What’s our unique calling if we don’t work to save souls?
The heyday of missions was in the 19th century when we proudly sang, “O Zion Haste.” That hymn propelled us out into the world to save those who were perishing.
Today we are no longer motivated to save lost souls because we no longer believe they are perishing. Thus the drive for missions has become the improvement of the environment, such as building water wells, raising better crops, combating disease etc.
However, secular agencies are doing these good things. So what is our unique calling in this century when we no longer believe souls are perishing?
We don’t have a unique calling. We have lost it. But when we find it again, we will discover that it is the same as what motivated the church in the 19th century. But what is that?
For me it is the rediscovery of the truth contain in the old hymn, “I Love to Tell the Story.” It speaks of Jesus’ love that satisfies our longing as nothing else can do.
Now I know that preaching is not the sole medium for missionary activity. The pew has also to be illuminating God’s love.
But when we preachers lose this truth, the pew dies. The church dies, and missionary zeal becomes defunct.
I know this truth of Jesus’ love is true because 44 years ago I was sitting in the Carousel Club with Jack Ruby two weeks before he shot Lee Harvey Oswald. My family and I underwent an FBI investigation and were cleared.
Later, I left that way of life, and my life turned around. What did it for me? The love of God was shed abroad in my heart through the Holy Spirit.
Afterwards, the Methodist church opened its heart to me. It sent me to seminary, supported me for years in the ministry and gave me my wife of almost 40 years.
Today when I’m in retirement, it still continues to take care of me. Sure, I could have been a Baptist, an Episcopalian or a Roman Catholic and on some days might wish I had.
What I am saying is that the love of God through his Holy Spirit has the power to transform lives. This truth should inform all of our church life, including missions.
