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Seven
Dynamics for Advancing
Your Church in Missions
Page 2 — Four Major Obstacles
In this article I would like to describe four major obstacles to missions
that the North American mission community is not adequately resolving. Then
I would like to describe seven dynamics that I believe will help any church
advance in missions.
Professor
Howard Hendricks on one occasion said that “A problem well defined is
a problem half solved.” I would like to describe four obstacles to advancing
churches in missions. I will then describe how the seven dynamics help to
overcome those obstacles. These are not the only obstacles to missions, but
from my perspective they are the major contenders.
The
first obstacle to advancing churches in missions is the common perception
that mission is peripheral to Christianity. From pastors in the pulpit to
Christians in the pew, most perceive missions to be the domain of super saints,
hyperactive Christians or maybe for those who are just a little weird. The
dynamics that follow describe how to demonstrate the centrality of missions
to our faith and how to relate world missions to “normal folks”
in the pew.
The
second obstacle is the ineffectiveness of mission leaders and enthusiasts
in relating missions to contemporary audiences. We have met the enemy, and
he is us! Some mission leaders have been so much a part of the mission community
and for so long that they have become inept at communicating missions effectively
to the non-involved. The dynamics that I will discuss help mission enthusiasts
and leaders to analyze their audience and develop methods and techniques that
relate to where people are.
The
third obstacle to advancing missions in churches is the nature of pastoral
ministry which tends to focus on local needs. The spiritual gift of pastor-teacher
does not naturally lend itself toward global issues. Pastors by training and
experience are generally ill equipped to lead their church in world missions.
In this article we will look at missions in the local church from the viewpoint
of the senior pastor and the crucial leadership role he plays and what can
be done in mobilizing churches for world missions.
The
fourth obstacle to advancing churches in missions is the influence of the
North American culture on the evangelical church. Materialism, pluralism,
individualism, existentialism, hedonism, etc...are major obstacles to getting
North American Christians involved in missions. The seven dynamics that follow
describes how to raise up counter-cultural “world Christians” who
will attract others to a Christian life-style focused on reaching the world.
God's
purpose and plan for mankind will always be spearheaded by visionary leadership.
Although Abraham, Moses, Nehemiah and the apostle Paul had very different
personalities and backgrounds, yet all had one thing in common: each had received
a compelling vision from God of what He wanted them to do. The dynamics that
follow are antidotes to the obstacles for advancing God's mission in today's
world.
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