The Cost of Loving Jesus
My Grandpa shared an article with me that so touched me I'd like to share part of it with you:
The article was an interview with a veteran missionary, Dr. Helen Roseveare, in Christianity Today. Dr. Roseveare served for 20 years in the Belgian Congo (now Zaire). At one point she was captured, beaten, and abused by rebel soldiers. After her release and two year furlough she returned to serve 7 more years!
Q: How have your views of missions changed?
A: Sixteen years ago, I talked about the desperate need in other parts of the world. Now I tell Christians, wherever they are, that they must "refall" in love with Jesus. Christianity in the West today says we must have a bigger church and a bigger car and a better suit. Once Christians fall out of love with that and in love with Jesus, I won't need to talk mission; they will become missionaries because they love him.
Q: Why did you change your message?
A: The candidates for missionary service were not staying the pace. After all their training, they were not even staying the first term, let alone a career. I had to ask, "Why this appalling fallout rate?" Youngsters are being caught with the vision of mission, but they are responding with the wrong picture of what missions is all about- what they can do to serve others. Then they get to the mission fields and are not liked or wanted; people take what they've got to give and throw them out. They can't stand the hurtfulness, so they come home. Jesus said, "Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me." Where was He going? To Calvary. Paul wrote, "I have been crucified with Christ." Somewhere, we've gone off course. We've got to be willing to say, "What matters is not what I'm worth, or what people think of me, but that people come to know and love Jesus."
Q: What is your assessment of the health and direction of current missions?
A: We are being sucked in by the teaching that success is measured as achievements, numbers, something to show, something to write home about. I want to see the word passion come back. We're not allowed to use that word today because it has taken on other meanings. But I want people to be passionately in love with Jesus, so that nothing else counts. Maybe God calls me to Africa, in the midst of an area being swept by a killer disease that no one knows how to cure. What if I get AIDS- or my spouse or children? The world thinks I'm foolish for going there. But if God sent me to Africa with my family, He's going to look after us. That doesn't mean I'm not going to get that disease; it means that He's in charge of my life, and if I get AIDS, that's because He wants me to witness to others who've got it. How's that for success? I'm a fanatic, if you like, but only because I believe so strongly that nothing counts except knowing your sins have been forgiven by the blood of Jesus. We've only got this short life to get others to know the same truth.
Wow! As a "youngster...caught by the vision of missions," I pray that by God's grace I will have the right view of why God has called me to Tanzania: not what I can do for the Tanzanians, but that Tanzanians would be saved whatever the cost!