Esotropiart

Part II: "I Desire Mercy and Not Sacrifice"

As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector's booth; and He said to him, "Follow Me!" And he got up and followed Him. Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, "Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?" But when Jesus heard this, He said, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. "But go and learn what this means: 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Matthew 9:9-13 NASB

If I remember right, some cool observations Dave made from the text:

• "And he got up and followed Him" - It was a pretty big deal for Matthew, a tax collector, to get up and follow Jesus immediately. He had an important job. There would be consequence to leaving a job such as his. It's possible the Romans would have hunted him down. Jews at the time were under Roman rule and considered second class citizens at best. Matthew was a Jew. His profession was considered by his people to be a traitor's job. After all, he collected money for the empire that oppressed them and took away their freedom. What good sense would it make to follow a man, Jesus, who also offended his people? Matthew probably also had a lucrative position and may have even cheated to get more, as was a common practice among tax collectors at the time.
• "Jesus was reclining at the table" - Shows how willing Jesus was to mingle with those of disrepute. He didn't linger near the door, ready to speak to any passers by. He didn't sit high and proper, so as to visually separate Himself from the brood. No, He reclined in comfort, just as any other invited guest. These people were "tax collectors" and "sinners". The Pharisees rebuked Jesus through their questions concerning His choice to associate with such folk.
• "Go and learn what this means" - Don't we so often wait until we think we are ready to serve before doing anything for the Kingdom of God? We are better equipped with knowledge in this country than perhaps anywhere else. We know the Bible - or can know it - because of our direct access to it and many other resources far and wide. How many times reading the Bible, how many Bible degrees, how many studies will we have to experience before we deem ourselves "ready"? Jesus here says, "Go and learn"... and then gives a command that tells us what we should be doing. We need to show mercy. If we indeed have received this great mercy from Christ in the forgiveness of our sins, we should be prepared to show the same mercy to others. But rather than waiting eternally until we think we are ready, it is a challenge to go AND learn. The times are evil and short. We don't even know if any of us will be alive tomorrow. As uncomfortable as it sounds, people are going to hell! It's about time we set aside our shame and doubt and DO something!
• "I desire compassion (mercy), and not sacrifice" - While talking with Dave this afternoon, I expressed to him a little bit of a struggle I have with this verse. It reminded me of another verse in I Samuel 15:22. I mentioned how I don't fully understand what either Scripture means - partially, but not fully. The terminology isn't exactly clear in my mind. After all, aren't we called to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to the Lord? And aren't we to bear our cross and share in the sufferings of Christ? Won't we be persecuted and even killed for the sake of Christ? Aren't we supposed to submit our will to God's, even when it means giving up things we value? Dave made the keen observation from this verse that it says, "I desire", not "I require". If Jesus had said, "I require mercy, not sacrifice", it would mean that one must be done, and not the other. Instead, Jesus gets to the heart of the matter. He doesn't free us from all responsibility to sacrifice, but He says He desires mercy MORE than sacrifice. This is to say that He desires our hearts to reflect the same love He has, not for us to be motivated by our own agendas and what we can DO to please Him and justify ourselves. It's not about our works. It's about the attitude of our hearts. Yes, when we understand mercy - the compassion of God - works will follow, even sacrifice. This was a very good answer to my lacking understanding of what Jesus was saying here. It had bothered me in previous readings that Jesus said, "Go and learn what this means", and I myself didn't really understand exactly what He meant! Am I as bad in my understanding as the Pharisees? Perhaps sometimes. Nevertheless, it now makes a whole lot more sense to me. I just needed an exegetical explanation from someone who has better understanding of words and thought progression.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:1-2 NIV

Elder Dave shared a cool illustration that I'll try to recreate. It was a concept that came out of a meeting he had with Megan earlier last week. I'm thankful it ended up being used in the sermon as an illustration because it is one of the most powerful missional ideas I've heard. I had a bit more time to let it sink in, as Dave showed it to me in our meeting before the service. It really struck a note with me... the implications of which will take some time for me to process fully. However, in the spirit of this sermon, I hope to GO AND LEARN, rather than sit and ponder until I've completely understood it (never). It's a message that should result in immediate action and change.

This diagram shows a severe misunderstanding we as Christians often have of mission work. It is broad and general, but it illustrates a poignant truth. Those passionate about following God or who have felt called by God often get intimidated by it, or even fearful. Some people say, "Well, if I follow His call, surely He will send me to deepest and darkest Africa!". Others, who are perhaps more zealous or "willing to obey" might say, "I assume, since I'm open to the call, that He will send me to Africa, China or a Muslim country. I'm ready to go. Here am I, send me!"

Dave shared some feedback from missionaries regarding the field of Africa. There are certain areas of Africa that are among the most receptive to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As the result, huge numbers have given their hearts to God. Part of the reason they are so quick to turn is because of oppression they face. Their great physical need makes these people ripe for harvest. The message Dave heard is, "We are not planning to send a great deal of missionaries to this area, because everyone is already Christian!" Now, obviously even if that is partially true, all these new Christians are in deep need of discipleship. They still have former beliefs and practices ingrained into them. So there is need, even in these "reached" areas for further work.

I've thought of mission work myself, and in some ways I've not feared being sent to a far away place. My reason for lacking fear further illustrates the concept of the mission diagram. I don't fear going to places like Brazil or Africa so much. Because of the receptiveness in the needy hearts, much progress can be made. It feels like "you're doing some good". Even a person who lacks great evangelism skills like me could probably present the basic truths of the Good News of Jesus Christ and produce some fruit in such places. Like Dave said, "Jesus is a product that sells Himself!"

Rather, I have come to realize my greatest fear in thoughts of missionary work is this: being called to the United States of America! The chart above has two spiral shapes. The one on the left represents the United States. The other represents the mission field far and wide - Africa, China, etc. We assume that being called to make disciples will involve going to the farthest reaches of the earth. The huge arch represents this "great feat" of traveling to such a place and "enduring" all the cultural differences and "danger". After all, in some of these places, a person could die for sharing the faith! Woah, death. That's pretty bad, huh?

I do not fear death. I submit to you that most Christians, if they really think about it, don't fear death horribly. Why should we? We know the reward that awaits us, even Christ. Of course we don't want pain and persecution, but we are well aware that none of us is immortal. Whether in peace and by old age, or by war and disease, we will all die.

I think rather than fearing death, we fear rejection. We fear humiliation. We don't want to go out on a limb and look the part of a fool. We want people to think we are cool, that we can fit in with "their" crowd and be just like them. Or perhaps I just speak for myself. Okay, so I'm not much in the way of conforming... but I do sometimes fear rejection. Let me tell you a worse rejection we risk facing with such an attitude:

Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 10:32-33 NASB

The diagram above illustrates a fateful mistake. Some countries in the world are ripe for the harvest, where needy souls jump for joy at the first mention of the Gospel. And the worst that can happen to a missionary in such a field is death. Is death so bad? I don't think so. Here in this country, it is becoming increasingly difficult to share the Gospel. The average person here is not very ripe to hear the Word. It seems it takes adversity to be cut to the core. We are too comfortable. We can "afford" to turn aside to myths and forsake the truth. What are the consequences? We still have our nice houses, cars, plenty of food, stable government, health, TV, internet, and so on. We can afford to develop complicated philosophical ideas that have not a shred of truth in them because we have the luxury. We are too busy for God. Who is God anyway? Does He even exist? Who needs Him? We have everything we need, right?

Western culture has become increasingly hardened toward God. In fact, if you are looking for atheism, look to the U.S. and Europe. The point? If you desire to be sent to the "deepest, darkest" place, don't look to Africa. Once you have been out of the country and return to the U.S., you will realize something. I've been to Brazil 4 times now, and I see a people there who are full of joy, people who are more open to the Gospel. Unfortunately this is changing, as they conform to the patterns set by industrialized nations like the U.S. Other countries are developing some of the same "problems" - materialistic greed and vain, self-sufficient philosophies. If you want a dark place, full of the worst kind of opposition (worse than death), I submit a shift in perspective might point you to exactly the place you already live. No need for a huge arch of geographical distance. The arch now represents our pride.

Are we willing to go to all the way to Africa for the cause of Christ, but are unwilling to go the grand distance of next door or workplace? There are people all around us who don't believe in God. Or if they do, they have not experienced the true New Birth through Jesus, which is the only Way to eternal life. These people are perishing! They are going to hell! Sounds stiff and extreme, I know. It's not a message you will likely hear much these days from the whitewashed false prophets and "spiritual leaders" in this country. The word "sin" is taboo because everything is relative, and we don't want to offend anyone, right?

The problem of mission work is not geography, but spiritual chasms. We need not travel to the farthest location from where we currently live to find a mission field. Is our home really located in a house, near a family, in a city, in a country? Are we really "Americans" or "Egyptians" or "Chinese"? If you identify yourself with the things of this world, you need a renewed perspective. If you feel perfectly "at home" and comfortable here, something might be wrong. Those of us who are new creatures in Jesus Christ are not of this world. Our home is in heaven. We are aliens and strangers, ambassadors. Our promised land of rest awaits us. Chew carefully on this food:

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

I Peter 2:9-10 ESV

We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.

I Chronicles 29:15 NIV

Hear my prayer, O LORD, listen to my cry for help; be not deaf to my weeping. For I dwell with you as an alien, a stranger, as all my fathers were.

Psalm 39:12 NIV

Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Philippians 3:19-21 NIV

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.

Hebrews 11:13-14 NIV

As citizens of heaven, the farthest place we can go in this world is not Africa or any other physical location. That's irrelevant. We are children of Light. We have been transformed. The farthest place is where the deepest darkness and spiritual strongholds exist, for our home is a spiritual one, heaven. The place where darkness holds the most sway is in the hearts of those blinded by this world, those who don't "need" a Savior (rather, they think they don't). Our war is against these spiritual powers of darkness that bind them.

In the darkened age of vain philosophies, the western world has become one of the most powerful strongholds of spiritual oppression in the history of mankind. Talk to a person about Christ here, and you are likely to receive a million excuses why they don't need Jesus, or simply don't care. Or they may claim they already "have Jesus", but it is clear they do not.

The hardest realization comes by admitting and realizing we are surrounded by one of the greatest and most difficult mission fields to penetrate. Don't be afraid that God will send you to "deepest darkest Africa". In fact, don't insult those beautiful people. Their dark skin is their glory, their distinction, their beauty. Their smiles, joy, and receptiveness to the Gospel shame us who live in comfort and yet are blind. If you want to call someone "deep dark", look at the western world. We in our pride and arrogance think that no one can touch us. Our might is our god. We assume our days will never end. Nevertheless, God is not pleased, and there is a limited lifespan for those who raise their own heads and fists against the Alpha and Omega. We are not gods, nor are the things we own.

Africans turn to God because they are oppressed and full of need. We turn away from Him in slumber because we don't "need" Him. Will we wake up in time? When Jesus returns, will He find faith on the earth? I tell you, yes. But some of the brightest spots on the faith detector might be those places that we in our pride call "deep and dark". Those places are even sending missionaries to the great US of A. It might turn out that they have a better gift to offer some of us than we do them. Are you willing to accept a gift from someone you feel is "less" than you? Praise the God who uses the weak and foolish to defame the wise and proud. Let us allow ourselves to be broken now. Let us weep now so that we can laugh then. There is an eternal reality. We will not be rewarded in that day for money, success or power. All the things we have earned and valued in this world will become our rot and damnation.

Starvation, poverty and political danger often turn people to God. They run to the shelter of His wings. My story is living proof of much the same. It took a great foundation shaking to wake me up. Do you wish to lose something or someone highly valuable to you in order to wake up? Must this country go through a time of horrors? Unfortunately this may indeed be the only way to stir hearts. The time may be around the corner for a great shaking of powers. My hope is that some will learn not to grab the stove top element and burn their hands. I hope that God's parental warnings of danger will wake us up and turn our hearts toward Him.

My biggest fear is not to be sent to Africa or China. My challenge now becomes this: am I willing to go to the darkest place, the one farthest separated from the country of my true citizenship? It's a huge chasm to leap. It is one from pride to humility. Am I willing to bear the shame, the cross? Maybe not. But I'm willing to pray to God that my heart be rend until I am. I weep bitterly for the souls around me, those that are perhaps depending on me to share with them the Good News. Lord, equip me with the same mercy You show me. Help me love the way You love.

---

As the ultimate irony or "unlikely" thing, we had a visitor today at the service who came for the purpose of experiencing a "missional church". This passage in Matthew just happens to be where Dave was in the sermon lineup. While "mission" is just one of Ethnos' core values, it shined through tonight in the most powerful missions sermon I've probably ever heard!