Escapism Part 2: The Great (missionary) Escape

As I mentioned in my previous article, I definitely believe there’s a huge issue in the church regarding the perspective on marriage. As a single man I can relate to that lost feeling, especially at church. The feeling that something isn’t right or “what am I suppose to do with my life now (post-college)?” I believe in an effort to answer this question many Christian singles turn to a few different forms of ‘acceptable’ escapisms. One is marriage and another is missions work.

I believe much of this ‘lost’ feeling is natural to living in the sinful/corrupted flesh, separated from the relationship with God we were created for. The secular world, or weaker Christians, will get involved in premarital sex, drugs, partying, bars, clubs or even work as a means of addressing this lost feeling. Most Americans find escapism in more universally acceptable forms as well, such as TV, video games, internet, reading, cell phones or music. The problem is this huge hole we all have in our hearts, and the solution will never be found in any of these things. They are all, at best a distraction, the solution is full surrender to God, something impossible without Jesus Christ.

I don’t believe this lost feeling is a call to become a missionary in a foreign country. As a church we really need to define what a calling looks like before sending people packing to seminary or the mission field or even teaching our children. I’m not sure myself what a calling truly looks like, but I know it isn’t about filling a hole in our lives or finding an easy way out. I imagine it’s a lot easier to try to impact the life of someone who doesn’t know me or my culture or better yet possibly looks up to me just because I’m American, then the person sitting next to me at church or work who I may have no credibility with. If you can’t humbly & selflessly engage others where you are now, then why would you expect you could do it somewhere else? If you aren’t actively involved in spreading the gospel, pouring into someone else’s life or involved in a ministry why would you expect you would be able to in another country? Changing churches, locations or jobs doesn’t change the person. I believe becoming a missionary to a foreign country can be a form of escapism, under the wrong circumstances. I also believe working in a church ministry can be a form of escapism, but that's another article.

I believe one way the misguided church is addressing ‘the singleness issue’ is through foreign missions work. “Ok you’re not married, therefore most likely a non productive attendee, so how about we provide you with the vision (through videos, classes, books, seminars & testimonials) to be productive.”. Once again the church has circumvented the real issue to address the symptoms. Take a long hard look at this country of ours and the issues we are facing. What do we have; 11, 12 million illegal immigrants in this country, as well as millions of legal immigrants from other countries? America is a foreign missions field! God has brought the missions field right on our doorsteps. The church, however, seems simply too incompetent, or lazy, to really equip us to enter this missions field. It’s much easier to pack people off for a trip overseas and pawn them off on someone else, then to pour into them for real evangelistic work in America.

How about the issues of racism or homophobia rampant in our churches? Imagine if the churches of America stood up to love on people with different colors of skin or who have adopted perverted lifestyles? Imagine if the churches of America really stood up to love on poor or homeless people? Now imagine a real revival the likes of which this country has never seen. However, coming back to reality we see incompetent churches taking the easy roads by giving our single men and women (especially women) a passport of escapism out of this country to witness to people they most likely will not live life with for very long. One year, two tops? This isn’t living life with people. A real missionary has a passion, purpose and a vision to reach specific people groups. I personally know several missionaries like this and they’ve committed their lives to serving the Lord in foreign countries for as long as God will allow. They have a specific passion for the people they are living with and a fervent desire to see the people they’re working with come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. This is a calling, not a selfish quest for purpose. Of course this isn’t to say God is incapable of working His glory despite the heart motivations of us sinners.

Now this isn’t to bash short term mission’s trips. These are a great way to support missionaries who need to build churches or distribute food or teach English or the like. It’s also a great way to become more sympathetic towards missionaries and more attuned to their needs. However, let’s not confuse encouragement/service work with true mission’s work, which is living life with people and showing them Jesus. I’m not saying one is better then the other. I’m saying we need to be realistic with ourselves and view ourselves with humility as we serve. Accept the gifts God has given you and encourage or serve or pastor or teach or evangelize in your own country or in foreign countries, but do it all hardily unto the Lord. Don’t make the same mistake Jonah made when he ran away from his life and God’s will.

I see no examples in the Bible of the apostles or disciples ‘testing out the waters’ before taking the plunge. In fact, I see just the opposite:

Joshua 3:13-16
And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD -the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap." So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing.

I don’t believe short term mission’s trips should be used as a ‘test’ for whether we ought to become missionaries or not. That’s not to say a desire wouldn’t grow from this experience. However, if it doesn’t then consider praying about giving more money to missions work or who you should specifically give money to or who you feel called to live life with right where you’re at.