his business to respond to the existential or physical needs of people, we are told in Act 10:38 “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. Again, as part of the missionary Christianity of the early Church, the existential needs of people were met: “…there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need” (Acts 4:34-35). Today, only a few churches are missionary oriented or are practising missionary Christianity. Some Churches have become money making venture for materialistic leaders and their families. There is no missionary plan to support the community or contribute to the quality of life of their members and others who need help in other parts of the world. For some church leaders, the church has become a business enterprise and a welfare organisation where only the members are the subject of attention and support.  Jesus’ mission was beneficial to all manner of people in the society, from blind and lame beggars to feeding of multitudes. He healed the sick and brought back to life those who had died. The church may not have the power to resurrect the dead but can provide healing through our health institution for poor and vulnerable, we can provide subsidised or free education for the poor student, provide free vocational/ technical training to unemployed youth in our community and provide support for widows, orphans and the aged in our communities. Any church that lacks these missionary activities can not be said to be representing Christ. Paul’s admonishment to the Galatians is worth considering in the practice of missionary Christianity when he wrote, Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)

Secondly, at the heart of Missionary Christianity is the spread of the Gospel even as we attend to the existential needs of world. It is for this reason, Jesus said to the 72 missionaries or disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field…Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ (Luke 10:2,9). Again, Jesus said in Matthew 28:18-20, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” We are greatly encouraged to invest in Evangelism as a church, and every believer must endeavour to spread the Gospel wherever they find themselves. Missionary Christianity prioritises the training of evangelists and spending on logistics or resources needed to facilitate evangelism and the preaching of the Gospel. When we practice missionary Christianity, evangelists or those sent to preach the Gospel will have their needs catered for by the church, and we shall fulfil the instruction of Jesus when He said, “Do not take a purse or bag or sandals…” (Luke 10:4). Again, those who preach or teach the Word of God must also be adequately catered for to ensure that they focus on the mission of God. It is for this reason that Paul admonished the Galatians, “… the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.” (Galatians 6:6). We are greatly encouraged to identify and support our pastors and evangelists as our contribution to the mission of God on earth. You may not be able to preach the Gospel, but supporting those who preach with funds for data, transportation, shelter, and other necessary logistics will go a long way to promote the Kingdom business. Jesus was also supported by people during His earthly ministry.  According to the Gospel of Luke, we are told that “Jesus travelled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their means.” (Luke 8:1-3). Dear friend, both the church and individual believers or Christians have the divine obligation to cater for the needs of those who have dedicated their lives to propagate the Gospel. From your own heart, without any compulsion, donate towards the evangelism fund or project of your church, actively participate in evangelistic activities, and support those who embark on evangelism.

In summary, we have discovered that there are two important pillars of missionary Christianity. Firstly, missionary Christianity must respond to the existential needs of people, and secondly, missionary Christianity must ultimately propagate the Gospel and draw people to God. May the Holy Spirit empower us to practice an effective missionary Christianity in our time and age. Amen.