10 Reasons Why You Should Become a Missionary [in your own home]
When I was born again, I endured a minor identity crisis.
For twenty years I poured my self into becoming a world class writer. I got the degree. The friends. The mentors.
I accumulated a stockpile of used journals. Tore through a tiny library of books. And generated hundreds of bad poems, marginal short stories and a god-awful novel or two.
I abandoned all else for that single and solitary ambition–to become a famous writer.
I even went as far as to admire one writer’s unrelenting drive to succeed at novel writing–he skipped his adult son’s funeral so he could write.
That’s, indeed, how perverted my thinking had become.
So just weeks after Christ stripped me of all selfish ambition I found myself staring at the ceiling at a complete loss. What do I do now?
The answer completely startled me.
A Ridiculously Short Bio on J. Edwards
It began when I read a biography on Jonathan Edward’s life. In particularly a somewhat legendary commentary about the size of his family–and their impact on this country.
Jonathan and Sarah Edwards bore eleven children. Four hundred descendants in all.
But it was not the size of that family that really mattered. It was the legacy of those 3 sons and 8 daughters that counted.
The fourteen college presidents. The one hundred or so professors. The close to one hundred ministers. Lawyers. Judges. Nearly sixty doctors. The rest–authors and editors.
That legacy is enormous.
A Dark-Night-of-the-Soul Lesson about Raising a Family
Most of us our content leaving a 70-year footprint on history. Jonathan and Sarah saw things differently. They saw things from an eternal perspective.
And left a 200 year footprint.
How? They nurtured the hearts of their children to cherish Christ. Which brings me back to the point of this post.
The lesson I learned as a new believer was this:
You are a missionary to your family. You are responsible for sharing the gospel with your wife and children. And making disciples of them.
What could be more important than nurturing the souls of our own children? If indeed I truly believed that my children were souls who would last forever…then my wife and I were responsible for nudging those souls to Christ.
Granted, being a missionary to your family doesn’t carry the risks of a frontier missionary. You’re NOT going to be arrested, driven away or killed.
But you can be betrayed. Hated. Maligned. Yet, the reason you press on, the reason you count the cost–remaining anonymous in a world that cherishes popularity–and the the reason you lay it all on the line is because the blessings far outweigh the risks.
Being a Missionary in Your Own Home: 10 Reasons
I hope the following 10 reasons will give you a passion to preach the gospel to your children and make disciples out of them.
1. You are sent by Christ.
Oswald Chambers warns, “We tend to forget that the one great reason underneath all missionary work is not primarily the elevation of the people, their education, nor their needs, but is first and foremost the command of Jesus Christ.”
2. You are given the words you need by the Holy Spirit.
Worried you’ll look stupid? Sound dumb? Don’t worry. God promises to speak for you.
3. You always have a Father who cares for you.
No matter the stupidity you do wade into or the goofiness that overwhelms you in weak times, God loves you. Show your children that same love and mercy.
4. You rejoice in the salvation of your children.
We don’t put stock in our persuasion. Or our parenting skills. We put stock in the omnipotence of God, the Holy Spirit and the gospel message–the mechanisms behind salvation. The mechanisms that unearths their spiritually dead souls to new life. That is cause for celebration.
5. Your soul is immortal.
And so are your children’s souls. You’ll see why this is so important in a minute.
6. You know that Jesus is coming in judgment and mercy.
If your children’s souls are immortal, then this statement should concern you: “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” We spend great energy protecting our children from drowning in a pool. Do we spend that same amount of energy when it comes to eternal death threats?
7. You are part of God’s family.
Any rejection or betrayal you endure is ameliorated by the promise that you are adopted into God’s family. And as an adopted heir, you inherit the riches of Christ.
8. Your patience will be rewarded.
Whether you actually get to celebrate the new birth of your children or not, your patient persistence in obeying Christ’s commandment will not be forgotten.
9. You know that God governs every detail.
Relax. God is smarter than you. And will let nothing slip through his fingers. Ever.
10. You are NOT despised–rather valued by God.
God considers you a treasure. A treasure he determined before the creation of time that would bring him great joy. So he loves you despite your success and failures. Love him back by teaching your children to thirst for him.
Charles Spurgeon once said, “Our misery is that we thirst so little for these sublime things, and so much for the mocking trifles of time and space.”
Do you thirst for the salvation of your children? For their obedience to Christ? For their lives to be selflessly given for the work of the kingdom?
I don’t. Not enough. Let’s do this better. Promise?
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6 Comments to 10 Reasons Why You Should Become a Missionary [in your own home]
Good thoughts, Demian. It’s ironic, though, that you mention Edwards. In spite of all of his admirable qualities and the amazing legacy he left to the church, he was probably a poor example of being a missionary in his own home. The success of his children is more of a tribute to his wife than to him.
Consider this excerpt from Piper’s biographical sketch of Edwards’ life:
Edwards could spend up to 13 hours a day in his study, Dwight tells us, because of his decision not to visit his people except when called for. He welcomed people to his study for conversation, and he frequently taught private meetings in various neighborhoods as well as catechizing the young people in his home. In this pattern of pastoral labor we probably should not follow him. He may even have been wrong in this choice. But we who love what he wrote will not fault him too much.
He rose early, even for those nonelectrical days. In fact he probably was entirely serious when he wrote in his diary in 1728, “I think Christ has recommended rising early in the morning, by his rising from the grave very early.”
It’s not easy to know what his family life looked like under this kind of rigorous schedule. Dwight says in one place, “In the evening, he usually allowed himself a season of relaxation, in the midst of his family.” (Works, I, xxxviii) But in another place Edwards himself says (in 1734 when he was 31 years old), “I judge that it is best, when I am in a good frame for divine contemplation, or engaged in reading the Scriptures, or any study of divine subjects, that, ordinarily, I will not be interrupted by going to dinner, but will forego my dinner, rather than be broke off” (Works, I, xxxvi). I think it would be fair to say that the indispensable key to raising 11 believing children under these circumstances was an uncommon union with Sarah, who was an uncommon woman.”
Thanks. I appreciate your post, as a parent of 4 (under 10 yrs old).
I especially thought #6 was poignant – applying the Matt 10 verse to parenting was an eye-opener for me.
Barry, indeed, I’d agree, especially when you have a biography of Edward’s wife called “A Difficult Marriage.” 
I probably didn’t make it clear: The example we should follow is NOT Edward’s way of life, but his outlook. That’s where the original epiphany occurred. His legacy is a testament to a point of view far outside of himself…whether it was John or Sarah who is actually responsible for the dirty work.
…And you did notice Piper said “we probably should not follow him.” I sense a subtle sympathy from Piper. Maybe I’m reading too much into it. But no doubt it’s there, especially coming from the studious type where the idea of studying 13 hours a day sounds very charming. Trust me. It does.
ericaSeptember 23, 2009
Encouraging and convicting all at the same time. Makes me humble to know God and his grace as a person and a parent.
Matt RiopelleApril 13, 2010
Sorry it took me so long to come across this post Demian, but I’m so glad I did (thanks Google Social circle results). It seems that invariably, when I get restless with my situation, with the lack of adventure, world travel, or ministry to indigenous people, the Lord poses a question.
He asks, what are you doing with field I have given you? I see you trying to answer it here. Tend to the field He has already charged you with and wait for more to be given. My family is my first and most important legacy.
Thanks for the reminder.
Demian FarnworthApril 14, 2010
Amen to Google’s social circle results! And I’m glad I could provide a little nudge in the general direction of evangelizing our family. Take care, Matt.
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September 22, 2009