The most commonly heard excuses for not “Going” and for not “Obeying”
The following objections are just a few of the many that Christian groups and missionary organizations constantly hear from prospective recruits for the mission field.
1. “But I’m not called.” Well, the truth is that God has already told you to go in His Word. In fact, He commands you to go… “Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.” ( Mark 16:15) That’s right… YOU ARE CALLED! In fact, if you don’t go, you need a specific calling from God to stay home. Has God definitely told you not to “go” somewhere outside your country to preach the Gospel? If He hasn’t, then you’d better start praying WHERE to go, instead of IF
you should go – for again, you’re already called!
- “But my family and friends would frown upon me going.” “He who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me…” (Matt. 10:37) It is true that God wants us to honor our parents and love our friends, but He has also made it clear in His Word that this honor and love must not exceed our love and obedience to Him and His calling on our lives.
- “But I need to get an education first.” I don’t believe that God wants every Christian to go to college just because, “Well, everyone goes to college!” Perhaps there is an alternative form of education that will prepare you for world mission, while earning a degree and finishing with no debt. Sound good? Check out Compassion Corp at www.breathepartners.com
- “But I need to get married first, and then maybe my mate will want to serve God full-time on the field, rather than me going alone.” Nothing could be a more foolish reason for putting off obeying God now. God does not want you to look for a husband or wife, He wants you to be married to Him, and trust Him for any mate He may bring into your life. Remember, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” (Matt. 6:8) Trust Him!
- “But the mission field is dangerous. God would not have me put myself or my family in danger of disease or native hostilities, would he?” “Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” (Numbers 14:3) It is all a matter of our priorities – do we look at the temporary or the eternal in making our choices? The question should not be, “Will I be kept safe wherever I go?” but rather, “What is on the Lord’s heart for me to do?” If Jesus decided to go the way of least pain, He would have never gone to the cross. There is no place of greater blessing for you than in the center of God’s will. You must stop to count the cost, but remember one thing – the privilege of serving God always outweighs the price! “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake and the Gospel’s shall save it.” (Mark 8:34-35)
- “But I could not afford to get the training and raise the necessary finances to be a missionary.” Don’t worry, God will help raise the money you need. Wherever God guides, He provides – even if it means helping you get a job! Problems and worries about finances are usually only a surface excuse when it comes to obeying God to go. In your heart you know He’ll make a way for you!
- “But I don’t have any special talents or abilities that would qualify me to be a missionary.”
Then you’re just the person God is looking for! It is this person who has the opportunity of purely representing Jesus in the endless “common” tasks that are part of the daily life of a
missionary. “When I am weak, then I am strong.” (II Cor. 12:10; also see I Cor. 1:26-31) - “I’m just not ready to make that kind of a sacrifice and commitment.” Ah! That’s just the point. That’s probably the underlying reason for almost every one of the above objections. In fact, you might just as well have said, “I’m not willing.” You need to decide whether or not you are a disciple of Jesus – that is the question. If you are His disciple, then “you are not your own…you have been bought with a price.” (I Cor. 6:19-20) And if you truly love Him, then you will not feel bondage, you will feel incredible excitement at being chosen to represent Him in the world! To be a servant of Jesus Christ, an ambassador, a missionary, is the highest calling a man or woman can attain to!
Now what are you waiting for??