by Patrick Sawyer, Missional Living Pastor
One of the craziest things I have seen in the sports world is when we come to college football signing day. Imagine ESPN is live on location at a local high school where a football player will announce where he plans to play football for the next few years in just about an hour. Will he go to Alabama, Ohio State, Texas, or maybe Auburn? The gym is crowded with family, friends, and schoolmates. The cheerleaders are there, as well as his teammates. The time has come. We switch to live tv, and the player steps up to the table with his parents. The table is full of hats from the specific schools from which he will
choose. As we anticipate, we notice both parents are wearing Ohio State apparel, hoping and wishing and probably praying their child will pick the school they root for. The student sits down, leans toward the mic, and thanks everyone for coming. As he looks at the hats to choose from, he tells the crowd this was the hardest decision he has ever had to make. He then, of course, grabs one of the hats, acts like he is going to put it on, and then puts it back down. You can imagine the tension and excitement in the room. He then looks at the Alabama hat and picks it up. What will he do? In that moment, he actually puts on the
Alabama hat and tells everyone he has decided to take his talent to the University of Alabama. The room erupts. Some are excited and happy, and some upset. Now think about the parents sitting there decked out with OSU gear. What will they do? What will they say? At that moment, they shock the room by walking out of the room completely unloving, uncaring, upset, and unsupportive.
This scenario got me thinking: what if this is how it was when a child was called to the mission field? Take the same scenario, and instead of schools, it is careers. Let’s say it is a missionary, a doctor, a business owner, or a lawyer. Now, as a parent, if you were standing at the table with the child and instead of picking up the doctor, business owner, or the lawyer hat, they pick up the missionary one. What would you do in that moment? Would you shout excitedly and celebrate with your child or walk out in sadness and anger? Let me pause this story and come back to it.
I heard David Platt say this scenario pretty much plays out in the Mormon faith. In the Mormon religion, a child can choose to go on a mission for 18 months up to 2 years to serve somewhere within the world. As the child is waiting to hear where they will be sent, they gather with loved ones, and upon receiving the news, their family and friends shout with excitement as they celebrate. As David Platt stated, these family and friends celebrate with joy as this child goes to spread a false gospel.
Now go back to the earlier scenario. How would you react when your child chooses the missionary hat to go on the mission field to spread the true gospel? Would you respond with joy and excitement or walk out in shame?
As Christian parents, here are seven truths to remember when it comes to fulfilling the Great Commission:
First, the Great Commission is a command for all Christians. The Great Commission is not just for pastors or a special group of Christians. God does not have His Great Commission Navy Seal Team that he sends out on a special mission. The Great Commission is for all Christians. You were called to the Great Commission the moment you became a Christian.
Second, joining God in His mission to take the gospel to those who have yet to hear is an honor and a privilege. Think about this. God could have done anything to get the gospel to the nations. He could have written John 3:16 in the sky. He could have shouted the gospel from heaven. But instead, God has chosen, in His sovereignty, to use His people for His mission.
Third, to fulfill the Great Commission, people must be sent. Paul tells us in Romans 10:14-15 that in order for people to believe the gospel and be saved, they must hear the gospel, and they will not hear the gospel unless people are sent to preach it.
Fourth, God will call some of our children to the mission field. Yes, God will call our children to different professions; for some, that will be the mission field.
Fifth, what if we do not send? Again, according to Romans 10:14-15, if we do not send and if we do not go, and if we do not preach and they do not hear, then they will never believe and be saved. They will spend eternity away from Christ in hell.
Sixth, as Christian parents, we are not called to raise our children with desires to be successful, have a great job, and make lots of money; I am not saying these are bad things. Ultimately, we are called to raise our children to glorify God, live in a way that is honoring and pleasing to Him, be obedient to God, and join Him in His mission to fulfill the Great Commission in whatever he has called them to be and do.
Seventh, as Christian parents, we should be excited and supportive in whatever God has called our children to do, no matter if he calls them to be a doctor, a lawyer, or a missionary.