Missiology Through Scripture: Declaring God’s Perfect Rule
“Say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.’”
– Psalm 96:10
This passage was once used to assert the earth (and not the sun) is at the center of the universe. Instead, this verse contrasts the instability of life apart from God and the stability found only in Christ. The unchanging nature of God provides our certainty. Our lands are not established on a moral or ethical foundation, but on the never changing characteristics of the immutable Yahweh.
God has created the nations, governed the nations, and will judge the nations. Through his purposeful actions Christ will create stability and peace. God’s perfect justice will be the ruling force over all the nations. John Wesley said, “God hath now set up his kingdom in the world. The nations of the world shall by the means of it enjoy an established and lasting peace.” The psalmist declares the kingship of God over all the nations. Through God’s judgment and rule the nations will enjoy the perfect harmony found only in Christ.
The Lord has called his missionaries to go into the world and proclaim God’s perfect rule always has and always will be in place. The people are not to seek the fairness and goodness as determined by the world. The fairness which can only be found in the perfect rule of Christ is our eternal goal. A missionary is not to enter a new culture and declare to the people their culture and lifestyle is acceptable and perfectly laudable. Every culture, every government, every lifestyle which is void of Christ is detestable and sinful. Disciples of Christ do not seek to infuse Jesus into someone’s life to make it a little better. Our missionaries are to learn cultures, so they can reach the people within and teach their lifestyle, as it is, is an affront to the perfect God. Christ must not be a part of our life but must reign over every facet of our lives.
Mike Pettengill is a veteran MTW missionary and the director of MTW West Coast.
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SEE MOREPray for missionaries as they face a wide variety of stressors related to living and serving cross-culturally on the mission field.
Pray for current missionaries, future missionaries, sending churches, and donors to be willing to ask the question, "How could God use me?"
Pray for church planters in Senegal working among the Wolof people, for the Timothy Houses training future pastors, and for the Teranga Village safe home for girls.
Pray for wisdom and clarity for those who are questioning whether God might be calling them to serve overseas.
Pray that we would love the world as God loves the world, and that we would respond to that love with action.
Pray that American churches would see the importance of continuing to support global missions.
Give thanks for God's work among the next generation in Scotland, and pray that many young people would live for Him as a result.
Pray that churches would make it a priority to pass on the faith to the next generation among the nations, encouraging trust and obedience to God's Word.
Pray for missionaries as they go through trials that require patience. Pray that God would strengthen them and give them hope.
Pray for 18-year-old Grecia in Mexico, and others like her, who God is transforming into a woman after His own heart, thanks in part to faithful short-term teams.
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