Article
Does the Bible command us to take risks in short term mission?
David Bosworth
Yes, Paul does indicate that risk is a part of mission. Paul indicates that suffering and sacrifice are both involved in mission. He writes in Romans 8:17-21 “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Why would we attempt to sanitize our short term mission endeavors of either suffering or sacrifice just because they are unpleasant or inconvenient?
Paul also writes in Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” He then goes on to commend Epaphroditus for his risk in Philippians 2:29-30: “So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.” Why would we avoid physical harm and death in short term mission?
And no, Paul does avoid unneccesary risk at times. The example of Paul’s life is one of judiciously considering when to take risk and when to avoid risk. When unjustly imprisoned in Philippi on his second missionary journey, Paul demands that the magistrates accord him the dignity of an escort out of prison for their failure to give him a trial in accordance with his rights as a citizen (Acts 16). Shortly thereafter, Paul’s teaching in Thessalonica caused a riot. He left the city secretly at night so as to avoid open confrontation with angry mobs (Acts 17).
So how is one to determine whether we are settling for a less than fully passionate love for Christ or acting judiciously when considering the avoidance of risk? Here are a few principles.
Paul uses the picture of the human body to describe the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12. Each part of the body is uniquely different from the other parts, functioning together for the good of the whole. This certainly applies at the level of individual giftedness within a local body, but it also applies to the global church. God calls and equips each person (and organization) uniquely. As such, each has a specific role in the fulfillment of the Great Commission. God called Paul to a visible itinerant ministry, but others such as Peter and Barnabas took a back seat after Paul developed into a strong leader. Likewise, God may be calling your organization to place people in the most remote and dangerous places on the planet, or he may be asking you to deploy servants to relatively reached and safe areas.
First, consider the purpose and mission of your organization. Are you leading a youth ministry, seeking to build up students in their awareness of God’s work globally? You may sponsor a week long trip to Jamaica, engaging those students in building a home and helping them process what they experience. Are you a church who feels strongly that you want to send members to encourage long term missionaries on the field? You may send small groups of people with specific gift sets which meet the needs of those missionaries. Are you a mission agency which specializes in sending medical professionals to a place affected by natural disaster? You may prepare your organization to mobilize on short notice. If taking the risk being evaluated does not further the purpose and mission of your organization, then it does not make sense to go ahead.
Second, consider the potential impact on your organization if the perceived risk is actualized. In the three examples given above, the adverse impact of the death of a team member would vary greatly. If a medical professional-travelling as a consenting adult into a knowingly dangerous location-dies from exposure to a deadly disease, it would be a tragic event no doubt. But, if the organization had prepared correctly, the impact on the ability of the organization to function might be limited to the emotional trauma associated with the circumstance. On the other hand, if a 14 year old student was hit in the head with a hammer and passes away, the youth ministry might not sponsor an international mission trip for years to come. Ultimately, your organization is seeking to have an impact on the kingdom. If it is limited in its ability to do so because you take unwarranted risk, then you have inhibited the kingdom rather than advanced it.
Third, consider what resources you have available to mitigate and respond to identified risks. Each organization has a different capacity to respond to adverse circumstances. Resources might fall into the categories of personnel, finances, communication technology, business process, legal, spiritual and many other categories. As you identify specific risks and weigh whether you should sponsor a trip, think through how you would respond if the risk eventuated.
God is sovereign, and we are not benefitted by investing our energies in self-preservation. We look to the Lord for protection.
As you analyze potential risks, think like the Apostle Paul who walked boldly into the face of danger when God called him to and also avoided it when this was more expedient for the building of the kingdom. If the risk falls in line with your organization’s purpose and the resources are on hand to mitigate and respond to the risk, then proceed with confidence that God is in control. On the other hand, do not consider yourself less than sold out to God’s purposes when you discern that your part of the body is not gifted and called to take on that particular risk.
What are your thoughts about risk and short term mission?
