Excuse #1 - Local needs: “Why go far away when so much needs done here?”

Do you ever hear people say this? I wonder if we’ll hear it more as we work through the implications of the current global economic situation.

Here’s how I’d respond.

Are there needs in your community? Are there hurting, poor, lost people in your neighborhood? Certainly. Even in you live in the buckle of the Bible belt, you live among lost and lonely people. Is that a good reason to spend our resources only in our neighborhood and cities, and not direct efforts and funds to people living far away from us?

It simply is not. Jesus said in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” I don’t think this verse can be made to say that we’re to be witnesses in this order, and even less, “Do not proceed to Judea and Samaria until all witnessing has been done in Jerusalem.” God uses all of his people all over the place all the time.

Some of us need to work within a stone’s throw of our homes because Jesus is there at work. Some of us need to go where none of us have gone before, because Jesus is there as well.

HOW DOES THIS SOUND TO YOU?

Excuse #2 - Limited resources: “We can’t afford it.”

This is more than a financial issue.  As a parent, one might conclude, “I can’t afford to give my son or daughter!” WE can’t afford the mileage that will exist between me and my grand kids.

This excuse simply does not hold water.  Why?  Well consider Abraham…he was willing to give his son out of obedience and God bankrupted heaven by giving His son.  ARE WE BETTER THAN ABRAHAM AND GOD HIMSELF?

Excuse #3 - It’s no use: “The world’s dying anyway, so why bother?”

God has promised that he’ll be followed by some from every people on the planet. He told Abraham this in Genesis 12 and he showed it to John in Revelation 7:9. From beginning to end we see the relentless work of the Father to gather his wayward kids back home.

Rounding out the top ten…Here are seven more “POPULAR” reasons or excuses I’ve heard for why people won’t get more involved in missions. Some I think are valid, some not!

4. I’m afraid of people who are different from me. (WHAT IS FAITH FOR WITHOUT RISK?)
5. I only feel safe in good old MOM AND POP, USA (or wherever).
6. I’m already up to my ears in mission activity.
7. God has not called me to be involved. (WE OFTEN MISINTERPRET THE CALL, BE CAREFUL)
8. Aren’t we all really missionaries in our neighborhoods, workplaces, and schools?
9. Isn’t everything the church does really missions?
10. I really have no idea what God is trying to do or how I might fit into it. (GOOD I AM GLAD YOU ARE HONEST)