Why Should I Get Involved in Missions? 6 Reasons You Should Consider

Why Missions? It is an important question for every believer, everyone who is a Christ-follower. Unfortunately, it is a question that often does not get asked. Missions comes with certain sacrifices and challenges. We need to know why we are doing what we do.

The purpose of this article is to discuss the reasons why you and I and every other Christ-follower should be involved in missions. Let’s look at some of those reasons.

1. Because there is no other name:

The religious leadership of their day confronted Peter and John when they were proclaiming Christ. Peter emphasized in his response, that there is no other name under heaven by which people must be saved (Acts 4:12).

In John 14:6, Jesus clearly says that it is only through him that people can have access to the Father. Several other scriptures emphasize this same truth.

If there is only one name, only one Person – Jesus – who is able to provide eternal hope to human beings, then that is enough of a reason for us to join in God’s mission.

2. Because many have not heard:

Even after 2000 years of the gospel, many geographical regions and ethnic communities have little or no access to its message. That’s remarkable!

The apostle Paul shares the burden of his heart when he asked in Romans 10:14-15a: “But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?”

According to Joshua Project, about 3.27 billion people in the world (or about 41% of the world’s total population) are unreached.

For various reasons, they have little or no exposure at all to the beautiful message that Jesus died and rose again to save them. This heart-breaking reality is another profound reason why we should all do our part. We must enable the unreached to hear and have an opportunity to respond.

3. Because lostness is a real thing:

The Bible is clear that people who do not know Jesus are spiritually lost and separated from God.

If this weren’t true, there would have been no need for Jesus to die on the cross on behalf of people’s sin. Sadly, 2000 years after Jesus went all the way to the cross to open the door of salvation, billions have no idea of what he has done for them.

They remain clueless in their lostness. It is very possible that they will spend the rest of their lives on earth without an opportunity to hear and respond to the gospel.

It is also possible that our obedience to Get involved in efforts to reach the unreached will create opportunities for many of them to hear. They will respond and be beautifully saved.

4. Because we want to obey:

Before Jesus ascended to heaven, he commissioned his disciples. He called all who followed him from that time on, to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20).

His commission included a command to go to all people groups, baptize those who believe, and teach them to obey all his commands.

This commission clearly reveals God’s love for people, irrespective of language, culture, or geography. It also reveals his purpose to invite all to become authentic followers of Jesus. For those of us who know Jesus and love him, we know that we show our love for Him through obedience (John 14:15). To be involved in missions, whether through going, sending, or other ways, is an act of loving obedience to Jesus.

5. Because we are called to both follow and fish:

When Jesus first called Peter and Andrew to be his disciples, he didn’t only ask them to follow him. He also said that he would make them fishers of men, of other people.

Oftentimes, the fishing part is not emphasized in discipleship. We are given the impression that it is more like an option. But following Jesus also means being intentional about inviting others to follow him.

Of course, not everyone is called to leave their jobs, their home, or their town to fish for people. Right where we are, in our own communities, towns, and places of employment, we are surrounded by people from other cultures and faiths. There are lost people who do not know Jesus. What a joy to partner with God in welcoming such people into a relationship with Him!

6. Because we are passionate about the nations worshipping Jesus:

One of the most beautiful things to witness is people of other cultures worshipping the Lord.

I was recently asked to share with an online group of 100 Hindu-background believers from north India. Seeing and hearing them sing songs of worship unto Jesus in Hindi moved me deeply. It brought tears to my eyes.

Scripture tells us that a beautiful day is coming. People representing all nations, tribes, languages, and lands will join together to worship the Lamb of God (Revelation 7:9-10).

Weak as I am, I am personally motivated to keep doing my part in reaching the unreached. I want to see Jesus glorified by all people! How about you?

These six reasons are not exhaustive. There are other reasons that should move us to personal involvement in missions.

I am sure the more we read and explore Scripture, the more we will discover why God wants us to join him in what he is doing in the nations.

Even as we do that, I am persuaded that LOVE is the greatest reason. Paul says that it is the love of Christ that compelled him to do what he was doing (2 Corinthians 5:14).

Christ’s love in him enabled him to go out of his way, at great personal cost, to take the gospel to those who hadn’t heard. What a great example to follow!

Are there any reasons you would add to this list? Let us know in the comments below.

by A.S.