Steve Richardson, the president of Pioneers-USA, a mission organization that mobilizes missionaries to serve unreached people groups across the globe, published a book in 2022 called, Is the Commission Still Great: 8 Myths about Missions & What They Mean for the Church. In it, Mr. Richardson offers compelling insight into Jesus’ command to go and make disciples of all nations. Because the book aligns closely with First Church’s mission philosophy, our Director of Missions, the Mission Leadership Team and a few of the pastors have read and engaged in conversations regarding it.
Richards suggests that as the Western world has drifted from the moorings of a Christian worldview and values, many churches have placed signs at their property lines reading, “You are now entering the mission field.” While the spirit of the sign is right—that Christians are called to share the gospel with neighbors who may not be Christians—generalization of the term “mission” has unintended, secondary consequences. This book seeks to clarify the language by differentiating evangelism, discipleship, and mission. He states, “Evangelism is sharing the gospel with the people around us. Discipleship is bringing new believers to maturity. A mission is an intentional process of crossing cultural, linguistic, and (often) geographic barriers to carry out these activities.”
These definitions remind us that God’s heart beats for the proclamation of the gospel in our neighborhoods (evangelism) and with the global community (missions). By reserving the term “mission” for intentionally cross-cultural evangelism and discipleship, the full scope of God’s vision for the world comes into full view and churches avoid the frequent problem of becoming inwardly focused. Richardson also observes that this definition raises objections by Western Christians, such as, “Can’t technology bridge the gap cheaper than sending people?” or “Wouldn’t local Christian leaders be better at reaching their own culture?” Richardson masterfully helps the reader avoid the binary trap of either/or thinking to adopt a balanced viewpoint of mission and the local church’s involvement in it.
If you have a passion for missions, would like to grow in your understanding of Christ’s Great Commission, or if the “missional church” language has confused your perspective regarding God’s desire for the evangelization of the world, Richardson’s book is a winsome and readable book for you.
by Pastor Brad Rogers
