What Is Our Mission?

Introduction

The Far Side cartoons by Gary Larson continue to be appreciated by fans across the nation. While Larson retired in 1994 from a daily cartoon, he continues to draw for calendars and other mass media means. One of Larson’s cartoons shows two deer standing on their hind legs walking as if they are human. One of the deer has a large target on his chest. The other deer says to him, “Bummer of a birthmark, Hal.” Ever felt like that; like there is a target on your chest or back? As Christians, we do. All we have to do is read Ephesians 6 and know that Satan is out to get us.

But there is another way to think of a target. We can also think of a target in a more positive way. We use the word target to describe a goal to reach, or a group to appeal to. And God can target us for some special purpose. In fact, for each Christian God has a special purpose for us. It is to be holy; to demonstrate him in our lives; and to speak for him. In Acts 13, we have God calling Barnabas and Saul for a special purpose. Remember in Acts 9, Saul is converted. Through the teaching of Ananias, Saul is convinced that he needs to repent and be baptized. From chapter nine to chapter 13, Saul is only a memory. But when we come to chapter 13, Saul comes to the forefront again.

In 9:15-16, Saul is told that he is going to be the missionary to the Gentiles, to rulers, and to fellow Jews. Now in chapter 13, the commission to go is given. In 13:2, God specifically commissions Barnabas and Saul to begin the mission work. Luke has several purposes in this early part of chapter 13.

First, he is demonstrating that God wants the Gentiles brought into the kingdom. While Peter began the process in chapter 10, the church in Jerusalem did not seize the opportunity. It was left to the church in Antioch to continue this mission work.

Second, Luke is demonstrating that Saul has an apostolic call to be a missionary to the Gentiles. Not only does the call in chapter 13 establish that, but the ability to do miracles as seen in 13:11. We also see the validity of Saul’s apostleship in his preaching in that it is identical to Peter’s. In chapter 8, Peter opposes a magician; Saul does so here in chapter 13. Peter’s success brought Jewish jealousy in 5:17; Saul’s preaching also brings Jewish jealousy in 13:45. Peter heals a man lame from birth in 3:1-10; Saul does as well in 14:8-10. People are healed when Peter’s shadow goes across them in 5:15-16; people are healed when handkerchiefs and aprons touched by Paul are given to them in 19:11-12. These are more than coincidental. Finally, Luke uses the change from Barnabas and Saul in 13:2 to Paul and Barnabas in 13:13 and 13:42, signifying Paul’s leadership.

So Luke is using this text to shift from the gospel going primarily to the Jews to the gospel going to non-Jews or Gentiles. And that shift demands apostolic leadership; thus, Paul is given the apostolic commission to go to the Gentiles. Luke from this point on will focus on the Gentiles with Paul as the main character and leader in that mission work. Indeed, we see evidence of a special purpose for Paul. Wouldn’t it be great if we knew what our special purpose was? Wouldn’t it be great if a specific call came to us? It has. Let’s allow 13:4-12 to convince us of our call.

Mission Work

Paul and Barnabas head to Cyprus. Almost immediately they begin preaching the word. The word proclaimed means to declare plainly and openly, out loud. The word “word” means intelligent, thoughtful expressions. In other words, they did not spend time in man’s wisdom but they preached the intelligent, thoughtful expression of God, which is personified in Jesus. Rationally, logically, they appealed to the scriptures and spoke of God’s plan as it was expressed in Jesus. We are not told what kind of reception they had. What we do know is that when they reached Paphos, the governor of the island wanted to hear about Jesus. Word must have spread about these missionaries and the governor, an intelligent man, called for Paul and Barnabas to come and preach to him.

Irony of ironies, a Jewish sorcerer opposes Paul. Ironic because the Jewish law was clear that magic was not to be a part of the Jewish way of life. Ironic because the sorcerer’s name is Bar-Jesus or son of Joshua. He bears the same name as Jesus. Jesus is the Greek name for the Hebrew name Joshua. It means God saves. The man who was supposed to have known about the one true God bears the name of the son of God and yet he uses deception to keep the governor of Cyprus from being saved. Paul confronts this magician and miraculously he is blinded for a time. Since he was appealing to darkness to justify his work, then in darkness he will live. Notice how Luke summarizes this episode. The governor saw what happened and he believed. But he didn’t believe because of the miracle. What really amazed him was the teaching about Jesus.

Application

This is a good story. It clearly demonstrates Paul’s faithfulness to his call. He knew that he had a mission. He knew what he was supposed to do. The Antioch church was supporting him and Barnabas. They just had to go and preach. But what about us as individuals? What does this text have to say to us?

We were sitting in a Shoney’s restaurant, the one that used to be in Eastgate years ago. It was one of those early morning breakfasts that allows a couple of early 20-year-old guys to get together before work. We talked about a lot of things: plans, goals, direction. I wondered aloud what God’s plan was for both of us and how we could know what that plan was. He was planning on going to the Midwest. He was looking at Wisconsin, Minnesota, and other places to help begin or work with a congregation which was struggling. I, too, was thinking about where Barbara and I would go. We were talking about the Northwest—Washington or Oregon. But then Ken said something to me that I have never forgotten and which aptly fits this text.

“Dana, God has already called you to a mission field. It’s Memphis. You already have a mission field to work in.” And with those words, my view of trying to discover God’s specific plan for me changed. We think of a plan which calls us to do something great. Something which requires us to leave, forsake family and friends, and which demands that we sacrifice with humility. I would suggest to you that all of those things are done where you are and not in another place. God called Paul and Barnabas to leave Antioch and begin a missionary journey. But what happened to Simeon, Lucius, and Manaen? Are we to assume that without a call they thought their praying, fasting, and seeking God’s direction was of no benefit? Did not the church in Antioch need these men?

God has already called you. He has called you to serve in his mission field. He doesn’t call everyone to be missionaries in foreign fields, but he does call us all to be missionaries where we are. When Paul and Barnabas reached Cyprus they started preaching. They knew they were on a mission, not a vacation. Which are you on? Are you on a mission or a vacation? Our mission as Christians is not to work for so many years so that we may retire with ease. Our mission is not to see how fast we can climb the corporate ladder, although climbing is not wrong. We have been called to a mission field. Our mission is found in Memphis, Germantown, Bartlett, Shelby County, Fayette County, DeSoto County. Our mission is in our neighborhoods, our jobs, our schools, our homes. God has called us to a mission, not a vacation.

Just as surely as Paul and Barnabas answered God’s call for mission work, so we answer the assignment he has given us until he calls us to go elsewhere. We exist congregationally and individually in a city which numbers 1 million people. The fields are white, ready to harvest. Who will go? Who will work in God’s fields? When we accept the mission; when we present Jesus in his glory and splendor; he is amazing. Invitation.

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