Was Jesus a Short Term Missionary?
Depending on what church or community you’ve grown up in, this phrase might mean a lot or very little to you. I talk to people every single day about missions and I encounter a vast array of responses concerning how different people consider the simple term.
As the word “missions” is tossed around in the Christian Church and secular world, there are often two main responses that arise. It’s supporters have often over valued the use of the term to simply doing anything as their “mission”. On the other hand, we find critics who are quick to pinpoint all the damage North American short-term teams have had on other cultures.
The subjective belief of these two types of people may be backed up with valid examples, but in the end, all these arguments are not very helpful in completing the Great Commission.
In order to work full time for an organization that sole purpose was to support LTM by sending short-term teams, I had to make sure there was objective biblical ground supporting short-term missions (STM). In colloquial terms, I had to make sure Jesus was cool with me sending people to impoverished countries to help for a few weeks.
Jesus’ Ministry
On one hand Jesus epitomizes long-term missions in how he came to earth in form of man, and planted himself among humanity who he wanted to reach. He became the people he wanted to affect – in particular studying and engaging in Jewish culture.
On the other hand, he only stayed for 33 years – and some will argue that He really only got into the thick of ministry work during the last few years of His life. Jesus changed locations frequently and when He called disciples, He did train them to go out to communities for short periods at a time.
If we were to summarize the process of sending it would be:
- He would choose the place for them.
- Give them specific training and task.
- Debrief when they returned.
These short stints of missions work don’t just occur in stories of Jesus either. A quick flip through the bible will give you story upon story people who God seems to use as STM for His purpose:
- Paul from from “Jerusalem around to Illycrium” (Romans 15:19).
- Phillip and the Ethiopian Church (Acts 8:26-40).
- Moses’ confrontation of Pharoah and subsequent liberation of God’s People (Exodus 3-12)
- Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17)
- Nehemiah’s short-term construction trip (Nehemiah 2-10)
- Jonah and the Ninevites (and even though Jonah didn’t even want the Ninevites to repent - God used him anyways).
I’m not pointing out these examples in attempt to persuade you that STM is better then LTM. Nor would I call Jesus specifically a STM or a LTM. I would however argue that according to current standards, Jesus did use many short-term mission strategies to accomplish a long-term missions based life showing that STM and LTM should be working together to accomplish the greater purpose, which is God’s will. STM and LTM should be used to supplement and support each other, not to work as an either/or but rather a mutually beneficial relationship.
Jesus was a long-term missionary who used a short-term mission strategy because without planting himself in one place for life (which seems to be the modern standard of LTM), Jesus still made a lifetime commitment to missions.
God–Centered vs Receptor-Centered vs Goer-Centered trips.
But why should we go on short-term missions in the first place?
- For our own training?
- For the benefit of others?
- For both?
- For neither?
Goer-Centered –
It is interesting to point out that most literature that I’ve read on STM has a Goer-Centered mentality. Many authors believe that when Jesus sent the disciples and the Seventy (Luke 10:1), he was training and enriching the disciple’s ministry. In the same regards, they write of the huge benefits to churches to send out short-term teams in order to see transformation in the congregation’s life. Is this God’s will to see his disciples trained so that they grow closer to Him? Yes. However, I don’t think this should be the reason we go on STM.
Receptor Centered –
Often when teams come back from a trip I will hear the comment, “I went there to bless others but it was actually myself who received the blessing.” This indicates that most people that participate in STT have a Receptor – Centered mentality to Short Term Missions (STM). The most obvious purpose of STM is the blessing of other individuals.
Generally, the more and more STM’s an individual participates in, the more and more it seems to become receptor focused. Why do teams go in the first place? Most would say, “to help those in need.” Many verses are quoted about feeding the hungry, helping the widows, orphans, sick, poor, and fatherless. Is this God’s will to do all these Good things through his followers? Of course. However, while all these things are great things I don’t think it should be the reason of going.
God Centered –
Now if I were to ask the question again, “Why should we go on STM?” and answer quickly, “For God.” You would probably say, “Of course it is.” But the reality is although it is the trump card of an answer (like “JESUS” in Sunday School) – we need to have this in the forefront of our minds. Why did Jesus come? To seek and save the lost, to give hope to the hopeless, to heal the sick – all these are good answers however; I think the true answer is found in the greatest commandment.
The reason we do anything as Christians is because our biggest need is eternal- it’s spiritual. Our purpose is to have fellowship with God and do His will. If we look those STM examples in scripture once again, we see that the bare bones of the stories are to show God is in control and we should go, come, stay, leave, visit, live, help - only and all for Him.
So What?
Often in missions we are too quick to take the glory for what God accomplished – whether in a lifetime of dedicated LTM service or on a two week STM trip. I think the main point to remember is that all missions should be God’s missions. Whatever means He chooses to accomplish it, or whatever length of time is up to Him.
We can all humbly confess that God has always done extraordinary things through ordinary people – often in a very short amount of time. However, this short time doesn’t mean the other 50 weeks of the year we get to forget about mission’s altogether. The constant reminder that over 3 billion people live on less then $2.00 a day should haunt us to the point of desiring to see change. If you are having a tough time seeing the problem – I would encourage you to go.
