Damage to the Missionary Mandate
Sometime in the last couple of years, the last recorded prayer of Christ was laid on my heart – especially John 17:20-23:
Jesus Prays for All Believers
20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."
But as I’ve worked with this verse among my Protestant brethren, I find that they are not in the least concerned. They consider that we are united as an Invisible Body of Believers because we all believe in Jesus.
What strikes me most about the passage in John 17:20-23, are Christ’s words, "May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me..." It is only through a united front, that the skeptic will be reached. The brokenness of the Body of Christ damages our witness.
This struck home again for me today as I was reading aloud to my children from the history book The New Nation, part of The History of US series by Joy Hakim. We’re in the time period 1789-1850, as our new nation pushed west, overrunning Indian lands. Sincere Christian Missionaries then went forth to the Indian nations, to try and win them to Christ.
In addition to taking their land, the Christian Missionaries now were asking the Indians to give up their religion. During one such missionary journey, when a group of Christian preachers from Boston went to the Seneca Tribe, their Chief, Red Jacket, spoke:
“Friends and Brothers…this council fire was kindled by you. It was at your request that we came together at this time. We have listened with attention to what you have said….
Brothers…listen to what we say. There was a time when your forefathers owned this great island…from the rising to the setting sun. The Great Spirit had made it for the use of Indians. He had created the buffalo, the deer, and other animals for food. He had made the bear and the beaver. Their skins served us for clothing. He had scattered them over the country and taught us how to take them. He had caused the earth to produce corn for bread. All this He had done for his red children because he loved them….
But an evil day came upon us. Your forefathers crossed the great water and landed on this island. Their numbers were small. They found friends and not enemies. They told us they had fled from their own country for fear of wicked men and had come here to enjoy their religion….We took pity on them…and they sat down amongst us….
The White people, brother, had now found our country. Tidings were carried back and more came amongst us. Yet we did not fear them. We took them to be friends. They called us brothers. We believed them….At length their numbers had greatly increased. They wanted more land; they wanted our country. Our eyes were opened and our minds became uneasy. Wars took place. Indians were hired to fight against Indians, and many of our people were destroyed. They also brought strong liquor amongst us. It was strong and powerful and has slain thousands.”
Here, Chief Red Jacket is speaking of the past and telling how the Indians initially befriended us, but then became uneasy when they saw the destruction brought by the white man. White men who claimed they wanted to live in peace and practice their faith.
He then went on to say this, specifically addressing the Christian Missionaries about the religion they had come to share:
“Brothers, our seats were once large and yours were small. You have now become a great people, and we have scarcely a place left to spread our blankets. You have got our country but are not satisfied; you want to force your religion upon us….
Brothers, continue to listen. You say there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it?
Brothers, we…also have a religion which was given to our forefathers and has been handed down to us, their children….
Brothers, we do not wish to destroy your religion or take it from you. We only want to enjoy our own….
Brothers, we have been told that you have been preaching to the white people in this place. These people are our neighbors. We are acquainted with them. We will wait a little while and see what effect your preaching has upon them. If find it does them good, makes them honest and less disposed to cheat Indians, we will then consider again of what you have said.”
This is the sad testimony of an unchristian people, who bear witness to the lack of unity within Christianity.
Can we really look upon our disunity and not see the damage it does?
Jesus Prays for All Believers
20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."
But as I’ve worked with this verse among my Protestant brethren, I find that they are not in the least concerned. They consider that we are united as an Invisible Body of Believers because we all believe in Jesus.
What strikes me most about the passage in John 17:20-23, are Christ’s words, "May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me..." It is only through a united front, that the skeptic will be reached. The brokenness of the Body of Christ damages our witness.
This struck home again for me today as I was reading aloud to my children from the history book The New Nation, part of The History of US series by Joy Hakim. We’re in the time period 1789-1850, as our new nation pushed west, overrunning Indian lands. Sincere Christian Missionaries then went forth to the Indian nations, to try and win them to Christ.
In addition to taking their land, the Christian Missionaries now were asking the Indians to give up their religion. During one such missionary journey, when a group of Christian preachers from Boston went to the Seneca Tribe, their Chief, Red Jacket, spoke:
“Friends and Brothers…this council fire was kindled by you. It was at your request that we came together at this time. We have listened with attention to what you have said….
Brothers…listen to what we say. There was a time when your forefathers owned this great island…from the rising to the setting sun. The Great Spirit had made it for the use of Indians. He had created the buffalo, the deer, and other animals for food. He had made the bear and the beaver. Their skins served us for clothing. He had scattered them over the country and taught us how to take them. He had caused the earth to produce corn for bread. All this He had done for his red children because he loved them….
But an evil day came upon us. Your forefathers crossed the great water and landed on this island. Their numbers were small. They found friends and not enemies. They told us they had fled from their own country for fear of wicked men and had come here to enjoy their religion….We took pity on them…and they sat down amongst us….
The White people, brother, had now found our country. Tidings were carried back and more came amongst us. Yet we did not fear them. We took them to be friends. They called us brothers. We believed them….At length their numbers had greatly increased. They wanted more land; they wanted our country. Our eyes were opened and our minds became uneasy. Wars took place. Indians were hired to fight against Indians, and many of our people were destroyed. They also brought strong liquor amongst us. It was strong and powerful and has slain thousands.”
Here, Chief Red Jacket is speaking of the past and telling how the Indians initially befriended us, but then became uneasy when they saw the destruction brought by the white man. White men who claimed they wanted to live in peace and practice their faith.
He then went on to say this, specifically addressing the Christian Missionaries about the religion they had come to share:
“Brothers, our seats were once large and yours were small. You have now become a great people, and we have scarcely a place left to spread our blankets. You have got our country but are not satisfied; you want to force your religion upon us….
Brothers, continue to listen. You say there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it?
Brothers, we…also have a religion which was given to our forefathers and has been handed down to us, their children….
Brothers, we do not wish to destroy your religion or take it from you. We only want to enjoy our own….
Brothers, we have been told that you have been preaching to the white people in this place. These people are our neighbors. We are acquainted with them. We will wait a little while and see what effect your preaching has upon them. If find it does them good, makes them honest and less disposed to cheat Indians, we will then consider again of what you have said.”
This is the sad testimony of an unchristian people, who bear witness to the lack of unity within Christianity.
Can we really look upon our disunity and not see the damage it does?
posted by Dixie @ 6:50 PM
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