Missionally Offensive
Psalm 98 is far more hard core about
missions than we are generally. Though
it inspires one of our favorite Christmas
carols (“Joy to the World”), its driving
theme is less lowly-little-manger and
more a summons before the bench of the
Judge of all the Universe. It begins with
a command to sing. Which is common
in the psalter, but less so among adult
human beings generally. A command to
sing can come from a teacher to a student
or a parent to a child, but to be told to sing
as an adult—puts us squarely on the hot
seat. We aren’t offered a way from it. This
kind of outreach that is authoritative is
striking. And it is missional outreach: it is
calling all the earth to the worship of God.
And the reasons given for singing, for the
outreach, are not the ones we often give
for our missions. Evangelical churches
often talk about wanting to “save the
lost,” “share the good news,” or “help
the needy.” These are good reasons, but
people are perhaps more often invited to
church for their own interest: “it would be
good for you,” “you will like the preacher/
music/ community,” or “you will feel at
home.” Psalm 98’s reasons for your singing
(for missions) are focused on God: “sing
for he has done...his right hand...his
holy arm...worked salvation for him...his
salvation...his righteousness...his steadfast
love.” The reasons for your singing, the
Psalm 98 is far more hard core about
missions than we are generally. Though
it inspires one of our favorite Christmas
carols (“Joy to the World”), its driving
theme is less lowly-little-manger and
more a summons before the bench of the
Judge of all the Universe. It begins with
a command to sing. Which is common
in the psalter, but less so among adult
human beings generally. A command to
sing can come from a teacher to a student
or a parent to a child, but to be told to sing
as an adult—puts us squarely on the hot
seat. We aren’t offered a way from it. This
kind of outreach that is authoritative is
striking. And it is missional outreach: it is
calling all the earth to the worship of God.
And the reasons given for singing, for the
outreach, are not the ones we often give
for our missions. Evangelical churches
often talk about wanting to “save the
lost,” “share the good news,” or “help
the needy.” These are good reasons, but
people are perhaps more often invited to
church for their own interest: “it would be
good for you,” “you will like the preacher/
music/ community,” or “you will feel at
home.” Psalm 98’s reasons for your singing
(for missions) are focused on God: “sing
for he has done...his right hand...his
holy arm...worked salvation for him...his
salvation...his righteousness...his steadfast
love.” The reasons for your singing, the
reason for the mission for telling the
nations are radically God centered. No
mention of personal fulfillment or how
it will make you feel or how you can be a
part of something bigger than yourself or
even find a place to belong.
The Psalmist knows that the greatest
reason for anything... is God. He is love.
He is the beginning and end of all things.
Mission exists by his decree. Mission
is his idea. And missions exist for his
end—the glory of his name. There is no
more powerful reason to have a missions’
conference—than God. To know God is to
be caught up in his worship. Being caught
up in his worship—the very purpose of
your existence—is the happiest thing.
To know that there are those who do not
know him, who don’t know their true
reason for living: that is the saddest thing.
So, it is with the joy and singing and
worship and mission of God demanded
by Psalm 98, that we gather for our annual
missions conference. It is our hope that
this year’s conference will remind us,
inform us, inspire us to be about the
mission of the church, that we might let
the whole earth know “Lo, he comes” (Ps.
98:9). It is HIM and his coming that is our
motivation and our purpose in our church
missions conference.
-Timothy D. Shaw ~ Associate Pastor
nations are radically God centered. No
mention of personal fulfillment or how
it will make you feel or how you can be a
part of something bigger than yourself or
even find a place to belong.
The Psalmist knows that the greatest
reason for anything... is God. He is love.
He is the beginning and end of all things.
Mission exists by his decree. Mission
is his idea. And missions exist for his
end—the glory of his name. There is no
more powerful reason to have a missions’
conference—than God. To know God is to
be caught up in his worship. Being caught
up in his worship—the very purpose of
your existence—is the happiest thing.
To know that there are those who do not
know him, who don’t know their true
reason for living: that is the saddest thing.
So, it is with the joy and singing and
worship and mission of God demanded
by Psalm 98, that we gather for our annual
missions conference. It is our hope that
this year’s conference will remind us,
inform us, inspire us to be about the
mission of the church, that we might let
the whole earth know “Lo, he comes” (Ps.
98:9). It is HIM and his coming that is our
motivation and our purpose in our church
missions conference.
-Timothy D. Shaw ~ Associate Pastor
