Lottie's Best Quality (LMCO Pt. 5)

Are you able to say the hard thing? When the difficult conversation is necessary, are you willing to engage? If the truth were to get twisted, would you be bold enough to offer clarification? While Lottie Moon possessed many desirable traits, her most valuable and admirable quality was that she could answer in the affirmative to the above questions.

Lottie was known for speaking her mind, for saying what was needed, for setting the record straight. When Baptist funding was insufficient to supply the needs of their foreign missionaries, Lottie challenged folks to give. There was a time when people spoke in ignorance about the living conditions of her and her peers; they falsely described missionary life as one of ease and comfort. They could not have been more wrong! The work was grueling and at times, quite dangerous. This prompted Lottie to write a response – one that painted a more accurate picture of the realities she and others faced in the mission field.

Lottie Moon was not afraid of people’s opinions, nor was she concerned with political correctness. Yet what is abundantly clear in an evaluation of her life and ministry is that she became incredibly fearful of the One that came to save men from their sins. She was not fearfully scared of God, but fearfully filled with awe as she considered the implications of Jesus’ cross. This is why she thought it best to encourage fellow believers to respond to God’s grace with courageous obedience and generosity.

I’ll wrap-up 2015 and our LMCO blog series by sharing some of my favorite Lottie quotes. Her words, taken from portions of letters, not only illustrate the straightforward approach she employed, but they continue to encourage and challenge believers today. Oh that we might be emboldened by the Spirit and the power of the Word to faithfully fulfill our role in getting the good news of Jesus to those who have yet to hear of His gospel.

"Oh! That my words could be as a trumpet call, stirring the hearts of my brethren and sisters to pray, to labor, to give themselves to this people… We are now, a very, very few feeble workers, scattering the grain broadcast according as time and strength permit. God will give the harvest; doubt it not. But the laborers are so few. Where we have four, we should have not less than one hundred. Are these wild words? They would not seem so were the church of God awake to her high privilege and her weighty responsibilities."

Nov. 11, 1878, Pingtu

"Why should we not ... instead of the paltry offerings we make, do something that will prove that we are really in earnest in claiming to be followers of him who, though he was rich, for our sake became poor?"

Sept. 15, 1887, Tungchow

"Please say to the new missionaries that they are coming to a life of hardship, responsibility and constant self denial. They must live, the greater part of the time, in Chinese houses, in close contact with the people. They will be alone in the interior and will need to be strong and courageous. If the joy of the Lord be their strength, the blessedness of the work will more than compensate for its hardships. Let them come ‘rejoicing to suffer’ for the sake of that Lord and Master who freely gave his life for them."

Jan. 9, 1889, Pingtu

"Why this strange indifferences to missions? Why these scant contributions? Why does money fail to be forthcoming when approved men and women are asking to be sent to proclaim the ‘unsearchable riches of Christ’ to the heathen?"

Oct. 3, 1887, Pingtu

Matt Fowler
Associate Pastor of Missions & Students
matt@nbchurch.info
@fattmowler

For more quotes and background information on Lottie Moon, visit imb.org.

Why Christmas? (LMCO Pt. 4)

It seems somewhat strange to attempt fundraising during the holiday season. Surely between all the family gatherings, office parties, gift purchasing, travel expenses, and extra meals at home, people are already stretched pretty thin. Yet December is the month that we focus our attention on raising money to directly support foreign missionaries. We do this through the International Mission Board’s Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

Why many have questioned, “Why Christmas?” Lottie Moon is famous for having asked, “Why not?!” She was convinced that it was the best time of year to ask.

“Is not the festive season when families and friends exchange gifts in memory of The Gift laid on the altar of the world for the redemption of the human race, the most appropriate time to consecrate a portion from abounding riches and scant poverty to send forth the good tidings of great joy into all the earth?”

Throughout her many years of ministry in China, Lottie frequently wrote back home. In her letters she helped educate people of the climate and conditions she was experiencing in the mission field. She also challenged her fellow sisters of the faith to do their part in accomplishing the task. She believed they could best do that by making people aware of the dire need that she and many other missionaries faced – their need for prayer, for fellow workers, and for generous financial gifts.

Ironically (or perhaps providentially), Lottie passed away on Christmas Eve of 1912, having faithfully given her all, indeed, her very life, for the cause of Christ in China. 6 years after her death, the Southern Baptist’s Woman’s Missionary Union decided to name the international missions Christmas offering after her – the very woman who had pleaded with them to take up such an offering in the first place.

So then, why Christmas? Great question. What is it exactly that we celebrate this season? Is it not our Savior, Immanuel? Additionally, is there honestly any better time for us to evaluate the things we are most wholeheartedly devoted to? Is the end of the year not a sobering time of self-inventory? We begin to look ahead, but we are also forced to reflect on what has been. I mean, before we can embrace what this next year might behold, don’t we have to consider what we did with the one that’s about to expire? We’re reminded of how we spent time and energy and money on this and that, and that we’re hoping for many more things to work out in our favor. But how many of these past expenditures and yet-to-be-experienced desires are kingdom-minded? Of our plethora of resources, how many will go toward fulfilling Christ’s Commission to make disciples of all nations?

This might be a good place for us to dwell for a bit, for Jesus said that once we locate our treasure, we’ll discover our heart in its midst (Matthew 6:21). 

Matt Fowler
Associate Pastor of Missions & Students
matt@nbchurch.info
@fattmowler

Help! My preacher is boring!

Which is better shallow water or deep water? The answer depends on the context.

Shallow water is better if:

• … You don’t need very much water.
• … You don’t plan of diving in.
• … You can’t swim.
• … You prefer to stay at the surface level.
• … You are not thirsty.
• … You choose to stay dry.

Deep water is better if:

• … You plan on diving in… head first!
• … You need to learn to swim.
• … You desire to go deeper.
• … You are thirsty.
• … You choose to take the plunge.

It’s been said that the spiritual depth of faith in the United States is a mile wide and an inch deep. Our attention spans are shrinking. Our appetites for being entertained are insatiable. Our stomachs are growling for spiritual nutrition, but all we have to eat is candy and fast food. Our souls were created for spiritual depth, but we only skip and splash in the kiddy pool.

Churches compete for attenders by aiming to please the consumer driven cravings of a the picky customer. In an effort to draw a larger crowd preachers are tempted to entertain listeners with short, amusing, and shallow messages. Jokes and stories replace difficult passages and confrontational challenges. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 “…profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness…”)

While it is true that “time is short,” and “we’re too busy,” consider reading the passages below. Answer these question, “What does God expect of me?” “Have I settled for shallow faith?” “How can I deepen my faith?” “How can I grow stronger in my faith?”

• … John 4:14 (Context: John 4:1-35)
• … John 6:35 (Context: John 6:4-15; 26-60)
• … John 7:37 (Context: John 7:37-53)

May we grow stronger in faith to bring God the glory He deserves!

Dr. Phil Sallee, Pastor
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Who? (LMCO Pt. 3)

While Lottie Moon is somewhat of a household name, Edmonia Moon is not. Many are aware of Lottie’s missionary work in China, yet few know that Edmonia was part of the same effort. When Lottie left the states to become a missionary, she was following her little sister Edmonia who had gone to China about a year earlier. This was an important connection for Lottie; Edmonia played a significant part in motivating her sister to find her place in the mission field.

Though Edmonia’s time in China was cut short on account of sickness and her deteriorating health, she fulfilled a vital role. She corresponded with Lottie back home via letters. She described the ministry she was involved with, the need for more workers, and ultimately, she encouraged her sister to partner with her. Edmonia’s obedience to trust the Lord’s calling to China paved the way for her big sister to follow. There is no Christmas offering taken up in the name of Edmonia, but her faithfulness was priceless for the kingdom.

In fact there are similarities to Edmonia and the disciple Andrew. Andrew was Simon Peter’s lesser-known brother. Though we all know about the quick to speak, slow to understand Peter, very little is mentioned in Scripture about Andrew. Yet in the first chapter of John, one can read of Andrew doing the work of an evangelist. He discovered that Jesus was the promised Messiah. Upon hearing this great news, he went and told his brother Pete immediately. Andrew then brought him to Jesus (John 1:35-42)… And as Paul Harvey might say, “now you know the rest of the story.”

From that point on, the Gospels and Acts, even some of the epistles, frequently reference the words and actions of the fisherman turned Apostle Peter, but Andrew, in Edmonia-like fashion, remains in the background. Scripture is relatively silent about Andrew. However, it is quite clear through what the Bible does say in the early part of John's Gospel, that Andrew’s obedience in evangelism was an instrumental part of God’s bigger story. Can you imagine reading about Jesus and the disciples without hearing the interesting stories of our homeboy Simon? Surely God gave us that dude so that all might find some form of encouragement.

More importantly though, are you okay with playing the role of an Edmonia or Andrew? If your name doesn’t get much press and a foreign missionary board fails to take up an annual offering to honor your legacy, are you still up for serving? Are you up for the challenge of possibly being remembered, perhaps even easily forgotten, as one that was entirely insignificant? Seems strange that this query need be asked, but my depraved heart has proven its necessity. Am I doing this ministry gig for man’s commendation or to one day hear “well done” from my Heavenly Father?

Our obedience may lead to someone else’s recognition, but so be it. Faithfulness to Christ will ultimately lead to the glory of His Name. The background may be our place in life; indeed, it is the position we each should seek. Andrew and Edmonia were oblivious to the ramifications of their roles, but God was not. Friend, is there any way of knowing the exact eternal value of the small part we will play? You may be raising the next Charles Spurgeon right now. Yes, this morning you might have whipped-up breakfast for the John Piper of Generation Z. You may be next-door neighbor to a future Adoniram Judson or Hudson Taylor. The guy in the cubicle across from you or the lady in the office down the hall has an untold potential in Christ. Oh may that potential be made known and might it come about through our faithfulness to Jesus – the only Sovereign, the Lord of lords, the King of kings, the Famous One, who is and forever shall be the Name above every name.

Matt Fowler
Associate Pastor of Missions & Students
matt@nbchurch.info
@fattmowler

She had a plan, but God had another... (LMCO Pt. 2)

The fact that Lottie Moon ever became a missionary is nothing short of miraculous. Although she grew up in the South within close proximity to gospel preaching, she had already by a young age become turned off to the faith because of all the hypocrisy and denominational disputes she had observed. With this in mind, she decided to have nothing to do with Christianity or religion of any kind. Lottie would carry this attitude with her all the way to college, regularly mocking and poking fun at Christianity whenever she could. In fact, it was with ornery intentions that Lottie entered a revival meeting one night, the very service that would lead to her conversion.

Lottie had decided to follow the rest of her classmates to hear the preaching of Reverend John Broadus. However, unlike her peers, Lottie was only going because it presented her with yet another occasion to taunt and tease her believing friends. She sat toward the front of the chapel in eager anticipation. She was ready to pick apart the sermon; she was looking forward to pointing out the foolishness of her friends’ faith. Yet as she listened to the preacher expound on the biblical text, something strange happened. She discovered that what Reverend Broadus was sharing, actually made a lot of sense. Despite her hardness, the gospel broke through. It softened and penetrated her heart.

Hoping for more material that she could mock, Lottie was instead challenged to consider the work of Christ on the cross. Though she initially tried to ignore the implications of His atonement, she found them inescapable. After a long, nearly sleepless night of pondering the message she had heard, Lottie awoke the next day and surrendered her life to Jesus. Though in her going to that bible study she meant it for bad, God meant it for good. Despite her rebellion, she couldn’t outrun her Savior. The gospel gripped her soul and she was forever changed.

Lottie would spend the last half of her life in China, testifying of the Jesus that saved her. It was hard work that was not immediately accompanied with fruit. The good news she shared was met with resistance, yet Lottie persevered and continued to be a witness of God’s love. Perhaps it was the memory of her own story that helped her remain faithful through the years. Maybe the encouragement that came to Lottie as she reminisced upon God’s grace should visit us as well.

The same God that chased down Lottie and sent her as a missionary to the Chinese still pursues the affections of His beloved today. It matters not how much we’ve messed up, how many times we’ve blown it, nor how long we’ve rebelled against Him. God’s grace covers it all; it is entirely sufficient for us! Perhaps there is an individual that is heavy on your heart this season; maybe there is an unreached people group that you’ve been praying for. We can rest in the knowledge that God is good, and though many reject and deny Him at first and hundredth chance, He continues to woo and engage. He sends experiences, conversations, sometimes even missionaries our way, all to make Him Name known. Not one of His elect shall be lost. There is no hiding from Him. One can flee hard as he might, but there is no outrunning God’s love; there is no way to outsin His grace and mercy.

And this is the primary goal of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering – that those who are far from Christ may be brought near. That people of every tongue, tribe, and nation may come to know the God of the gospel. Those at the uttermost parts of the earth may come to worship this One who so graciously interrupts our plans for the glory of His name. No matter how dire things seem, may we remain faithful in our prayers and in boldly proclaiming the good news of Jesus, knowing that in our own strength the task before us will always be too great, but with God, all things are possible. Like Lottie Moon, the Apostle Paul, and the writer of this blog, those who appear most unlikely to respond to the good news of Christ, may one day become the blessed feet that carry His gospel forward. Oh Father, for Your glory, make it so…

Matt Fowler
Associate Pastor of Missions & Students
matt@nbchurch.info
@fattmowler

Bibliography:

Benge, Janet and Geoff. Lottie Moon: Giving Her All for China. Seattle: YWAM Publishing, 2001.

Terrorism, Islam and the Christian Response

The headlines describing the latest terrorist attacks are frequent and tragic. The heartbreaking loss of innocent lives is detestable and repulsive.
How should I respond as a loving Christian? The Christians that I know truly desire to be obedient to the mission of Jesus to the ends of the earth (Matthew 29:18-20; Acts 1:8). Ironically, Christians that I know are also given the mandate to love and protect their families and trust the Lord (Psalm 35:1-28).
The most honest answer I can give? I don’t know.
As one man said, last night, during a discussion on these topics, “These pants are not ‘one-size-fits-all.’” There should be unique responses based upon the uniqueness of each situation. For the escalating issues of Islamic terrorism and Syrian refugees, and there is no simple answer.
Should the United States open it’s borders to all terrorists, of any ideological persuasion, so that they can plan and carry out a terrorist attack on innocent American lives? Of course not!
Should the United States refuse entry to a Syrian Christian family who will be immediately martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ if they are forced to remain/return to ISIS controlled Syria? Of course not!
We must be wise and obedient to providing the proper response.
We must not allow fear to cause us to forsake our mission.
Some have asked me to address Islam and the world view of the Muslim. As I have begun to formulate a cogent response I have learned that Islam to too diverse, even complicated, for an untrained person to respond in haste. I have not read the Kor'an and I have not studied Islam.
The Kor’an speaks to both peace and war.
Many Muslims are peaceful and they ignore the parts of the Kor’an that calls them to violence toward their enemies. They prefer to observe the passages of the Kor’an that call the Muslim to peace.
Some Muslims are violent and they ignore the part of the Kor’an that calls them to peace. They prefer to observe the passages of the Kor’an that call the Muslim to fight.
I am not as concerned with what Muslims believe about the Kor’an as I am concerned about how I, and the Christians that I know trust and obey the Bible.
If you would like to educate yourself I believe I have found a good resourse. Dr. Nabeel Qureshi, is an excellent resource for Christians to wish to educate themselves about the Islamic faith.He has recorded several Youtube videos that try to explain Islam in a simple manner. If you are brave, you can read the comments to see how divided we are on these complex issues.
He has also recorded a graduate level classroom videos at Biola.edu University that explain Islam in an academic manner.The key is to stay calm, prayerful, and trust in a sovereign and holy God. He alone will protect us for eternity.

Dr. Phil Sallee, Pastor
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