One of the greatest encouragements in my walk with Christ is not only the "essentials" (reading/meditating on the Word, prayer, assembling with the saints as the church, giving, etc.) but looking back into history to read of God's faithfulness displayed through the lives of others Christians.
A book I enjoy reading excerpts from regularly is From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya by Ruth Tucker. Throughout the book, she highlights God's work through ordinary men and women being used extraordinarily for the Gospel.
Let me clarify when I say extraordinary, I do not mean in the sense of some metric we might associate with that word in Western Culture- i.e. thousands of converts, hundreds of churches, and whole countries turned upside down by the Gospel. I use the word extraordinary in the sense of regular people taking the "logical" restrictor plates off their minds and life plans to do whatever was needed or presented for the Gospel.
While many Christians would know and be helped by some enshrined names in missionary history like Carey and Judson, I am also helped by other lesser-known individuals and families who were willing to have their lives upended in a way we would be tempted to call "radical".
But is it radical?
I am tempted to think that a well to do businessman leaving his company during the height of success to go be an unknown face in Christian history by faithfully serving the Gospel in another country is radical; according to the book of Acts and the Pauline letters, it is normal for Christians to think and act that way.
I am tempted to think a retired couple should enjoy being as close to the grandkids as possible and indulge in traveling as partly a reward for all their years of hard work rather than self-fund a missionary endeavor three times a year to go encourage veteran missionaries on the field.
I am tempted to think that a young couple would be less than prudent to find lower-paying jobs in a city nearby to be a part of a church plant rather than stay at their established jobs and church but is that what the early church used as their decision making tape measure?
I am tempted to think that groundbreaking translation work to get God's Word translated into one of the many languages that currently have no part of the Bible is done by men who have gone to a decade worth of schooling rather than challenge my daughter to consider doing that with her life.
My point? The best missionaries may never be fully vocational and likely will never stand ablaze on the pages of Christian history.
If we consider Jesus' ministry, He consistently utilized and highlighted such people. That likely means that I need (and perhaps you need) a mental reset back to what is biblical and normal for followers of Jesus.
Let's have a few closing thoughts about being "radical" missionaries TODAY and embracing such a mindset for the future.
Spend time loving Jesus through reading the Word, praying, and being a faithful member actively engaged in your local church.
Speak with those around you about Jesus whenever you can, however you can whether it is a simple sentence in passing or a scheduled talk.
Look at your work as your mission field with intentional interactions to foster relationships to create Gospel opportunities.
Reset your goals and calendar for the Gospel...not soccer, more hours for more "me" money, hobbies, being the best saxophone player.
Intentionally set aside calendar time in the year to go beyond "normal" with a mission trip, camp, extended missionary stay (30 days or more), or weekends at a church plant.
Have an openness to being a trailblazer when the need arises by joining a church plant team or leaving your "life" here by becoming a vocational missionary.
Speak with those in your life about pursuing a new frontier for the Gospel like going to a mission field, doing translation work, starting an orphanage, or becoming a medical missionary.
The most "famous" Christians in eternity will likely not be the ones who had a dramatic moment or massive following but those who imperfectly sought after Jesus and let His Gospel rule their life choices.
The great news? It can be you!
Pastor Paul