Missions and Social Justice

Sort of a strange state in some segments of the American church is that you can chose a church which believes in missions or you can join a church which believes in social justice and helping the poor.

I cannot figure out the dichotomy since both are in scripture. I suspect it may be a elder level issue of fear of how to use church funds (i.e. we might not have funds for two many things so what is our priority).

I wonder if the church must really make the either/or if it is a financial issue. I suspect many churches making the either/or decision for lack of funds are simply encouraging church members to support the poor or missions elsewhere.

It is not that their membership does not have these concerns it is just that their membership now needs to find a place to give outside of a church to be in accord with will of God.

Sometimes with faith we find that when we live the will of God the perceived lack is discovered to only have been perceived and did not exist but for our lack of faith.

Missions

“You have three possibilities in relation to missions. You can be a goer, you can be a sender, or you can be disobedient.” – John Piper

Jesus asks the church to go out and make disciples of every tribe and nation. If we think we can opt-out of the great commission we are being disobedient.

If we seriously take the bibles teachings on heaven and hell seriously how can we not feel compassion enough to either be a goer or sender for missions?

A lot of people act casually about the Gospel as if God does not have a will that it be spread. Or they assume it is somehow their churches job only to spread the gospel as if they are not part of the process.

We all have opportunities around us. If we are looking. Of course we will only look for opportunities if we wish to be faithful to God.

Often people see no opportunities, but the reality is they have closed themselves off the the will of God. God has opportunities for those who wish to live by faith.