On occasion I like to post on both Facebook and in this blog articles, thoughts and other writings I think pertinent and helpful to those who may be reading my postings. Below I have posted a sermon written and delivered by Pastor Rich Cloyed, senior pastor of the First Church of God in Shelby, Ohio. Pastor Cloyed recently preached this message for their Faith Promise Sunday when they sought to raise funds for the cause of missions. He makes a great distinction between those in the church who are pioneering in their attitudes and those who have the attitude of a settler. I hope you find it helpful and inspiring. Thanks, Pastor Cloyed, for your permission to post it.
Randy Spence, Director
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Pioneers!
Rev. Richard Cloyed, Pastor
First Church of God, Shelby, Ohio
This year, the missions team chose “Pioneers” as our theme for this years’ Faith Promise Convention. When I first heard the theme I thought, “I have no idea how that works for us as a team and missions in general but I do know something about pioneers”.
Julie and I grew up about a few miles from the famous Oregon and Mormon Trails in Nebraska. It is called the land of the Pioneers. After we were married, our first home was located on the actual trail where the covered wagons traveled. In western Nebraska, you can still see the ruts that were carved into the hillsides around Scottsbluff. Throughout our home area there are reminders of its rich pioneer history. There is Pioneer Village, Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer & the Great Platte River Road Archway for tourists to explore the pioneer history of the area. A stockade and sod buildings have been reconstructed at the site of Fort Kearny, an outpost of the US army to protect the pioneers as they made their way westward.
But as I researched the word pioneer I made an unexpected discovery. I found that the first American pioneers were not those of the 1840’s traveling across the prairie. The first pioneers – now these were the first to be called Pioneers by the eastern press- were those who responded to the land act of 1804, which was passed to attract people to immigrate to what had been the Northwest Territory. Primarily the area that is now Ohio. The land act of 1804 reduced the acreage sold to 320 acres and only required 25% down. So at $2 an acre, which much of it sold for, you could purchase a 320 acre farm with 4 annual payments of $160.
People from the colonies were enticed to become Pioneers and they picked up and moved from mainly the northern tier of New England and New York State to settle the untamed lands north of the Ohio River. They were the forerunners who preceded all others exploring the uncharted territories. Their ambition was to investigate every valley, climb every mountain, traverse every desert, cross every river, and face every foe as they explored the land of opportunity that lay before them. They were adventurers, ready to face danger and quite possibly even death in their quest to conquer the new frontier.
A pioneer is defined – “those who went into unexplored territory in search of new life”. After the pioneers, came the people we call settlers. When a community was established it attracted people looking for a place to establish a safe home and raise a family. When such a place was discovered the settlers pitch tents and then erected homes. Then they built towns, staked out farmlands, and began settlements. Though willing to face danger if it came their way, they had no desire to go out and place themselves in harm’s way. They had no desire to explore the next valley or climb the next peak. They were more interested in safety and security than adventure and excitement.
That’s the difference between pioneers and settlers. Pioneers are explorers, seeking to go where no one had gone before. Settlers are different. They seek safety. They avoid risking life and limb, preferring the shelter and security of the settlement to the adventurous danger of uncharted territories.
I. Pioneers Or Settlers?
It has been observed (Pastor William Nieporte) that the church in its beginning, when it comes to a new area, is established by pioneers, those who are willing to sacrifice, to venture forth and take risks. They see what needs to be accomplished and they boldly go for it. The contemporary church has rejected the opportunity to be pioneers, opting instead to be simply a settlement. The church today sees itself primarily as a fortress to which believers can retreat from the pains and disappointments of daily living. The church today sees itself as an exclusive club created for the satisfaction of the believer’s social needs. The church today sees itself as a settlement of safety amidst the dangers and difficulties of our contemporary culture. At no place is this more clearly demonstrated than in the area of church finances. Consider these startling and sobering statistics accumulated David B. Barret (World Christian Encyclopedia). Barret reports Christians count for nearly 33 percent of the world’s population, yet they earn 62 percent of the world total earning.
Of their earning, Christians spent 97 percent on themselves, 1 percent on secular charities, and gave only 2 percent toward operating the structures of Christianity. Now one would think, that of all the money the church receives each year a good portion would be going to missions, outreach efforts and to minister to the poor and needy. Barret states that the total annual income of organized Christianity is in excess of $160 billion, of which $152 billion (95 percent) was spent on ministries for the religious community. Only 5 percent was spent on some type of outreach or ministry for those outside the church. The problem seems clear. The church has become a settlement whose primary purpose is to take care of its residents rather than a community of pioneering pilgrims blazing a trail for the Kingdom of God.
The difference between the pioneer and settler mentality can also be seen in many other areas of the church life. When it comes to ministry, for example, the settler church is self-centered, focused primarily on the wants and desires of those in the church family. The ministry of the pioneer church, on the other hand, is centered on the needs of the world—on feeding the hungry, caring for orphans, clothing the naked, and sheltering the homeless. When it comes to outreach, the settler church says: “Everyone knows we are here! They can come and join us if they want to.” The pioneer church, however, goes out into the highways and byways to offer an invitation to the Kingdom. The settler church views the members of the congregation as a group of hurting people who need continual strokes of support and encouragement. Conversely the pioneer church sees the members of the congregation as a group of people who have been blessed by the knowledge of God’s grace and are therefore gifted to be a blessing to others. The settler church sees the pastor as a chaplain whose primary job is to visit members to make sure they feel good about the church. The pioneer church, on the other hand, sees the pastor as a visionary leader whose primary job is to equip the saints for ministry and evangelism.
II. The Calling To Go
When Jesus called his followers into service, did he call them to be pioneers or settlers? Did he call them to create a fortress of security for the protection of the saints, or did he call them to leave their security behind, venturing forth in a bold fashion as pioneers of God’s Kingdom? Consider the commissioning statements of Jesus found in each of the four gospel writers accounts.
In Matthew’s account Jesus says: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
In Mark, Jesus is portrayed as saying: “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.”
In Luke’s account, Jesus says that the disciples shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes and they shall “be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
In John, Jesus says, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” In other words, the disciples are to continue the pioneering ministry of their Master. Certainly each commissioning statement is different. Each one can only be fully appreciated when interpreted from within its own unique theological context. Nevertheless, there is at least one area of similarity that stands out in my mind as readily apparent. In each case Jesus indicates that his followers are being sent! Their objective is not to build a settlement. Their goal is not to build a place from which they can hide from the dangers and difficulties of the world. Their call is to be bold and courageous. There are called to go forth as pioneers for the Kingdom.
During the reign of Oliver Cromwell, there was a shortage of currency in the British Empire. Representatives carefully searched the nation in hopes of finding silver to meet the emergency. After one month, the committee returned with its report. “We have searched the Empire in vain seeking to find silver,” they said. “To our dismay, we found none anywhere except in the cathedrals where the statues of the saints are made of the finest silver.” To this, Cromwell replied, “Then let us melt down the saints and put them into circulation.”
In today’s world Christians have become settled. They have become like silver statues in sanctuaries of security and safety. The call of Christ is that we be melted down and put into circulation. Jesus calls us to be pioneers for the Kingdom.
III. How?
I’ve identified a well known problem (at least to pastors) that we face in the American church. The church has grown apathetic towards its true mission. So, the real questions that needs to be answered is –how? How are we going to, as a church, get back to being pioneers? How do we get ourselves to turn away from our self-centeredness and complacency and become motivated to make an impact in our world? If we want to answer the call to be pioneers, what does that look like, for us?
As I prayed about what the real issue that keeps churches (us included) from being pioneers it became apparent to me that it is a motivation issue. We are not motivated to be pioneers. Just as it took the land act of 1804 to motivate the people of New England to expand westward, we need to realize God has given us the land act of 2010 to motivate us to be the pioneers we are called to be. As I asked the Lord for a biblical example of lack of motivation, he led me to Jonah.
Jonah is one of the best known and most interesting stories of the Bible. There are tons of applications for Jonah. Jonah was a runaway. We can all relate with Jonah when we realize we have run away from God. I often refer to my Jonah days. Jonah was disobedient, God had told him to go preach to the Ninevites, which was 600 miles Northeast from Israel – near modern day Mosul, Iraq so Jonah gets on a boat and goes 600 miles west - as far as he can go- to Tarshish - the end of the world of his day- scholars believe Tarshish was located in what is modern day Spain. Jonah was prejudice. He had a hatred towards the Ninevites, a people group that he had no use for. God taught Jonah that we need to look beyond the religion, political view, the skin color and even the morality of a person. Maybe you can relate with that. Jonah faced a storm that blocked him from enjoying life his way. It was a storm that stopped him from fulfilling his plan for his life. Maybe you have lost a spouse or a family member or faced a life altering illness, a storm. Maybe you relate with that. Jonah was disciplined by God. The Bible tells us that He disciplines those he loves and although the discipline that Jonah received was different than you and I will probably ever receive – being swallowed by a whale (although there is a documented case of it happening again to a British whaler in 1891), it brought him to a point of repentance.
In the belly of a whale Jonah prays and God gives him a second chance – he directs this whale to vomit Jonah up near where he had set out according to historians. Jonah finally makes it to Ninevah and preaches that God was going to judge the city, which he was evidently in favor of. Jonah hated the Assyrians and wanted them judged. When the city responds in repentance and God doesn’t bring the judgement that Jonah had proclaimed, Jonah is angry. He wanted Nineveh to be blasted by God, rather than blessed, he wanted them to be paid back for their evil deeds and wicked ways. Maybe you can relate with that. Then he became so angry with God for not doing what he wanted, he became suicidal, he wanted to die. Maybe you can relate with that. God reveals to him that people, 120,000 Ninevites, are what is important to him, more than doing Jonah’s bidding and keeping Jonah happy. Maybe you can relate with that. As I said Jonah is a book we can relate with.
I think we could call the American church Jonah. Think about the similarities:
*Jonah lived at a time of external peace in Israel so most of the people became complacent toward spiritual things. I don’t think that is much of a stretch to say that America has become complacent towards spiritual things.
*Israel hoped for the destruction of other nations and longed for God’s darkness to fall on other nations. The Ninevites were warlike, vicious, people who tortured their captives, and chose to oppose any people who got in their way!
We have been hearing about the 10/40 window where the majority of the non-Christian people live on our planet. If you made a list of those countries they would read like a who’s who of the countries that have been not well liked by our country. It would include our Nineveh’s.
*The Lord gives Jonah a missionary mandate to go to Nineveh and preach to the people, but Jonah refuses. Jonah is like many Christians today who are running from their responsibility to witness, to give towards missions, to pray about the lost, and to involve themselves as missionaries. Jonah, like so many Christians, had no heart for people who are headed for destruction in hell. God warns Jonah against an intolerant attitude toward non-believers. Many Christians have an intolerant attitude for other tribes, Muslims, or any non-Christians. God shows no partiality toward anyone, neither should we. The people of Israel had become preoccupied with themselves. They failed to look at the fields of needy people in the world who were headed for hell without a Savior! Everyday, nearly 400,000 people go to a Christ-less eternity in hell! Israel, a chosen nation, blessed with many special privileges from God, refused to share their blessings and God became displeased! Jonah’s running away from God is like many lazy, indifferent, and rebellious Christians who refuse to obey God!
*While God caused a storm to get Jonah’s attention, the prophet slept, trying to ignore God’s warnings. Many people in the church today are sleeping through the storms, neglecting God’s warnings for them to obey! Many people are suffering unnecessarily because they are not listening and obeying the voice of God.
*Jonah cries out to God in repentance and God gives him another chance. I believe God is giving the church a little more time to do his will. Time was running out for Nineveh but I believe it was running out for Jonah as well. God is patient but there is a time when he will move on to someone that will be willing to be obedient. Up until about a hundred years ago, England was where the majority of missionaries were sent from. I recently read that at present rates continue as is that Korea will surpass the US as the top missionary sending nation. Could it be that God is moving on? I read that in proportionate missions giving, that is – giving compared to earning level – that the US doesn’t even make the top 20. If we are not faithful with the message we have been entrusted to take to the nations, God will find someone else. I believe the prosperity that we have experienced as a nation is directly tied to the mission that we are called to accomplish and if we are not faithful with the resources we have been entrusted with we will wake up and the resource will be gone.
*Jonah is representative of a church that has lost its motivation to reach the lost. Jonah’s preaching is effective, even when he did not anticipate it would bring success. The entire city turns away from idols to serve God. Joes out in the desert and pouts. Think about it, he could have begun follow-up with the new converts, there could have been teaching, Bible studies, and prayer meetings. Jonah wanted converts that fit his expectations of what believers were like. He refused to accept the fact that people from other cultures could worship God differently. Jonah is mad at God for extending His mercies to another people group. He believed ... that God’s mercies were only for the Jews. But God is interested in all people becoming Christians! II Pet. 3:9 says: ``He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.’’ Jonah was a missionary whose heart was not into his work, his preaching, or the people to whom he was sent. In I Thes. 2:7,8 Paul shows us an example of a missionary with a real heart for his work, preaching, and people. He says, ``. . . We were like a gentle mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us!’’
What Should Motivate us To Be Involved With Missions?
A. God’s commands (Matt. 28:19,20) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…,
B. Prayer (Matt. 9:37-38) "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
C. The needs of the lost who are headed for hell without Christ. (Rom. 10:1) Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.
D. The models of Godly missionaries (Heb. 13:7) Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
E. The teaching of the life of Christ and Paul.
F. Assurance from Christ, that all power in heaven and earth is given to us in completing His will. (Matt. 28:20) And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
G. Assurance that the fields are white for the harvest (John 4:35). There are many people who are eager to receive the gospel! Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
H. Assurance that as we seek first His kingdom (Bringing people into His kingdom), all things will be added to us! (Matt. 6:33) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Listen to this story. One man became a missionary in order to experience another culture first hand. He was motivated to be a missionary to experience the adventure of living in another culture. He looked at cross-cultural work as an adventure that permitted him to travel. He was sent to an outpost way into the bush, miles from civilization. After several months on the field he became tired of the routine of missionary life. What he thought would fun and glamorous, turned out to be work.
Wanting desperately, to return to his home, he told his supervisor that he was willing to go to the city to buy supplies for the mission. Since, the supervisor had plenty of work, he gladly gave the young man all the money he had to buy supplies for the mission station. However, when the young man did not return within several days everyone became worried. Some thought that the young man might have had an accident. Several weeks later, they learned that the young man used the money to buy an airplane ticket and returned to his home country. The money which was desperately needed to by supplies for the mission was never returned.
Now if your like me you think –how terrible, this young missionary took mission money, that was not his, and spent on himself. What a bum! But what about us? How much of God’s money, that he entrusts us with, do we spend on building our own kingdom? “But it’s my money”, you say. Is it? If you made a pie graft of your financial expenditures, how big of piece is going to accomplish the Great Commission? Last week Dr. Norm Patton reminded us of how much we as Americans spend on entertainment, recreation, transportation, even coffee and donuts. How big are the pieces of pie in those area of your life? How big is the mission’s piece?
What is a “Faith Promise?” A Faith Promise is an agreement made with God that as He prospers you in the next 12 months, you promise to give a certain amount or percentage of your income beyond your tithe toward the spread of the Gospel around the world.
Is it a pledge? No. A Faith Promise is not a pledge in the traditional sense. It is an agreement made in faith with God to be personally involved in ministry to others around the world through giving beyond tithing. The amount is determined after earnest prayer.
Is Faith Promise a tithe? No, Faith Promise is not a tithe; it is an offering of thanks given beyond the tithe. The tithe is used to minister to the local church and its ministries. Faith Promise is used to carry the Gospel of Jesus Christ to lost and dying people around the world.
Why do we practice “Faith Promise” for Missions?
By making a “Faith Promise”, you are agreeing to God that you will be a channel of giving for him to use to support missions. As you faithfully give your “Faith Promise Offering” you will see God provide for it through special unexpected income or savings that will sometimes boggle your mind.
Probably the best thing to do is to make missions giving a part of your pay-period budget, so that your missions giving comes out along side your tithe. As it becomes a habit, you will find that you are able to give more than you thought, and your budget will stretch as God gives you discipline and blessing. I highly recommend the Faith Promise to you. And I urge you to begin praying right now for God to give you a heart for lost people, a desire to give to missions, and a way to be able to give or to go. I want you to leave here today with that ringing in your hearts!
Closing
We are going to take some time and just open the alters and spend some time in prayer and consideration of the challenge before us today as Pledge Sunday. But first I want to ask you… Have you, like Jonah, been running from God? Is he calling you do something that you don’t want to do? Are you wanting to live your life on your terms? Most would say “I’m not a Jonah - if God told me go to Ninevah I would go”. Would you really? How are you doing with small things? Jesus said that those who are faithful with little will be given much. Are you faithful with the little things?
Maybe today, you are in the stomach of the whale. You think that you are too bad and tough to save and be changed. God has left you and forgotten you. Jonah prayed from inside the whale and God gave him a second chance.
Maybe your need today is Salvation. Maybe you are you facing some tough times, and you need the Lord to make a possibility out of your impossible situation. Are you having a tough time trusting and believing anymore? Do you want to recapture the child-like faith once again in your heart?
Maybe God is calling you to go to Nineveh. Just like Jonah received a call to go to a specific place & Paul received a call to go to Macedonia and later other places, God calls people to go to specific places. A young gal that Julie and I taught and supported received her call to go to Cambodia when she was 7 years old. She is now 25 and has served as the director for YWAM outreach teams in Cambodia for five years.
Maybe you have lost your motivation to get outside of your little world and reach out to others with the Light of Christ. Maybe you need to ask God how you can be involved with missions through giving, praying, writing, serving on the missions team. Ask God to help us be a church full of pioneers, not complacent settlers concerned with our own little worlds but people on the move. God is calling his church today out of the settler mentality to become pioneers of the Kingdom. Before we expect those outside the church to respond to the Kingdom, those of us inside the church—the ones commissioned to be evangelists—must first respond.
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