By Ps Vernon Quek
Every July through our annual ‘Missions Month’, we as a church have the God-given opportunity to reflect on and be challenged about missions.
If someone asked you what missions meant, what would your response be? How does your answer shape your perspective of all that we’re doing at Zion Bishan? What would you call missions and what would you not?
I grew up as a Christian with the commonly held view that missions refer to cross-cultural overseas Christian work. I’ve since become convicted that the better way to define missions is to view it as what Christians are doing in light of God’s Big Mission here on earth. If what God is doing is perfectly seen in what Jesus did when He was here on earth[1], which is to give the world Life through hearing His voice and believing in Him, then it makes sense that all of our small ‘m’ missions reflect our calling to point people to Jesus’ Life-giving words that they might believe in Him. This, of course, includes cross-cultural overseas Christian work, but should also include all such work that we’ve been called and sent to do, wherever it may be.
It is important that we get the definition of missions in light of God’s Mission correct because doing so will help grow us in our unity:
If missions is seen as only overseas ministry, we might run the risk of thinking that those of us who are not in that area of ministry aren’t on mission. Zion Bishan has sought to prevent this unhealthy view by deliberately calling the local gospel work that is happening ‘Home Missions’.
Paul puts it another way in his letter to the Ephesians[2]:
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call…
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith…
Paul is urging Christians here to fulfill their glorious role in His Big Plan – to walk according to their calling – in other words, He’s asking them to get on with missions in light of His Big Mission! Notice here that doing so will result in Unity! Maintaining the unity of the Spirit, the Person of God who is specifically working God’s Mission today (v3), and attaining the ultimate unity of the faith (v13).
That’s our big prayer at Zion Bishan! That as we clarify and grow together in our view of missions, it will be a source of great unity in our church as we see all of us healthily sent out for missions: whether it means being sent overseas to give the life-giving words of Jesus in cross-cultural contexts, or whether it means being sent by God to give those same words to those joining us at ESL, Seniors360 events, next door to our neighbours, in our workplaces or maybe even to those sitting next to us in the pews on a Sunday.
May our God grow us to be a united Missional Community!
[1] John 5:19-30
[2] Ephesians 4:1-16
