Mission Update: Wednesday, December 27, 2006

It is amazing how much doing good for others can make you feel productive. So often we spend out time either working for our boss or company, or doing good for ourselves or our family. Even as a pastor, i spend more time focused on church stuff or care within the church than I do doing good, especially those that are in sincere need.

This mission trip is showing me a couple of things. First, we spend too much time in the church focuses on institutional survival verses actually doing something for Jesus. We spend more time worried about budgets and meeting and numbers and attendance, and for too little time worried about if we are making a difference for the Kingdom of God. The church does not exist merely to keep the doors open. We exist to do good for Jesus Christ and proclaim His salvation.

Second, salvation is not just about spiritual healing, but about physical. I know many folks that say they are saved, but there salvation exists only inward. If our inward salvation doesn't call us to outward action, then is there really anything inside? In doing such mission work, you actually feel, and know, you are doing something for Jesus.

Third, and last for today, but not for the week, mission work is no just on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Its everywhere. Its at work. Its in our families. Its in our neighborhoods. Its in our church. It's everywhere. Everywhere there are folks in need.

As Christians, and as the church, are we meeting those needs? Are we at least trying to? If not, then what are we doing?