Committed For A Purpose

I know that some find it hard to believe that by nature I am not confrontational.  

Let me carry that just a little farther: I don’t feel that it is my duty to police the world as some kind of moral cop. Naturally, I feel obligated as a Christian living in a democracy to vote and lobby for change when necessary; however, when things don’t come out like I would like, my final recourse is always prayer.

Our weapons as soldiers of the Cross are not carnal, but spiritual according to Scripture. So, in so far as I am concerned that takes us off the hook as far as civil disobedience is concerned. Sorry it that offends some of my more fervent brothers and sisters in Christ.

Naturally, I am well aware of the fact that, as Paul put it:

The world is unprincipled. It's dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn't fight fair. But we don't live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren't for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity. (2 Corinthians 10:3-6 MSG)

Consequently, our method and mission is therefore clear, in my opinion. Our methods are spiritual, and our mission is missions. We must confront corrupt culture, whether here or abroad, and with God’s empowering grace build up lives into an obedient maturity in Christ.

That may sound like a convoluted way to go about it, but it is God’s way.

The world must hear the Good News, before we can expect them to obey it! But, as Paul so aptly asks us, 

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”  (Romans 10:14 NIV)

Well, the truth is that we can not expect someone to believe until they have heard. Obedience is, and always will be, the key to success in the work of the Kingdom. And, obedience means going, or when necessary sending! 

Take Alfred and Elizabeth Cawston, my mother-and-father-in law, for instance. The Cawstons left Canada for India in the mid-30^ties just before the Second World War and Indian independence.  Naturally, they were caught in the middle of conflicting cultures and political ideologies. Yet, true to their calling and mission, they presented Christ as the only answer to the problems that plagued our planet by starting a small church above a dance hall in downtown Calcutta called the House of Prayer which eventually amalgamated with another small congregation to form what eventually became The Buntain Memorial Church in Calcutta.   

The Cawstons then moved to Ceylon to jump start the Assemblies of God Bible school that had been closed, where I now teach each year. Following that, against much opposition, both from some of the missionaries and the government of India, they opened a small Bible school which they called The Southern Asia Bible College in their home which now offers degrees through the doctorate; and on and on the work goes—to the Philippines (and a church of 10,000) then back to Iran to minister to a handful and then on to Bibles schools in Holland and Belgium. Eventually in their 80^ties they had to call it quits. A day I well remember.  

On that day, after having struggled for a full week to prepare for yet another trip to Sri Lanka, with the luggage packed and shut, ready to go, Pop sat down in his lounge chair and said, “Elizabeth, I just don’t have the energy. I’ll never make it.” He then made one of the hardest phone calls he had ever made. He called Jerry Parsley, the Area Director, and said, “Brother Parsley, I am afraid I am going to have to cancel this and any future trips overseas. I just don’t have the strength to travel like that anymore.” 

Today, only eternity will reveal what that one couple did to change the world that they touched into a better world, and those with whom they came in contact with into better people. And, they did it all with the word of truth with the prayers and financial help of people just like you. 

So, we must not falter. Although Bonnie and I are well past retirement age, we, too, must keep pressing on. Why? Because, we, as well as you, have a mission to accomplish, and it is not over yet. The Great Commission has not expired; nor, thank God, have we! 

Thanks for your prayers and financial help.