Why Support CBF Global Missions?
In the next few weeks you're going to be hearing about CBF Global Missions. We have a church goal of raising $15,000. Why should you care? Why should you give?
In a world where there are hungry and thirsty children, areas where even fresh water is a rarity, we should turn that question on its head. How could we not care? In a world where CBF missionaries are drilling water wells to help thirsty children in sub-Saharan Africa, why should I buy that shirt, that golf club, that expensive meal… ?
Now I know that this is a dangerous road to go down. From one vantage point almost everything we have is a luxury and ought to be sold and the money given to the poor. But of course we don’t help the poor by being poor ourselves. I don’t think Jesus’ prescription for the rich young ruler is medicine which we should all take. And I do think that our participation in the economy is part of the solution, not the problem. However, I also think that sacrificial giving IS medicine we MUST all take. It is also part of the solution.
Maybe the best way to address this question is not to give you a theological answer, but a personal one. I give to support CBF missions because I think three things are true: 1) the need is there; 2) CBF has formed a great effort to help meet the need; 3) my resources are needed.
The need is obvious. People need to know about the love of God – but they need more than a tract dropped from the sky. They need to encounter the love of God in the hands and eyes of those called to minister. They need to understand that becoming a follower of Christ is not about a shift in ideology, but a change of heart. The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has formed a “mission-sending” organization around “holistic missions:” seeking to reach the whole person by wholly following the whole teachings of Jesus. Their mission principles are sound, and seek to present the gospel in ways that don’t smack of western imperialism and the “we American’s know best” mentality.
The really sad part, from my view, is that currently there are more missionaries willing to go, than there is money to send them. It’s great to know there are people ready and willing to go – but it’s sad to think that we “at home” think too much of our lifestyles to send them.
So, please think, pray, and give accordingly.
In a world where there are hungry and thirsty children, areas where even fresh water is a rarity, we should turn that question on its head. How could we not care? In a world where CBF missionaries are drilling water wells to help thirsty children in sub-Saharan Africa, why should I buy that shirt, that golf club, that expensive meal… ?
Now I know that this is a dangerous road to go down. From one vantage point almost everything we have is a luxury and ought to be sold and the money given to the poor. But of course we don’t help the poor by being poor ourselves. I don’t think Jesus’ prescription for the rich young ruler is medicine which we should all take. And I do think that our participation in the economy is part of the solution, not the problem. However, I also think that sacrificial giving IS medicine we MUST all take. It is also part of the solution.
Maybe the best way to address this question is not to give you a theological answer, but a personal one. I give to support CBF missions because I think three things are true: 1) the need is there; 2) CBF has formed a great effort to help meet the need; 3) my resources are needed.
The need is obvious. People need to know about the love of God – but they need more than a tract dropped from the sky. They need to encounter the love of God in the hands and eyes of those called to minister. They need to understand that becoming a follower of Christ is not about a shift in ideology, but a change of heart. The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has formed a “mission-sending” organization around “holistic missions:” seeking to reach the whole person by wholly following the whole teachings of Jesus. Their mission principles are sound, and seek to present the gospel in ways that don’t smack of western imperialism and the “we American’s know best” mentality.
The really sad part, from my view, is that currently there are more missionaries willing to go, than there is money to send them. It’s great to know there are people ready and willing to go – but it’s sad to think that we “at home” think too much of our lifestyles to send them.
So, please think, pray, and give accordingly.