Blog posting from 25 Oct 2015
Yes this is a blog with no pictures!! Next time I promise lots of pictures :)
Almost a year has passed since leaving
the familiar life of a big medical institution after nearly 20 years as an
infectious diseases physician, the last part of which was physician
administration and recruiting. This exceeded my wildest dreams as a young man
growing up in a small mountain town in Idaho. Now at my 73 birthday, Peggy and
I are in much greater awe at the privilege God has given us in serving Him in
Tanzania, East Africa. We have good health, can still put in a good day’s work,
live in stunning wonder at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro and are partners in
running a 50-acre village caring for orphans, running Christian based schools
and education programs for adults. Peggy is assuming responsibility for
financial tracking and supervising the training of mothers who care for our
orphans. I am for the time being responsible for running a training program for
Christian teachers, doing part time teaching in the nearby medical school with
about a thousand students and developing Bible studies among students we are
hoping will become true disciples of Jesus Christ.
At this year mark, it is time to recap what God has taught us in this time of transition. We were back in the States for a brief time with the chief purpose of attending a STEER conference. This is an organization of ranchers, farmers and donors who through an ingenious system have managed to send out this year $ 2.3 million to support missionaries. They do this by accepting donors to buy impregnated cows which are placed in a herd of cattle owned by committed farmers or ranchers. The yearly offspring of the cow is sold for the support of missionaries. This is a gift which just keeps on giving year after year with minimal risk to the rancher since the cows are insured and the veterinary bills are covered. Administrative costs to the organization are down to 5%. Peggy was on the STEER board for 6 years before we finally decided to return to Africa.
What a joy it was to see all our old friends around Bismarck, ND; our home church gave us a special reception one evening to learn about the ministry God has given us. We are just beginning and hope that God will give us 7-10 more years before age catches up with us. Thank you Lord for all you have done for and through us in 2015.
At this year mark, it is time to recap what God has taught us in this time of transition. We were back in the States for a brief time with the chief purpose of attending a STEER conference. This is an organization of ranchers, farmers and donors who through an ingenious system have managed to send out this year $ 2.3 million to support missionaries. They do this by accepting donors to buy impregnated cows which are placed in a herd of cattle owned by committed farmers or ranchers. The yearly offspring of the cow is sold for the support of missionaries. This is a gift which just keeps on giving year after year with minimal risk to the rancher since the cows are insured and the veterinary bills are covered. Administrative costs to the organization are down to 5%. Peggy was on the STEER board for 6 years before we finally decided to return to Africa.
What a joy it was to see all our old friends around Bismarck, ND; our home church gave us a special reception one evening to learn about the ministry God has given us. We are just beginning and hope that God will give us 7-10 more years before age catches up with us. Thank you Lord for all you have done for and through us in 2015.
Our daughter Anna is now an attorney in
Washington DC and hopes to spend some time after Christmas with us.
The
remainder of this blog is meant to summarize what we have learned over the
previous year about discipleship and ministry. For many of you there will be
nothing new here which you have not heard in pieces here and there. The
significant thing for me is being able to summarize for myself and articulate
to others what is the MEANING, MOTIVES AND MOTION OF DISCIPLESHIP AND
MINISTRY. In using this mnemonic, 1. meaning, 2. motives and 3. motion, I
mean by number 3. to cover what dynamics are visible to the observer in
looking at discipleship first, then ministry. In other words, what does
discipleship and ministry look like when they are truly at work in the
world. Teaching students and observing colleagues has been the impetus for
this summary; perhaps the reason why I have not said much about this until now
is we have not been in a situation where there are so many opportunities to do
good things and possibly miss the best things. I am sure that another
contributing factor is something with which we all wrestle---the daily
distraction of our commitments at home and at work.
DO NOT
PROCEED FURTHER IN READING THIS BLOG UNLESS YOU ARE PREPARED TO READ AND
REFLECT ON THE TEXT, IT WILL BE TOO BORING! The
newsy part of the blog is concluded.
As Jesus approached Jerusalem for his last Passover there were people who were going along with him and the disciples in increasing numbers. This was no doubt stimulated by his increasing fame, based on the miracles which he performed like the healing of the ten lepers and making the blind men see, on the outskirts of Jericho. The expectation of what would happen in Jerusalem was clearly laid before the disciples, even though they understood Jesus' words poorly, "Behold, we going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up" (Matt 20:18,19). But somewhere along that way he turned and addressed the crowds which were following. He mentioned five criteria which were necessary to become his disciple (Luke 14: 25-33) which sweeps away any other kind of discipleship then, during the intervening time or now. Anyone who is thinking of following Jesus has to be astounded by the plain severity of what it meant to follow him.
1. Anyone intending to follow him must "hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes and even his own life". In most Bibles having even scant notes there is usually a footnote marked just before the word "hate" explaining that this is a figure of speech indicating that our love for the Master must be so great that all other loves BY COMPARISON ARE HATRED. Matthew in his gospel substantiates this by quoting the Lord in a slightly different way, "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more the Me is not worthy of Me" ( Matt 10:37). This particular category of loves includes the most common reasons given by Christians for not personally taking seriously the Great Commission stated at the end of Matthew's gospel. Jesus is very clear that it is not possible to become His disciple without this uncompromising love for Him. And this does include holding on to our own life also as if to keep a portion reserved for ourselves. Not keeping this in mind was the first great criticism He had against the early church when He addressed the church in Ephesus through the Revelation given to John on the island of Patmos, "you have left your first love" (Rev 2:4). It is the source of nearly all the troubles we see in the modern church.
2. Next comes something just as sweeping in the Luke passage. "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be my disciple". Most of us think this means we must be willing to suffer pain and privation for our Lord. Of course based on many other scriptures this is the case. But we pass over the main point in not realizing that crucifixion was an ancient method of capital punishment perfected by the Romans to inflict the very maximum of shame, lingering pain and suffering that one could imagine. Sometimes death did not happen for three days, birds would begin to pick at the dying body including the eyes and, to make sure the locals got the message it was done publicly, usually just outside the main gate of the city or in a very conspicuous place. But on the way to the crucifixion site the condemned was forced to carry his own crossbeam and in the case of Jesus there were probably thousands of onlookers along the way. The point here was the final power of Rome and the public display of it. As Rome declared once again its supreme power in life and death so those who follow Jesus must declare his absolute power over the individual in all matter of life and death. It too must be publicly displayed as his followers "come after Me". Someone has said that the entry fee into heaven is nothing, but the maintenance fee is everything.
3. Verse 28 of Luke 14:25-33 involves counting the cost and calculation. It points to careful planning in order to execute what our Lord commands so that we will be able to finish well. It reminds us that in Scripture we do not find the concept of retirement, a much beloved theme of the American dream. Paul continuously challenges us to finish well as he did, not doubt obtaining from his Master the great words, “well done, good and faithful servant”.
4. After the parable of the tower comes another one about a king who is soon to face an army twice as large as his own (vv. 31,32). Can he possibly win? If not he may need to sue for peace with the prospect of sacrifice; either if he goes to battle and wins, or has to humble himself by asking for peace. If he goes to battle and loses, everything is gone. In any case, the idea of sacrifice is put forth. Those who follow Jesus must be prepared for making decisions which involve big sacrifices.
5. Lastly in considering the meaning of discipleship Jesus makes it clear that no one can be His disciple without giving up all his own possessions (v. 33). This means placing them under His lordship. We are bound to use them for the benefit and advancement of His kingdom. There will be a day of reckoning when the question will not be salvation but the use of what we had committed to us while still in the body (2 Cor 5:10). We learn in another place that what is obvious in the way of deeds will be judged as well as motives because in the process of leaving everything behind for Christ, there are many who appear first and will be last as well as vice versa (Matt 19:28-30). Of course this does not mean that in discipleship there can be no rich Christians; but to whom much is given, much shall the Master require. These five principles are at least the MEANING OF DISCIPLESHIP.
The MOTIVE FOR DISCIPLESHIP is the realization of the incredible sacrifice Christ has made for us mentioned by Paul in Phil 2:5-8. We are instructed to "have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus". What was that attitude? It was willingness on His part to give up everything out of love to the Father in the great plan to bring forth a new race of men who have God's laws written on their hearts (Jer 31:31-34).
What is the MOTION (OR DYNAMISM) OF DISCIPLESHIP? This is mentioned in Jn 15 which teaches us about bearing fruit. The chapter goes on to mention bearing more fruit and then bearing much fruit. Jesus promises that as this process is made complete in us we may, "ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you" (v. 7). True discipleship is synonymous with bearing fruit-it is the Father's will. Here we find three relationships at least, which reveal the character of discipleship. What do people see in the lives of those who go on as His disciples?
1. Abiding in Christ is the sine quo non of bearing fruit. Then we have first our relationship to Christ. He boldly states in v. 4 that fruit is impossible without abiding in the vine and He is the True Vine. Much has been written about this over the history of the church and I think Rick Warren in his record breaking book "The Purpose Driven Life" discusses the subject well. This relationship is maintained through constant conversation with Christ in prayer, meditating on God’s Word, obeying God in faith, choosing what God values, being honest with God and desiring friendship with God more than any other thing. We must have a daily communion with Christ and if that is occurring there certainly will be fruit as well as becoming more like Him.
2. Next, we have our relationship to each other. Christ's love will be in us if we keep His commandments just as He kept His Father's commandments and constantly remained in the Father's love (v. 10). We will love one another patterned after Christ's own love (v. 12).
3. The last relationship here is with the world. The will receive the assistance of the Helper, the Holy Spirit, to testify of what Christ has done in coming into the world and for us individually (vv. 26,27). “For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard”(Acts 4:20).
THE CHARACTER OF DISCIPLESHIP IS FRUIT FROM ABIDING IN CHRIST, LOVE, AND THE POWER TO TESTIFY.
As Jesus approached Jerusalem for his last Passover there were people who were going along with him and the disciples in increasing numbers. This was no doubt stimulated by his increasing fame, based on the miracles which he performed like the healing of the ten lepers and making the blind men see, on the outskirts of Jericho. The expectation of what would happen in Jerusalem was clearly laid before the disciples, even though they understood Jesus' words poorly, "Behold, we going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up" (Matt 20:18,19). But somewhere along that way he turned and addressed the crowds which were following. He mentioned five criteria which were necessary to become his disciple (Luke 14: 25-33) which sweeps away any other kind of discipleship then, during the intervening time or now. Anyone who is thinking of following Jesus has to be astounded by the plain severity of what it meant to follow him.
1. Anyone intending to follow him must "hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes and even his own life". In most Bibles having even scant notes there is usually a footnote marked just before the word "hate" explaining that this is a figure of speech indicating that our love for the Master must be so great that all other loves BY COMPARISON ARE HATRED. Matthew in his gospel substantiates this by quoting the Lord in a slightly different way, "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more the Me is not worthy of Me" ( Matt 10:37). This particular category of loves includes the most common reasons given by Christians for not personally taking seriously the Great Commission stated at the end of Matthew's gospel. Jesus is very clear that it is not possible to become His disciple without this uncompromising love for Him. And this does include holding on to our own life also as if to keep a portion reserved for ourselves. Not keeping this in mind was the first great criticism He had against the early church when He addressed the church in Ephesus through the Revelation given to John on the island of Patmos, "you have left your first love" (Rev 2:4). It is the source of nearly all the troubles we see in the modern church.
2. Next comes something just as sweeping in the Luke passage. "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be my disciple". Most of us think this means we must be willing to suffer pain and privation for our Lord. Of course based on many other scriptures this is the case. But we pass over the main point in not realizing that crucifixion was an ancient method of capital punishment perfected by the Romans to inflict the very maximum of shame, lingering pain and suffering that one could imagine. Sometimes death did not happen for three days, birds would begin to pick at the dying body including the eyes and, to make sure the locals got the message it was done publicly, usually just outside the main gate of the city or in a very conspicuous place. But on the way to the crucifixion site the condemned was forced to carry his own crossbeam and in the case of Jesus there were probably thousands of onlookers along the way. The point here was the final power of Rome and the public display of it. As Rome declared once again its supreme power in life and death so those who follow Jesus must declare his absolute power over the individual in all matter of life and death. It too must be publicly displayed as his followers "come after Me". Someone has said that the entry fee into heaven is nothing, but the maintenance fee is everything.
3. Verse 28 of Luke 14:25-33 involves counting the cost and calculation. It points to careful planning in order to execute what our Lord commands so that we will be able to finish well. It reminds us that in Scripture we do not find the concept of retirement, a much beloved theme of the American dream. Paul continuously challenges us to finish well as he did, not doubt obtaining from his Master the great words, “well done, good and faithful servant”.
4. After the parable of the tower comes another one about a king who is soon to face an army twice as large as his own (vv. 31,32). Can he possibly win? If not he may need to sue for peace with the prospect of sacrifice; either if he goes to battle and wins, or has to humble himself by asking for peace. If he goes to battle and loses, everything is gone. In any case, the idea of sacrifice is put forth. Those who follow Jesus must be prepared for making decisions which involve big sacrifices.
5. Lastly in considering the meaning of discipleship Jesus makes it clear that no one can be His disciple without giving up all his own possessions (v. 33). This means placing them under His lordship. We are bound to use them for the benefit and advancement of His kingdom. There will be a day of reckoning when the question will not be salvation but the use of what we had committed to us while still in the body (2 Cor 5:10). We learn in another place that what is obvious in the way of deeds will be judged as well as motives because in the process of leaving everything behind for Christ, there are many who appear first and will be last as well as vice versa (Matt 19:28-30). Of course this does not mean that in discipleship there can be no rich Christians; but to whom much is given, much shall the Master require. These five principles are at least the MEANING OF DISCIPLESHIP.
The MOTIVE FOR DISCIPLESHIP is the realization of the incredible sacrifice Christ has made for us mentioned by Paul in Phil 2:5-8. We are instructed to "have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus". What was that attitude? It was willingness on His part to give up everything out of love to the Father in the great plan to bring forth a new race of men who have God's laws written on their hearts (Jer 31:31-34).
What is the MOTION (OR DYNAMISM) OF DISCIPLESHIP? This is mentioned in Jn 15 which teaches us about bearing fruit. The chapter goes on to mention bearing more fruit and then bearing much fruit. Jesus promises that as this process is made complete in us we may, "ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you" (v. 7). True discipleship is synonymous with bearing fruit-it is the Father's will. Here we find three relationships at least, which reveal the character of discipleship. What do people see in the lives of those who go on as His disciples?
1. Abiding in Christ is the sine quo non of bearing fruit. Then we have first our relationship to Christ. He boldly states in v. 4 that fruit is impossible without abiding in the vine and He is the True Vine. Much has been written about this over the history of the church and I think Rick Warren in his record breaking book "The Purpose Driven Life" discusses the subject well. This relationship is maintained through constant conversation with Christ in prayer, meditating on God’s Word, obeying God in faith, choosing what God values, being honest with God and desiring friendship with God more than any other thing. We must have a daily communion with Christ and if that is occurring there certainly will be fruit as well as becoming more like Him.
2. Next, we have our relationship to each other. Christ's love will be in us if we keep His commandments just as He kept His Father's commandments and constantly remained in the Father's love (v. 10). We will love one another patterned after Christ's own love (v. 12).
3. The last relationship here is with the world. The will receive the assistance of the Helper, the Holy Spirit, to testify of what Christ has done in coming into the world and for us individually (vv. 26,27). “For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard”(Acts 4:20).
THE CHARACTER OF DISCIPLESHIP IS FRUIT FROM ABIDING IN CHRIST, LOVE, AND THE POWER TO TESTIFY.
We
are called to be disciples in order to bear fruit in ministry. Let us consider
the MEANING, MOTIVES AND MOTION OF MINISTRY. The MEANING of ministry is clearly
set forth among other places in Romans chapter 12 and starts with the
realization of God's incredible mercies shown to us in Jesus Christ. What can
we give in return? Paul urges us to give our bodies as living and holy
sacrifices in a spiritual service of worship. It is only in that state that we
will be able while on earth to experience what the full will of God is for our
lives, which he describes as "that which is good and acceptable and
perfect" (v. 1, 2). In experiencing this we need to come to the
realization that just as in our own bodies the various members have different
functions so in the body of Christ (His real church made up of all those who
are truly redeemed) each of us have different functions. God has graciously
given us different gifts so that each one of us contributes to the building up
of the body of Christ. We are responsible to identify our gifts and use them
for the wellbeing of the rest of the church both locally and generally. But we
are to have sound judgment about our gifts and how to use them (no self-deception
or misplaced importance, just humble service). There are many gifts and their
uses discussed by Paul in other place in the New Testament.
There are at least four MOTIVES for ministry which starts with the concept of bond service. This is willing slavery or servanthood and is based on a ceremony prescribed in Exodus 21 whereby a Hebrew slave in the 7th year could decide that he wished to remain in his master's household enjoying the benefits there instead of going free. He was taken to the doorpost of his master's house and an awl was passed through his ear lobe. Without withdrawing the awl back through the earlobe, the servant was pinned to the doorpost by his ear indicating perpetual willing servanthood. This is the kind of servanthood Jesus demanded of his disciples, not measured halfhearted service. Many of the New Testament writers called themselves bondservants after this pattern. It is a term foreign to us and met with blank stares when used because slavery in most civilized societies is against the law. But there is one type of service on this earth where it is plainly expected based on the ultimate meaning of Christ's service to the Father for us. This is why He said, "if you love me keep my commandments". Bondservants not only keep the commandments of their master, they look for every occasion to intuit their master's will to please him out of gratitude. Paul talks about this in 2 Corinthians when he points out that to be in Christ is like becoming a new person. This is based on what God promised to do for each of us when the New Covenant was initiated (Jer 31). This spiritual renewal is produced by the Holy Spirit and without it, no one may enter the kingdom of God (Jn 3). The motives produced by this renewal are fourfold:
1. CONFIDENCE. Paul again helps us understand in a few words what the Law, the Prophets and the Gospels have taught all along. Christ has been made sin for us "so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor 5:21). We are fully accepted by the Father and have received the Spirit of adoption by which we cry Abba Father. We are invited to ask whatever we will as we abide in Christ. This provides us with an unshakeable confidence and Paul even tells us that God makes all things work together for our good with nothing able to separate us from the love of God (Rom 8). God makes even the bad and difficult things for us to turn out for our good and His glory.
2. CONCERN. Since we have this wonderful intimate relationship with Christ, our great concern even while being absent in the body from heaven, is to be pleasing to Him in all things (2 Cor 5:9). It is the chief concern of a bondservant-to serve and make happy his master. It is stated in different ways by Paul. "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father" (Col 3:17).
3. CONSTRAINT. Christ's love constrains us to speak and act worthy of Him (2 Cor 5:14) starting with keeping His commandments. It compels us to have His word abiding in our hearts. The Holy Spirit glorifies Christ to us in the inner man, a completely unknown process to those who are not indwelt by the Spirit. This is the mechanism by which God puts His law within us and writes it on our hearts. He, the Spirit takes the things of Christ and discloses it to us. It is the means by which an individual can gladly meet the requirements to become and remain a true disciple of Christ. Then "from his innermost being will flow rivers of living waters" (Jn 7:38)
4. COMMISSION. These motives culminate in taking personal responsibility for participating in the great commission of making disciples of all the nations (Matt 28:18-20). We realize that we are Christ's ambassadors to the world around us starting right where we are and being willing to go to and do anything He may ask of us because He has promised to be with us even to the very end of this age. Paul terms us as ambassadors for Christ in appealing to the Corinthians (2 Cor 5:20).
Lastly, what is the MOTION (DYNAMISM) of our ministry for Christ? We may ask, to use a metaphor, what flavors does our ministry have in the world and among believers? Paul followed a principle in his ministry which we do well to emulate. This is set before us in 2 Cor 6 with the statement, "giving no cause for offense in anything, in order that the ministry be not discredited but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God". He follows this principle with 27 examples of what he is talking about (2 Cor 6:4-10). They are easier to remember if divided into 3 parts with 9 examples in each part.
1. Extreme suffering (endurance), vv. 4-6
1.1 in affliction-pain suffering or distress imposed by illness, loss or misfortune
1.2 in hardships-that which is difficult to bear
1.3 in distresses-mental or physical strain caused by worry, hard circumstances or
dread of a dark future
1.4 in beatings
1.5 in imprisonment
1.6 in tumults-the terror and uncertainty of being carried forward in a riot
1.7 in labors-Paul often supported himself by making tents and knew hard labor
1.8 in sleeplessness-watching behind his back, hidden and participating in secret
plans to escape in the night
1.9 in hunger-on his frequent journeys with their accompanying dangers (2 Cor 11:26)
2. Extensive graces, vv. 6,7
2.1 in purity-chaste (no unlawful sexual activity) and decent
2.2 in knowledge-some of this was super human as when he stated what he heard
when caught up into the third heaven, "hearing inexpressible words, which a man is
not permitted to speak"
2.3 in patience-"patient when wronged" (2 Tim 2:24)
2.4 in kindness-"and the Lord's bondservant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind
to all, able to teach"
2.5 in the Holy Spirit-Paul prayed for an abundant supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ
which is mediated through the power of the Holy Spirit
2.6 in genuine love-see Paul's great comments of love in 1 Cor 13
2.7 in the word of truth-we must be careful to handle the Word of God "accurately"
which can only be done in letting the Holy Spirit teach us as we see how Scripture
interprets Scripture (2 Tim 2:15)
2.8 in the power of God-Jesus reminded His disciples in John 15 that "apart from Me
you can do nothing"
2.9 by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left-there is further
instruction about this in the end of Ephesians 6
3. Extraordinary paradoxes, vv.8-10
3.1 by glory and dishonor-the Holy Spirit ministers to us to act for, to experience and see
glory of God in others but the world regards us as misguided fanatics
3.2 by evil report and good report- some see us as a great hazard to society, Stalin and
Mao condemned Christians to death or labor camps to decontaminate society.
occasionally Christians are recognized widely for good works such as Mother Theresa
winning the Nobel prize or Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade, being awarded
the Templeton prize
3.3 regarded as deceivers and yet true-the Jews regarded Paul as their arch enemy
because of his deception of synagogue members and his effectiveness in winning
God fearing Gentiles to Christ
3.4 as unknown but well known-Queen Victoria once said she was thankful for the "not
many" rather than not any of the wise, mighty or noble as being chosen of God
(1 Cor 1:26) as she considered herself a serious believer known of God
3.5 as dying yet behold we live-see the comments about John Paton the great
missionary to the Vanuatu (formerly known as the New Hebrides Islands) cannibals in the
closing part of this communication
3.6 as punished yet not put to death-many of God's saints have pointed out that we
are immortal until God decides otherwise and our work is done
3.7 as sorrowful but always rejoicing-we grieve and pray for the Christians who are
suffering the terrible persecutions of Moslem terrorists in the Middle East now but
rejoice in how God's kingdom is remarkably growing in other parts of the world
(I would commend Bill Bright's biography "Amazing Faith" for documentation of some
of the statistics)
3.8 as poor making many rich-we must be willing to accept possible poverty to realize the
incredible privilege of being used of God to reach others with Christ's love.
3.9 as having nothing but possessing all things- the great change is coming in this world
with Christ's return then many who are first will be last and the last first when it will be
manifested who sought the true riches.
There are at least four MOTIVES for ministry which starts with the concept of bond service. This is willing slavery or servanthood and is based on a ceremony prescribed in Exodus 21 whereby a Hebrew slave in the 7th year could decide that he wished to remain in his master's household enjoying the benefits there instead of going free. He was taken to the doorpost of his master's house and an awl was passed through his ear lobe. Without withdrawing the awl back through the earlobe, the servant was pinned to the doorpost by his ear indicating perpetual willing servanthood. This is the kind of servanthood Jesus demanded of his disciples, not measured halfhearted service. Many of the New Testament writers called themselves bondservants after this pattern. It is a term foreign to us and met with blank stares when used because slavery in most civilized societies is against the law. But there is one type of service on this earth where it is plainly expected based on the ultimate meaning of Christ's service to the Father for us. This is why He said, "if you love me keep my commandments". Bondservants not only keep the commandments of their master, they look for every occasion to intuit their master's will to please him out of gratitude. Paul talks about this in 2 Corinthians when he points out that to be in Christ is like becoming a new person. This is based on what God promised to do for each of us when the New Covenant was initiated (Jer 31). This spiritual renewal is produced by the Holy Spirit and without it, no one may enter the kingdom of God (Jn 3). The motives produced by this renewal are fourfold:
1. CONFIDENCE. Paul again helps us understand in a few words what the Law, the Prophets and the Gospels have taught all along. Christ has been made sin for us "so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor 5:21). We are fully accepted by the Father and have received the Spirit of adoption by which we cry Abba Father. We are invited to ask whatever we will as we abide in Christ. This provides us with an unshakeable confidence and Paul even tells us that God makes all things work together for our good with nothing able to separate us from the love of God (Rom 8). God makes even the bad and difficult things for us to turn out for our good and His glory.
2. CONCERN. Since we have this wonderful intimate relationship with Christ, our great concern even while being absent in the body from heaven, is to be pleasing to Him in all things (2 Cor 5:9). It is the chief concern of a bondservant-to serve and make happy his master. It is stated in different ways by Paul. "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father" (Col 3:17).
3. CONSTRAINT. Christ's love constrains us to speak and act worthy of Him (2 Cor 5:14) starting with keeping His commandments. It compels us to have His word abiding in our hearts. The Holy Spirit glorifies Christ to us in the inner man, a completely unknown process to those who are not indwelt by the Spirit. This is the mechanism by which God puts His law within us and writes it on our hearts. He, the Spirit takes the things of Christ and discloses it to us. It is the means by which an individual can gladly meet the requirements to become and remain a true disciple of Christ. Then "from his innermost being will flow rivers of living waters" (Jn 7:38)
4. COMMISSION. These motives culminate in taking personal responsibility for participating in the great commission of making disciples of all the nations (Matt 28:18-20). We realize that we are Christ's ambassadors to the world around us starting right where we are and being willing to go to and do anything He may ask of us because He has promised to be with us even to the very end of this age. Paul terms us as ambassadors for Christ in appealing to the Corinthians (2 Cor 5:20).
Lastly, what is the MOTION (DYNAMISM) of our ministry for Christ? We may ask, to use a metaphor, what flavors does our ministry have in the world and among believers? Paul followed a principle in his ministry which we do well to emulate. This is set before us in 2 Cor 6 with the statement, "giving no cause for offense in anything, in order that the ministry be not discredited but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God". He follows this principle with 27 examples of what he is talking about (2 Cor 6:4-10). They are easier to remember if divided into 3 parts with 9 examples in each part.
1. Extreme suffering (endurance), vv. 4-6
1.1 in affliction-pain suffering or distress imposed by illness, loss or misfortune
1.2 in hardships-that which is difficult to bear
1.3 in distresses-mental or physical strain caused by worry, hard circumstances or
dread of a dark future
1.4 in beatings
1.5 in imprisonment
1.6 in tumults-the terror and uncertainty of being carried forward in a riot
1.7 in labors-Paul often supported himself by making tents and knew hard labor
1.8 in sleeplessness-watching behind his back, hidden and participating in secret
plans to escape in the night
1.9 in hunger-on his frequent journeys with their accompanying dangers (2 Cor 11:26)
2. Extensive graces, vv. 6,7
2.1 in purity-chaste (no unlawful sexual activity) and decent
2.2 in knowledge-some of this was super human as when he stated what he heard
when caught up into the third heaven, "hearing inexpressible words, which a man is
not permitted to speak"
2.3 in patience-"patient when wronged" (2 Tim 2:24)
2.4 in kindness-"and the Lord's bondservant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind
to all, able to teach"
2.5 in the Holy Spirit-Paul prayed for an abundant supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ
which is mediated through the power of the Holy Spirit
2.6 in genuine love-see Paul's great comments of love in 1 Cor 13
2.7 in the word of truth-we must be careful to handle the Word of God "accurately"
which can only be done in letting the Holy Spirit teach us as we see how Scripture
interprets Scripture (2 Tim 2:15)
2.8 in the power of God-Jesus reminded His disciples in John 15 that "apart from Me
you can do nothing"
2.9 by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left-there is further
instruction about this in the end of Ephesians 6
3. Extraordinary paradoxes, vv.8-10
3.1 by glory and dishonor-the Holy Spirit ministers to us to act for, to experience and see
glory of God in others but the world regards us as misguided fanatics
3.2 by evil report and good report- some see us as a great hazard to society, Stalin and
Mao condemned Christians to death or labor camps to decontaminate society.
occasionally Christians are recognized widely for good works such as Mother Theresa
winning the Nobel prize or Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade, being awarded
the Templeton prize
3.3 regarded as deceivers and yet true-the Jews regarded Paul as their arch enemy
because of his deception of synagogue members and his effectiveness in winning
God fearing Gentiles to Christ
3.4 as unknown but well known-Queen Victoria once said she was thankful for the "not
many" rather than not any of the wise, mighty or noble as being chosen of God
(1 Cor 1:26) as she considered herself a serious believer known of God
3.5 as dying yet behold we live-see the comments about John Paton the great
missionary to the Vanuatu (formerly known as the New Hebrides Islands) cannibals in the
closing part of this communication
3.6 as punished yet not put to death-many of God's saints have pointed out that we
are immortal until God decides otherwise and our work is done
3.7 as sorrowful but always rejoicing-we grieve and pray for the Christians who are
suffering the terrible persecutions of Moslem terrorists in the Middle East now but
rejoice in how God's kingdom is remarkably growing in other parts of the world
(I would commend Bill Bright's biography "Amazing Faith" for documentation of some
of the statistics)
3.8 as poor making many rich-we must be willing to accept possible poverty to realize the
incredible privilege of being used of God to reach others with Christ's love.
3.9 as having nothing but possessing all things- the great change is coming in this world
with Christ's return then many who are first will be last and the last first when it will be
manifested who sought the true riches.
In my private meditations on all these things I have asked myself, "Are you ready for this kind of life"? I don't even know anybody who is an example of living this kind of life! I am not even aware of anyone in church history who measures up to this kind of challenge except Paul and I never dreamed that there was a missionary in modern times who was like him. Over the three weeks between instruction terms at our Rafiki Village I have read a book which has been on my book shelf for nearly ten years with an occasional dusting. It is called "MISSIONARY PATRIARCH The True Story of John G. Paton". He lived from 1824 to 1907 and labored in circumstances which repeat and magnify most of the ministry experiences of Paul except the Lord allowed him to die a natural death, being on the knife edge of death repeatedly among the cannibals of the New Hebrides Islands, modern Vanuatu. If any of you have been able to plow through this, the longest of any blog entry I have ever done, your reward is in front of you! Get this book, you will never be sorry that you read it. I have been able to articulate even though I don't know how I will ever be able to live up to discipleship and ministry, their MEANING, MOTIVES AND MOTION. I hope and pray that you will be just as challenged as I have been. Know that these things will be before Peggy and me as we start our second and better year in God's work at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
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