Excuses We Make to avoid What God has Called Us to Be, Missionaries and Ministers

Have you ever felt like being a missionary is for those who had a divine experience in which God spoke from the heavens and said go to another country and spread the gospel. If you believe the above statement you are likely to believe that being a missionary is for the called elite. In order to debunk this myth we need to redefine the missionary calling. First of all, Jesus gave the great commission to all Christians. No where in scripture can you find Jesus saying that you are to follow me and choose whether or not you will participate in spreading the gospel. When you share the gospel you are performing the acts of a missionary therefore, you are a missionary. Did you know that all christian are ministers?. 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. There are however missionaries and ministers who are called to minister and share the gospel has their chosen career path or prime source of livelihood. In summary, we are called to be ministers of the gospel. Even though we cleared up the issue of are we called to be missionaries. There are some who will not go outside their community because they feel that some kind of earth shattering divine revelation needs to happen in order for them to go on a mission trip. God does give divine confirmations that we should do something but we often predetermine what a calling looks like. We wait for an audible voice to say "go and do my will" but in reality a calling is an experience that comes in many different ways. Some people hear a small still voice, some have an "ah ha moment" in which God show them how they can be used to share the gospel and some have a moment a conviction after hearing a message or reading Gods word. We must spend time in prayer and actively be looking for how God will reveal His will. Another excuse that can be used is that I am not skilled in ministering. If this is what you think about ministry you need to rethink ministry and broaden your definition. On the mission field local or foreign there are opportunities to use a wide variety of skills to minister. If you do not feel adequate verbally sharing the gospel, you can share the gospel with service ( construction, nursing, cleaning, playing with children). The more you find out about the needs of others the more your definition of ministry will broaden and you will also see more opportunities to minister. There are many mission opportunities out there, short term ( a week or two), long term, local or foreign. To quote Henry Blackaby, " we need to find out where God is working and then join Him on the process".

Two New You Tube Videos

Hopefully this week I will continue the blog about excuses. Until then here is the latest you tube videos I have created. The first one teaches you how to praise God in hebrew using a short phrase from psalms 136 and the second video show you a trick I learned about reciting the first five  books of the bible while standing one leg. 

Christian Excuse 5

I don't think I will ever be one of those Christians who will be used by God in a big way. The Christian that are called to do big things for God are preachers, missionaries, Sunday school teachers, and deacons.

• In order for us to claim the above statement we would have to deny the Holy Spirit's work in our lives. We are examining our potential to be used by God based on our abilities but it is through God's Spirit that we are able to do great things. Jesus did not say, I only want certain Christians to be mature and become more like me. Jesus gave everyone the power to do God's will and to do what is said in the Bible. Do not think that Jesus consider his teachings to be good teachings that only few can follow. Jesus says in John 14:26 that he will send His Spirit to will teach us all things and remind us of His teachings.

John 14:26
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit —the Father will send Him in My name—will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.

Please: Subscribe or check back frequently for more Christian excuses are coming next week.

Excuses that will be address next week

• Not everyone is called to be a missionary 
• We don't need to be contributing to missions when we have so many needs at home.
• Why do local missions, most people are saved around here anyway and doing local mission is not doing anything big for God.
• The bible is too hard to understand and only certain people understand what the Bible is saying.
• I don't give to ministries because they are all about money and that is not of God.

Let Me know if there is an excuse you would like me to mention or address by commenting below.

The Top Christian Excuses

Each excuse contains truth but handled the wrong way they become nothing more than excuses.

1. I don't do in your face evangelism, I share Jesus by the way I live. 

• That's great if people are asking you about the hope you have but do you know how to lead someone to Christ if they ask you how to have a relationship with Christ. How many people are asking about Jesus because of the way you live?

2. I don't share Jesus because that's a personal subject.

• Jesus is not a secret to kept, he is a light to be displayed to the world. 
• Matthew 5:15

3. I don't need to go to Church, I can worship Jesus anywhere

• You can worship Jesus anywhere but we need to be encouraged by fellow Christians and we need to comfort fellow Christians.  The sheep need the flock for protection. Reading the Bible  and following Christ should motivate you to fellowship.
• Philippians 2:1-4

4. I'am upset with the Church, therefore I will not participate in hypocrisy. 

• If you are upset with the Church, be the one that helps change the image of the Church. Speak up and be someone who is used by God to be an agent of change.  Just has one person is not the same as a another person, the same goes for the Church. Do not hold a grudge against the Church for something a few churches have done to you.

5. God said do not judge unless you want to be judged.

• Matthew 7:1 does say this but Jesus didn't say, do not every point out the sin of someone else.  Jesus told us to checkout the sin in our lives and make sure we are not condemning someone for a sin that we have not gotten out of our lives. We need to know the difference between seeing someone commit a scriptural sin in front of us and lovingly confronting them about the sin vs making a prediction about someone's life based on a perceived sin. We are not judges but we are brothers and sisters that lovingly help each other out. 
• Matthew 7:4-5