An Ode To A Cross-Cultural Missionary

An Ode To A Cross-Cultural Missionary

The cross cultural missionary, I tell you, is a dying breed today
Though once a raging fire, now in ashes lay;
Movements die, methods change, God's ways a mystery,
Before the embers singe the sand, here is my bouquet.

Cometh the hour, riseth the man and so they came from town and country
In God's time they obeyed the call, to go as a missionary;
Armed with zeal and passion for souls, no manual in their hands
They set out to sow the seeds of life and see it become a tree.

As wood on the pyre, awaiting fire, on the altar lay their dreams,
All strewn around, college degrees and their fat pay-cheque leaves;
With crying family, moist eyed friends trying to squelch the spirit,
With stoic resolve they blaze the trail to the far off mission fields.

Along came children, zesty, playful, lovely girl and a boy
But soon they had to leave the nest, dragging along a toy
For the Moriah altar, now asks for the child, and who may dare deny
And so in a heap, on the altar lay, their one and only joy.

No ram entangled in the thorns, no hand to stay the sword
No voice this time, no provision divine, only comfort in the word;
With hand to the plough, no turning back, bracing the loss they move
“He that giveth, taketh” they said, as they reached the end of the road.

Weary bodied, weathered skin, with aching bones and old
They returned home, empty handed, no laurels or medals of gold;
While singers and preachers are revered here, no such rank they hold
Yet I only sing of these great men, whose stories may never be told.

I wait for that day when the roll shall be called and rewards given out
These men will rise to great acclaim and a loud shout about;
And then shall my heart leap like a deer and I shall proudly pout
For once on the cruel Moriah altar, I had to lay about!




First published in Blessing magazine of Blessing Youth Mission, India

John Baptist's Message - a radical one even today!

God’s message to the world always comes through God’s man. And more often than not this message would be a radical one. It would be met with intrigue and unbelief. John Baptist was one such man to whom the word of the Lord came after a long period of silence. For almost 400 years there was no ‘Thus saith the Lord…”. And then out comes our man from the desert where he’s been waiting upon God. John’s task though simple and short – a bell boy to open the door for Christ – his message was the most radical one till then. He was to announce the tectonic shift in God’s plan for world’s redemption. And even after 2000 years his message still remains a radical one today.

John started out by making mockery of the Jewish bloodline when he said “So you think you can claim Abraham’s lineage? That doesn’t matter one bit to God (Matt 3)”. Till then the Jews had monopoly on truth. They were God’s chosen race. It was to them that God promised salvation. And it was through birth that you became a Jew and not through rituals. But suddenly there’s our new preacher who pulls the rug from under their feet. He tells them that Abraham’s bloodline means nothing to God. It was a radical message then. Alas even today John’s message is a radical one to the church. People believe that you are a Christian because your father was a Christian and that you go to church every Sunday. Very many people in the church believe that they are Christians because they were born to Christian parents and were baptized in the church as infants. You tell them John’s message and they’ll be offended.

And then he added “Every tree that does not produce good fruit…”. Now, producing ‘good fruit’ was not required of the Jews. Theirs was to keep traditions and obey the law to the letter. You cannot tell a Jew to be good. You have to tell him to keep the law. He couldn’t ‘produce’ goodness, but he could keep the law. None before him had taken the Jews to task by asking them to produce ‘good fruit’ (righteousness). The earlier prophets would preach against idolatry or flouting the commandments and so on. They would coax them to adhere to the precepts of God. But here was a prophet wagging his index finger and taking them to task for not ‘producing good fruit’. They were handicapped in this. The law couldn’t produce righteousness (Rom7). But this preacher was preaching about something that produces righteousness. This was new and radical. Even today people in the church would look at you with indifference when you tell them that you have to be like Jesus (producing righteousness). They’d tell you “we can’t be like Jesus since Jesus was God”. When you quote the writer of Hebrews and say “see, we are to take Jesus as our example”, they’d laugh at you and keep away from you like you were a heretic. John’s message of his day still remains a radical one today.

He continued that “… these trees that do not produce good fruit will be cut down from the root and thrown into the fire.” This was not the nipping of the bud that the law would do (dealing with the actions) but this was taking the whole thing at the roots (a complete change at the thought level – the root of actions). The axe was at the root – this meant a radical change. What this meant was that every tree that could not produce good fruit – which included every single Jew since the law could not produce righteousness (Rom 7) – will be thrown into fire. Which fire???? The Holy Spirit fire. Yes, the Holy Spirit fire. Hear him continue “I baptize you with water but He who comes after me will baptize you with Holy Spirit fire”. John’s message was this – “the law couldn’t produce righteousness in you, but Jesus will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and that will do the trick. And then you will produce good fruit”. This was his radical message. He was hinting at the impotence of the law and the importance of the Holy Spirit. This was a radical message in his times and in ours too. Nobody would believe you when you tell them that when we are baptized by Jesus in the Holy Spirit then we’ll produce ‘good fruits’ like Jesus himself did. First of all half the people in the church wouldn’t believe you when you say ‘Holy Spirit’ and then the rest would laugh at you when you say that you’ll produce good works. They’ll open their Bibles and tell you from the book of Acts that you’ll speak in tongues when you are baptized by the Holy Spirit and dismiss you. Well, God’s message to mankind still remains a radical one and I choose to believe His word when it says “The door is small which leads to life and the road is narrow. Only a few people are finding it. (Matt7:14)”.

Christmas!

How did the Christmas season go this time round? Carols, cakes and shopping – the three wise men that we wait for round the year finally arrived. This time round I couldn’t be home since I didn’t get vacation at work. Christmas is an avalanche experience. There is the winter, then come the lights, the carols, the vacation planning, the shopping. The first signs of the season start with the winter chill that meets you late November. Then the vacation planning adds its ‘thing’ to the season. Now we are in December and our vacations are planned. The season gathers momentum as the Christmas carols hit the music scene. Weekends are filled with Carol singsong services. The Christmas avalanche has gathered quite a bit of snow now. Living rooms suddenly sprout indoor plantation called Christmas trees loaded with tinsel and confetti. Stars dangle from porches and light arrangement greet you in the local store. Before you know it, Christmas shopping is here. It gets added to the huge Christmas avalanche. And “then one foggy Christmas eve, Santa came to sleigh” as the song goes, Santa with his plastic smile makes an appearance either at your Carol service or the Carol rounds. Cakes have vanished from the Baker’s counter overnight. The avalanche has picked up everything on the way now and has reached top speed. Christmas wishes start dominating SMS content and there you are at the eye of the storm. It’s Christmas eve. It’s a magical world. A glow everywhere. A glint in every eye. A smile on every face. Then the whole season culminates at the Christmas mass. The avalanche is about to hit the rock. The Church aisle is a heady mix of perfumes and new clothes. The Christmas day dawns as we leave church and reach home groggy from the rollercoaster ride. The avalanche has truly hit the rock and has collapsed leaving the riders dizzy.


Well, what is Christmas? In my opinion it’s an excuse for Christians to have fun. They would have you believe otherwise. They call it “a season of love”. “It’s the time to remember our Lord’s birth” they would tell you. Their carols speak of “peace on earth and goodwill to men”. But I would whistle and walk away singing an empty line from a silly song “tis a season to be jolly, fa la la la la, la la la la” as if to tell them that the season and all its accompaniments are as empty as the line.

To me Christmas is not the season. To me it’s the birth of our Lord. It is not remembering the birth. It’s the actual birth of our Lord. When a man would look at himself in comparison with God and cry out in his heart like Peter did on the shores of Galilee “Go away from me Lord, for I’m a sinner”, then its Christmas. When Christ is born in a man’s life just like he was formed in Mary’s womb miraculously by the Holy Spirit, its Christmas. When that birth is apart from man and only by God, just like the first Christmas, then its Christmas – the birth of Christ. Christmas happens when nobody expects it. It happens suddenly. It happens of God.

It’s not remembering the birth of the Lord, for you can remember all you want about the nativity and the manger scene but it still would make no difference to your life. The world will know when Christmas happens. It will show in the Christian’s life. You don’t have to sing carols and wear new clothes. The world will know by your life. The world will know when Christmas happens in a home. We don’t have to put up a Christmas tree and suspend a plastic star in the porch. The world will know. It knew when it happened in one Zacchaeus’ home and it will know when it happens in your home too.

What is Your Life - 2

The whole world is out on a search. They are searching for something. Some who are articulate enough would tell you that they are searching for meaning. Some would say they are out there to get happiness. The world is always on the pursuit of something. Most are unaware of their own pursuit. But nevertheless they are searching. They are trying to figure out something.


Now, you tell a man that “you are searching for God”, he wouldn’t agree. When they tell you that “we are searching for the meaning of life”, in effect they are searching for the creator because man, apart from his creator has no reason for his existence. Most are on the lookout for something without knowing it.

We find a picture of this in the Old Testament of the Bible. Turn to the 2nd chapter of the book of Daniel. Here’s king Nebuchadnezzar who saw a dream and wants the interpretation. He doesn’t tell the dream for the fear of empty interpretation that you get from most learned men. So he demands that the dream be told and as well the interpretation be revealed.

26 The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), "Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?"

The King is a picture of the world. The world wants you to tell them what they are searching for and as well reveal the mystery. Could Daniel reveal the mystery and as well tell the king his dream? No sir. He couldn’t. Look at him reply the king in the very next verse.

27 Daniel replied, "No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about,

Daniel is the picture of the Church/Christians today. Can the Christians reveal the mystery to the world? No, they can’t! Who can? See Daniel's reply in Vs 28. Only God in heaven can reveal mysteries.

28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.


Only God can reveal mysteries. The Christians cannot interpret the mystery on their own just Daniel couldn't on his own.
This story is the picture of the world and the New Testament Christians today. The world is waiting for someone to reveal the mystery. That’s why there’s a craze for all kinds of self-help gurus and books. People are searching for something unawares. Who can reveal the mystery? Only God can. Whom does he use? He uses the Christians just like he used Daniel.

Why did God reveal the mystery to Daniel? Daniel gives the answer in the 30th verse -

30 As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than other living men, but so that you, O king, may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind.

The only reason God revealed it to Daniel was that so the king may know the interpretation. The only reason that God reveals his mysteries to the Christians today is that the world will come to know the interpretation. Look at the exact parallel passage of this in the New Testament. Turn to Colossians1:26,27

26the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. 27To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

It is the exact parallel passage to that of Daniel 2nd chapter. The mystery is now disclosed to saints just like it was made known to Daniel. That they may make known the mystery to the gentiles/world. What is the mystery? The mystery which is “Christ in you the hope of glory”. Christ in us is the gospel.

Let me paraphrase it for you the verses – 26The mystery that was kept hidden till Jesus came to this earth is revealed to you the Christians. 27God has chosen you to reveal this to the world. Reveal what? This, that Christ lives in you and that because of that you have a hope of eternal life.

This is our duty. To reveal to the world the Christ life. When the world sees us it needs to see this mystery revealed. It needs to see Christ in us. That’s the only reason God saved us and revealed this life in us.

What is your life?

What is your life?

James in his letter to the Jews scattered all over the world says “13Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”

Well, there is no harm in the above plan – Go to a place, work/trade and get money in return. I find no harm in such an honest idea. I think everyone of us have such an idea. Go to a place, work and earn money to live. But James poses a question to the ones who have such a common idea. In fact he thunders “What is your life?” James is very direct. He slaps you in your face and makes you think. James’ question is a very important one. “What is your life?” Have you thought about this question? Have you thought of answering this question? Have you thought what your life is? James is not asking “What is life?” rather he is asking “What is your life?” Many of us carry on living even if we don’t know why. We need not be philosophers to answer James’ question. We know what our life is. We know what we life for.

Just like Christ was crucified between two thieves, now there are two kinds of Christians. Those two thieves each had something to say to Jesus that day. Both of them had just a few more hours to live. So it was almost their last words spoken. It was of high importance. Those last words reflected their philosophies of life. One said “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us.” Look at what he said. There is no harm in this. He was being honest. He wanted to live. He knew that the Messiah could do anything. He needed a miracle and he asked for it. Of course he asked the right person. In a few hours he would be killed. If there was one person who could save him from that it was the Messiah. Clever chap!

Look at what the other thief said. The other thief said “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom”. What was that!! That was not very clever. C’mon here was the Messiah next to you and you ask him something that you cannot see now. Hey, don’t you want to live in the present? The Messiah is the maker of the universe. He made everything and he could do anything. Why would a thief with his death few hours away utter such a vague wish? Strange.

There are two kinds of Christians today in the Church. One kind is like the first thief. They seem to say “Lord, since you are the God of this universe - omnipotent, all-powerful, please get me this job. I could live comfortably with this secure job.” And you would hear them quote scripture too “Lord, since its written in your word that you will do much more than we ask for and beyond our imagination we ask you to help us build this Church building, because we don’t have a place to sit on Sunday mornings.” Does this sound similar to the prayers in your church? Well, this kind of Christians are only bothered about this life (this life that James calls a mist). This life is very precious to them. They are always looking to be secure and comfortable. Their idea of God blessing a person is when he gets a good job and is comfortable. Their idea of God blessing a church is when the church can afford a mega structure with air conditioning or arrange mega meetings in the city with star preachers. You’ll find this kind everywhere. “Of course, God said he offers life to the full” is what they say.

There is another kind. They are like the second thief. Their attitude to life is very different. They rarely pray for things. They are not bothered about this life very much. They live here but they are always thinking about eternity. Their prayers are for spiritual growth – things that would matter in eternity. Their prayers are for other people. You rarely see them pray long public prayers. They are not bothered much about salaries or possessions. They are pre-occupied with going the way Jesus went. They study Jesus’ life and try to follow that. Their idea of God blessing a person is when there is power in that person's witness. You rarely find people from this group. They are not the ones in the lime light. They are not the ones who pray in meetings. But we will only know them in eternity when we stand before the Judgment seat.

What is your life?

Reckless Abandon (contd.)

Alfred Tennyson in his poem ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ talks of soldiers who would not disobey the command to charge despite knowing that the command was a big blunder and it would eventually cost them their lives. The lines go thus – “Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die…”; Yes, ours is to follow and His is to lead. Ours in not to ask “why”, and ours is not to look for reason. Ours is to do and if it requires, die. Ours is to just obey. Obedience most often is out of fashion. Jim Elliot was one of the five martyrs who died in Ecuador trying to reach the Aucas with the Gospel. Elliot, a compelling preacher and a winsome personality, could have stayed back in the US and stirred the youth of his day. Why did he go to some obscure jungle station in Ecuador where his eloquence will not matter? Did he go there to be a martyr? Did he go there to die a hero’s death? No, Sir. He was just obeying the voice of God. He went to Ecuador to be an ordinary missionary. He went there in obedience to the Call of God. Hear him say this in his journal “Impelled, then, by these voices, I dare not stay home while Quichuas perish.” He went there to do the thankless job of working among Quichua tribesmen and he ended up dying a martyr’s death. When staying back in his home country was considered wise and necessary, he would heed God’s call. It’s that recklessness in obeying God that made him look foolish in man’s eyes. Recklessness will always be looked down upon as foolishness. But recklessness in obeying God was what marked these men apart. Elliot wrote in his journal “he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose”. John in his camel hair attire and locust meal, pitching a tent in the wilderness; Ed Mc Cully abandoning his Law studies to preach to tribesmen in a foreign country; Stephen the star preacher faithfully distributing food; Jim Elliot walking away from a preaching career in the USA to some obscure village in Ecuador – Reckless Abandon in obedience. No questions asked. No reasons given. Yes, theirs was only to follow the call. Men of reckless abandon.

God requires holiness from HIS men

In the story of Gideon in Judges 6 we see that Gideon offered a sacrifice to know if it is God who is speaking to him. In verses17-19 - 17 Gideon replied, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. 18 Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you." And the LORD said, "I will wait until you return." 19 Gideon went in, prepared a young goat, and from an ephah [b] of flour he made bread without yeast. Putting the meat in a basket and its broth in a pot, he brought them out and offered them to him under the oak.

In the New Testament the unleavened bread is symbolic of a holy life. We see that in ICor5:7-9. Paul likens the unleavened bread to sincerity and truth in vs 8.

When God chooses his men he requires them to offer him 'unleavened bread' which is a holy life. Just like the way Gideon went inside to make the unleavened bread while the LORD said, "I will wait until you return" (Judg6:18) He also waits untill the man he has chosen offers a life of holiness. Look at Jesus' life. Before he started his ministry, before God's hand could be mightily manifested in his ministry he had to go to the wilderness to be tempted. It was the same with Paul. He was sent to Tarsus (Acts9:30). God waits for His man to offer a holy life and then He'll come and manifest his hand upon his ministry with fire just like the fire consumed Gideon's offering on the rock. When Gideon saw that fire consumed his offering he knew that it was God who called him.

If you know you are chosen by God and are still not seeing his hand in your life, then he is waiting for you to offer a holy life as an offering. It could take years but God waits. He said to Gideon "I will wait untill you return" and He says the same to us. Once you've offered the offering of holy life God's fire will be upon your work and everyone will know that it is so.