"If you take missions out of the Bible, you won't have anything left but the covers" – Nina Gunter.
"The Bible is not the basis of missions; missions is the basis of the Bible" – Ralph Winter, U.S. Center for World Mission
If you were asked what is the one single theme that runs from the very beginning of the Bible to the end, what would be your answer? What is it that the Bible is all about?
The two quotes above may seem a bit radical. Most Christians would probably say there is much more to Scripture than just missions. But take a closer look.
Biblical scholars will tell you that the entire Bible, from the creation to the end of the world, points to Jesus. In the Old Testament, the Hebrews were awaiting the coming Messiah, and many prophecies were written about Him. In the New Testament, Jesus’ ministry takes place and the subsequent growth of His church. So to find what the Bible is all about, we must discover what the goal and driving passion of the Christ. What was it that made Him want to come to this corrupt, sinful earth to die at the hands of Roman soldiers? The answer is clearly given in Scripture.
Jesus’ number one goal on earth was not to heal people, show why the Pharisees were wrong, or overthrow the Roman government, like some of the people thought. Rather, He gave us the reason for His life on earth in one small phrase in Luke 19:10: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” This is what Jesus was all about, to bring humanity back to its Creator. He was the answer to the four thousand year rein of evil that started at the Fall. Take missions out of the Bible and you might as well remove Jesus as well, because that’s the only reason He came to begin with.
Later, after the Resurrection and just before Christ returned to Heaven, He gives His last command. His final words are recorded in the Gospel of Matthew 28:19-20: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Notice He’s not telling us to live nice and easy lives, just going about our business and sitting around reading the Bible all the time. Instead, Jesus said to go, win the world to God, not just in one place but all nations. The command is for Christians to spread all over the earth, bringing people to the Kingdom.
This doesn’t mean that you’re not a real Christian if you don’t go to some far-off country to be a missionary. Many are called to be witnesses right at home, or to help send the ones who do go. But regardless, we must walk in Jesus’ footprints and “seek and save the lost.” Pray for ways to impact the world with the Gospel. In every person there is the ability to change the world. It is our goal that this generation will make history and be the ones that see the Great Commission fulfilled.
-Reagan Schrock, GOA blog manager
*All Scripture quotes are taken from the English Standard Version of the Bible. Copyright, 2001.
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