Missions on the Frontline
a ministry of WorldVenture
What principles should missionaries follow in light of visible fruit or lack of fruit on a field?
This raises some new, but equally important, issues concerning visible fruit on the field. I the previous discussion, I asked why missionaries should be kept on a field where they have not seen visible fruit, perhaps for some time. The question I am asking here is whether or not there are principles to follow according to fruitfulness.
Most people in the last discussion would agree that a missionary should not necessarily be removed or leave from a certain field in a case of no visible fruit, except in the condition of their unfaithfulness in some manner. However, there are certain passages which might have some guiding principle. This is a question of personal stewardship (namely time), discernment, and the character of calling.
When we see Jesus send out His disciples, He says, "Whenever you enter a town or village, find out who is worthy there and stay with them until you leave. As you enter the house, give it greetings. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not welcome you or listen to your message, shake the dust off your feet as you leave that house or that town," (Matthew 10:11-14). Now this is said in the context of going to the Jews and not the Gentiles. But is there a principle here fore missionaries? Does this apply to areas which have a background of the Bible? Should this principle of first fruit determine the town that a missionary goes to among the people to whom he/she is called? In Acts 13:48-52, we see the Gentiles rejoicing in their message, but when the religious leaders kick them out of the city, they leave and shake the dust off their feet against the city. Does this apply in any way? Should this principle apply to where someone goes on the field (i.e. If a people in Africa are responding well to missionaries and a people in Brazil are responding with haste, should we not go to the ones accepting the messengers)?
In what ways might this principle affect calling? If you are called to Italy, for example, should this principle help you determine a city to work in, going to the most receptive town?
Thank you. I look forward to your responses.
Most people in the last discussion would agree that a missionary should not necessarily be removed or leave from a certain field in a case of no visible fruit, except in the condition of their unfaithfulness in some manner. However, there are certain passages which might have some guiding principle. This is a question of personal stewardship (namely time), discernment, and the character of calling.
When we see Jesus send out His disciples, He says, "Whenever you enter a town or village, find out who is worthy there and stay with them until you leave. As you enter the house, give it greetings. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not welcome you or listen to your message, shake the dust off your feet as you leave that house or that town," (Matthew 10:11-14). Now this is said in the context of going to the Jews and not the Gentiles. But is there a principle here fore missionaries? Does this apply to areas which have a background of the Bible? Should this principle of first fruit determine the town that a missionary goes to among the people to whom he/she is called? In Acts 13:48-52, we see the Gentiles rejoicing in their message, but when the religious leaders kick them out of the city, they leave and shake the dust off their feet against the city. Does this apply in any way? Should this principle apply to where someone goes on the field (i.e. If a people in Africa are responding well to missionaries and a people in Brazil are responding with haste, should we not go to the ones accepting the messengers)?
In what ways might this principle affect calling? If you are called to Italy, for example, should this principle help you determine a city to work in, going to the most receptive town?
Thank you. I look forward to your responses.
Tags: calling, discernment, dust, fruitfulness, missions, principles, receptive, stewardship
© 2012 Created by Chris Wynn.
