All of them were expert archers, and they could shoot arrows or sling stones with their left hand as well as their right…1 Chronicles 12:2, NLT
Preamble
The Great Commission remains God’s big pursuit wherein He seeks to extend the blessings of redemption to all mankind. In His own mercies and desiring that our lives be lived for an eternal purpose. God enlisted us to have a portion in what He is doing. In actual fact, that God involved us in His grand purpose is His own way of ensuring that our lives have meaning. Thus, that meaning is simply found in aligning ourselves with what brings Him pleasure. The next question then would be how may I find expression in the Great Commission? For this discourse, the emphasis is really about exploring our career, profession, skill, position, platform etc. as strategic opportunities for gospel engagement as well as facilitating Christ centered transformation.
I feel that to address this issue, we could begin by looking at some misconceptions around engaging in mission.
Common Misconceptions About Missions
The orientation of mission that many of us are used to would probably fit into some of the mentioned below:
- A very special calling: Many of us believe that to be involved in mission you have to be specially called. We are used to the way Jesus went by the sea of Galilee and called the likes of Peter, Andrew, James, John etc. We are also familiar with the “separate unto me Paul and Barnabas” for the work I have for them. So, we would rather wait to have such “special” announcement before we may be persuaded of playing our part.
- The Missionary & the Field: When you recall the likes of William Carey, Hudson Taylor, David Brainerd, Adoniram Judson, Mary Slessor, David Livingstone to the African/Nigerian pioneers such as Panya Baba, Bayo Famonure, Reuben Ezemadu etc. it’s registered again in our minds that mission must be for special breed of persons while the rest of us could just play the average normal Christians. We have been made to believe that to be qualified to be a missionary, you have got to gather the muscles of the above named persons, maintain their style as well as their steeze.
And for the mission field, we have always created a picture of a far and distant land filled with miserable looking people cut away from the realities of the world. They have to be so terrible looking that they command so much of our pity. The missionary is also not different. He has to be so horrifying as a sign that he is completely sold out to the course.
- The three options: You have probably heard the usual chorus most likely during your mission week or when a missionary/mission mobiliser comes to share. It usually goes like this: “If you
cannot go, you can give, if you cannot give, you can pray”. While it’s understandable that the original context of this expression is to challenge everyone that you have a role to play, it has more or less become choosing the option that is most convenient and not something done out of commitment to the Lord. It is even more saddening when missionaries engage in what I refer to as “mission contracting”. By this I mean that, it is not uncommon for missionaries to say “you can support us with your resources and we would get the job done”.
- Mission is Completed: This misconception is quite dangerous. Some persons and sadly even Church leaders believe that there is no need for mission any more. They feel that everyone must have heard. Often, they speak more from sheer ignorance. I have literally met pastors who ask me, “so you mean that there are unreached and unengaged people?” They can’t just imagine that in an advanced world there are persons who haven’t heard the gospel. Thus, their commitment is to other stuff which may not be bad in themselves but aren’t necessarily contributing to fulfilling God’s desire for all peoples.
- The spirit of this age: It is no longer news that we are in the last days characterised by so many brands and strands of teachings. Some and I mean “Christians” believe that doing mission (sharing the gospel) is infringing on the rights of people. I have heard of Churches and individuals who will not evangelise because to them that is disrespecting people’s right to their personal belief. While, we are not advocating for being so insensitive, the subtle implication is that the gospel is being caged.
Rethinking Methods
Going back to the Great Commission matching order popularly referenced from Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus gave us a mission but not a method. That is where the problem has always been. At any time that method is prioritised over the mission, we are bound to hit an iceberg somewhere along the journey. So when we say that mission is no longer a concern for many, what we should rather look at is what methods have we idolised to which changing times and seasons have made obsolete? In the actual sense, the main culprit is misunderstanding how the Great Commission is meant to be obeyed. Now, take a look at the misconceptions again and ponder, is there anyone therein that the Lord categorically and exclusively prescribed as a method of doing mission?
At this point, the Scriptures that come to mind is Daniel 2:21a: He changes times and seasons…Mission is about reaching all peoples and discipling them after Christ. People exist in times and seasons and so, our method must not be static, though they must remain Christ-centered! For the purpose of this sharing, let us focus on one of the means that God has so inspired to make us extend the blessings of redemption. This is through who we are and what we do. By the latter, I mean our profession or career.
They Could Shoot with both Hands!
The chosen text for this conversation is quite interesting and instructive. David was always having one battle or the other to fight. If it’s not Saul, who would not desist from pursuing him, then it
would be the Philistines or any of the ites. That necessitated arming himself with men of war. For this kind of unending battles, it means that David needed non-conventional/non-traditional fighters. They can’t just be regular fighters who are easily predictable and very adamant to change. The Scriptures described them as men who could shoot with both hands. What will those kind of persons look like in today’s context? What does that mean to engaging in mission?
Certainly, there is something here to look at very closely. We are advancing against a rapidly changing world. Vices and all forms of evils that were unheard of in times past are now here with us. They are the new normal. The doors of the nations that were once freely opened to gospel workers are now closing. Nations with long Christian and even mission history and heritages now pride themselves as “post-Christian”. There are places where it is death sentence to witness to the saving power of the cross let alone getting anyone converted. Darkness has indeed covered the face of the deep yet again and the world remains in search of hope. If we must change the narrative, we need men who can shoot with both hands!
The dynamics of the unreached and unengaged has changed and keeps changing. The unreached are no longer only found in remote villages neither are their faces necessarily looking scary. Billions of them are scattered everywhere! They are across the 4000+ religious persuasions, in the business world, entertainment industry, media space, politics, education, as well as in families. Rapidly growing urban areas across the globe house majority of them. Verily, verily, to take hold of all these spaces, we need to engage and unleash an unusual set of army. Thankfully, the Lord has prepared for us those who are very familiar with these terrains. The text under consideration says, these men, who could shoot with both hands, are relatives of Saul and from the tribe of Benjamin! (1 Chronicles 12:2). Think about that!
Doing mission in all contexts, be it in a situation where you are able to freely share the gospel or in places where doing so is prohibited, requires seeking opportunities as well as contagious influences that ooze out the fragrance of the Good News. This has to be a lifestyle lived intentionally and un-mechanically. One of the ways by which we could do so is through our career. By the way, no idle or lazy individual is qualified enough to find expression in God’s eternal purpose. It requires people who are committed to work! Over the years, God has depended on professionals who leverage on their skill and space to create Christ-centered influences and thereby populate the kingdom. Let’s consider a few examples.
Abraham: Is it not interesting that when God wanted to establish an eternal covenant with man, he looked for an ordinary pastoralist? God must have thought that with Abraham’s commitment to raising his flock, he would do well if He committed an eternal purpose into his hands.
Joseph: Egypt was the world power in Joseph’s days. God wants to reign where it is happening. He is not a local deity and neither is He a local champion relevant only in remote places. Pharaoh was contesting His place. For God to show up, He thought best of raising an economist and a strategic
planner. God achieved fame for himself in Egypt through the availability, obedience and strategic positioning of Joseph.
Daniel and the gang: The entire world was literally under Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar and Darius were contesting the position of God through their thoughts and actions. Again, God needed to make Himself famous. He didn’t think of raising a pope nor a bishop. It is not the opening of more church branches that will do the job rather multiplying kingdom influencers. Daniel was simply a public administrator. His friends were appointed as heads of critical ministries and parastatals. They made a difference. They forced a decree to be promulgated (Daniel 3:28-29; 6:25-27). God won again!
Nehemiah: He was just a cup-bearer but strategically positioned. He got the news of the state of Jerusalem. He didn’t tweet it as breaking news to gather likes and comments. It was not just on his DP status with the caption “Pray for Jerusalem”. He thought of the space he occupied. He marshaled his sphere of influence. He mobilised effectively and got the task done in 52 days.
If you think the characters above are very popular and usually referenced Biblical characters, think of Ebed-Melek (Jeremiah 38:7-10), Obadiah (1 Kings 18:3-4), Joseph of Arimathea (John 19:38-39), Lydia (Acts 9:36-39) etc.
Conclusion
God is not restricted to methods. He is doing new things and raising for Himself envoys of Good News and especially those making use of both hands to shoot. They have a skill in their left hand and the Good News on the right. Think of your situation right now. What are you doing that is making Kingdom difference? Think of the space where the Lord has placed you. Think of your career. How can you leverage on that to make Jesus famous? What kingdom influence are you making happen? Remember whatever is not useful for God is not useful at all. Whoever is not useful to God is equally not useful. That is not a religious statement. It’s a divine existential truth. Are both of your hands shooting?
Adeoluwa F. Olanrewaju, PhD
