Editor: A lot of Christians and many churches treat missions as if it is an optional add-on in the Christian life. What is the relationship between being a Christ follower and joining God in His mission in the world?

Rick: Being a follower of Jesus and joining God’s work go hand in hand. But you’re right. A lot of well-meaning Christians do live like missions is optional. I know because I lived the same way for most of my life. But missions is not optional. In Luke 6, Jesus says, you must be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate.He didn’t say this is optional, or something to do after you’ve funded your portfolio or feathered your nest. Jesus says we must learn to be compassionate.

For the past couple of hundred years, most of the relief and missions efforts around the world have been done by governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), parachurch organizations, and missions organizations. Average church members basically have been able to pray, pay, and stay out of the way while paid professional missionaries did the hands-on work. But that has never been God’s plan A. In fact, as you read the Bible, you see that God always used churches. Churches fed the poor, cared for the sick, and shared the good news. Churches sent out small groups of people on a short-term basis to start up other churches. They all went out, and they went together in groups. At Saddleback Church we’ve been trying to move back to the New Testament model, with small groups of church members going out together on missions trips all around the world. It’s something we want every member of our church to be involved in.

Editor: Many Christians see their mission as proclaiming spiritual truth to a lost world, but your PEACE (Plant churches, Equip servant leaders, Assist the poor, Care for the sick, and Educate the next generation) initiative seems to say it’s important for Christians to address the whole range of problems that people face in everyday life. Where do you get the idea that Christians should be attacking all five of the “giants”?

Rick: As Christians, we’re supposed to follow Jesus’ example. What Jesus did in His physical body while on earth, He expects his spiritual body—the Church—to continue. So our model for the PEACE Plan is Jesus Christ. When Jesus was here on earth, He did five things. First, He planted his church. He said, “I will build my church” (Matt. 16:18 NIV). Second, He equipped servant leaders; in fact, He spent the three years of His public ministry pouring His life into other leaders. He also assisted the poor. In His first sermon he said, “I’ve come to bring good news to the poor.” Then He cared for the sick; a third of His ministry was in healing. He also educated people. He said, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32 NIV).And it wasn’t just the adults He was interested in educating. He said, “Let the little children to come to Me” (Matt. 19:14 NIV).He made educating the next generation a priority. So, because Jesus planted His Church, equipped leaders, assisted the poor, cared for the sick, and educated the next generation, that’s what the PEACE Plan is focused on.

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