Microsoft Word - Unlikely Missionaries.doc Unlikely Missionaries by Paul E. Grant Page 1 UNLIKELY MISSIONARIES Paul E. Grant Published in “Music & Poetry in Missions” www.globalmissiology.org January 2008 Over a lifetime of reading About missionaries of many kinds I’ve come to an understanding That God seems strangely inclined To choose and use the most unlikely, Baffling conventional psychology Think for example of John Newton Slave-trader and profiteer “Amazing grace” and sins forgiven Transformed this buccaneer. Later, a preacher and hymn-writer, Evangelist and Jesus-promoter Mary Slessor with little education Became the “Queen” of Calabar; Single, she had huge compassion For the people of Nigeria She worked for almost forty years Loved by Africans as their overseer These two examples illustrate A theme of Hebrews Eleven That God’s missionaries would radiate An ethos unique to heaven; People whose primary education Would be grounded in Christ’s revelation By ‘missionary’ I mean those who hear And respond to the call of Jesus, For them he is the dearest of the dear Eternally illustrious. They know he has sent them as his witness For them it is part of spiritual fitness The noble Christian mission saga Has been written by this world’s rejects, God sees them as his people of wonder Heralds of his Eternity project. Of them this world has not been worthy Though they are God’s aristocracy Unlikely Missionaries by Paul E. Grant Page 2 Each believer is called to mission To dignity, passion, integrity, To each is given God’s commission And his Spirit’s power in entirety. What an honour! What a calling! What a function! So enthralling! By this world’s values we are assessed As those who are the most unlikely To ever “succeed” or achieve the best In terms of cultural theory. God’s messengers scorn temptations Of this world’s accreditations I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, Where is the philosopher of this age?1 Jesus’ message was Eternity’s prize. For he had come to set the stage For a Kingdom that would never end Peopled by those who would learn to transcend Learning and training and all theology, Cultural norms and social methods Must submit to Jesus’ scrutiny And be corrected by biblical standards. In these ways missionaries are made In these ways they achieve God’s grade While Jesus’ message was counter-cultural He sends us back into our social settings, There we act in ways that are Scriptural To confront and transform with blessings. Only the Truth will set people free Whatever their cultural identity The Gospel, above all messages, radical, In particular ways is a dare, It calls me to die and be evangelical And submit to the Spirit’s flair. “The most unlikely to succeed” Will, by grace win, in word and deed 1 1 Corinthians 1:18-26 Unlikely Missionaries by Paul E. Grant Page 3 So we are forced to reassess Our culture’s ethics and values, Christians as missionaries are sent to bless This world with transforming virtues. The mission task is not completed Will I, Gideon-like, stay self-defeated?2 But Gideon, the reluctant commando, Responded to God’s direction, By obedience he became a hero And experienced a powerful unction. In his weakness he became strong By Spirit power confronting wrong “Unlikely missionaries” have their trust In the Spirit’s power, not wisdom3 This is the energy that gives the thrust To the testimony of their freedom. God chooses and uses those who obey Mistrusting their own plan and way The Hebrews Eleven gallery of heroes Are those who others would disregard, They are shown as God’s precious maestros, And part of Heaven’s vanguard. The despised, foolish, humble, and weak4 Shining there in Heaven’s mystique The world by its wisdom does not know God, He shames and negates its seeming worth, He calls and honours the ones rejected For they were so destined before their birth. To history’s great astonishment The “unlikely” are used for his accomplishments Paul E. Grant February 2007 2 Judges 6-7 3 1 Corinthians 2:5 4 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 Unlikely Missionaries by Paul E. Grant Page 4