Why I’m Going on the World Race, Part III: A Need to See

God is too big and amazing a God to be only worshiped in one language, from one people, and one culture.

 

I took a class recently called “Perspectives on the World Christian Movement.” I thought it would be about what Christianity looks like in different areas of the world; I was incredibly fascinated by a de-Americanized faith, and how people can fully love and follow Jesus while still being rooted in their own culture and history. I’ve only been exposed to western Christianity, so I wanted to see what it looks like in other areas of the world. The class didn’t talk as much as I wanted about the specifics of what faith in Jesus looks like in cultures across the globe. However, something it did very well was explain the beginnings of this global faith and God’s purpose for Himself. Both of these things inspired and empowered me when first considering the World Race.

 

Let me explain. I used to get confused about why God chose Israel as a chosen people. Being from a western Christian home, I too often would skip ahead to the end of the story and think that God loves us all and wants relationship with us all, so why in the beginning did He choose just one people? What about the other nations? But I need to slow down and see the beauty behind the method God choose to reach the nations:

 

“Now the Lord had said to Abram:

“Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house,

To a land that I will show you. ² I will make you a great nation;

I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing.

³ I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you;

And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Genesis 12:1-3 (my bold added for emphasis)

 

Israel was blessed to be a blessing. God didn’t choose one nation and let all other nations perish. He chose one nation so that through that nation, all nations—a people from every people—could be blessed. His blessing is to “all the families of the earth” and He calls all believers into this mission:

 

¹⁸ And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying,

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

 ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;

and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Matthew 28:18-20

 

This is God’s way of making disciples: through us! God invites us into His purpose. What is God’s purpose? God’s purpose is toward God, for people, and against evil. Toward Him: He wants a relationship with a people from every people (Ps. 67:1-7). For people: He wants to bring redemptive blessing to a people from every people (Gen 12: 1-3). Against evil: God is just and His judgement brings hope (Matthew 12:17-21).

 

God invites us into His very purpose of directing people to Him, blessing them, and calling them to find hope in God’s justice. This is what I am called to do on the world race. And I know the believers already in the countries I am going to will do the same. I can’t wait to work beside them. I am so ready to learn and see all that I possibly can. I can’t wait to witness God’s redemption within my own life and the lives of those around me!