The Importance of Missions

I haven't posted anything on here in quite a while, mainly because classes have required so much of my time (and brain power). Recently, I had to write a short essay for one of my religion classes on the function of missions in a pluralistic world. I'll just copy and paste it here for the sake of keeping this blog active.

In a pluralistic world, are missions still a valid function of Christianity? Explain your answer.

Missions have been a part of the Church since the beginning of Christianity itself. After the resurrection, Jesus told his disciples to “make disciples of all nations” (Matt 28:19), and that they would be “witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). An entire book of the Bible is devoted to the origins of the Church as the gospel was spread by the apostles. Though missions have evolved into different forms over time, the basic premise is the same: share the good news of Jesus Christ with those who have not heard. However, the postmodern development of society has caused a change in mindset towards religion. Pluralism, the idea that one religion is not the sole source of truth, has risen in popularity. It is no longer politically correct to claim that Christianity is the only way to get to heaven. Even some Christians believe either that Jesus is not the only way to achieve salvation or that eventually everyone will be saved whether in life or in death, a philosophy known as universalism. Despite the newfound prevalence of pluralism, missions are still a valid function of Christianity because of their necessity to the Church and because of their necessity to unbelievers.

Missions are not only a valid function of Christianity for the Church; they are absolutely necessary. Not only did Jesus command believers to make disciples of all nations, but he added that Christians should “[baptize] them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Missions should not be defined narrowly as trips to foreign countries with the main purpose of sharing the gospel. Sharing the gospel with those in a church’s own city is also important and perhaps the most practical and vital function to the life of the local church. Since not all churches, especially the smaller ones, can afford to send missionaries abroad, missionizing in the city becomes the first step for the church. Furthermore, James writes that “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17). Likewise, a church that does not embrace missions as a necessary part of church life is dead. It cannot grow and probably should not grow. As not every believer who has a passion for mission work can afford it on his or her own, churches become the financial supporters through the donations of its members. Any church that fails to carry out its purpose is failing to follow in the footsteps of the Jesus, which means it is not a church at all. A church simply cannot be the Church without this function.

It would be narrow-sighted to assume that missions are only for the sake of the Church, as first and foremost they are necessary to unbelievers. Indeed, without early missions by the apostles and those who came after them, the Church would not be as large as it is. However, Christians should not be lax in how they carry out missions today. It is easy to believe that now that Christianity is so prevalent, missions are not needed. JoshuaProject.net says that there are well over one and half billion unreached or little reached people around the world. These are people who either have never even heard the gospel or have heard very little, not enough to know Jesus. It is vital for Christians to remember again Matthew 28:19-20, that Jesus wanted to gospel preached to “all nations . . . teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” The Greek word used in this verse for nation is ethnos, which can literally be translated as people group. With over 1000 unreached people groups, there is much work to be done. Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Because of this, missions are essential to the salvation of unreached peoples.

Perspective is crucial with examining the importance of missions. Had it not been for missions, there would likely be no, or very few, Christians in the West. The fact that Christians in America know Christ at all should lead them to be grateful for missions. Still, Christianity cannot let a pluralistic world dictate whether missions should or should not be done. A Christian is loyal to God first and foremost, and should do everything in his or her power to obey Him, regardless of the state of society.