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The reason for giving to any mission must be found in and justified by the Scriptures. The Scriptural mandate for Apologetics is very strong! The late, preeminent New Testament scholar F.F. Bruce said that 47% of the New Testament is Apologetics in nature. The commands to engage in Apologetics activities are found throughout the New Testament and in such classic examples as

1 Peter 3:15 and 16:

" . . . sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame."

. . . and Jude verse 3:

"Earnestly contend for the faith that was once and for all delivered to the saints."

MISSIONARIES MUST BE SENT!

We are commanded to send missionaries so that people may believe in the Gospel!

"How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach, except they be sent? even as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things!"
(Romans 10:14,15)

Just Where Are Missionaries To Be Sent?

They are to be sent first to the immediate area (Jerusalem), then to nearby areas (Judea) and then to the "uttermost parts of the earth" (see this order in Acts 1:8)

Exactly What Are Missionaries Supposed To Do?

We are commanded to follow the example of the Apostles in general, and that of the greatest missionary apologist of all time, the Apostle Paul, in particular! In Philippians 3:17 he tells us,

"Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you."

What Was Paul's Example and Pattern?

"As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures . . . While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there."
(Acts 17:2, 16, 17)

"I would like to invite you to partner with us in this prophetic Apologetics mission through prayer, participation at our regular meetings and faithful financial support. Please tell others in the Body of Christ what we are about in strengthening and building up Christ's Kingdom. Many hands make light work and we need all of our spiritually mature brothers and sisters to join us in the battle!"

The prophets of old confronted evil directly and the New Testament tells us to:

"Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them."
Ephesians 5:11

Jesus said in Matthew 10:40-42, "Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."  In this context, He was talking about physical support of those representing Him in a prophetic way. We believe we are fulfilling this very prophetic role as His disciples by speaking biblical truth to the Church and the culture at large as the Lord gives us opportunity.We would like to encourage you to receive us into the heart of your giving as unto the Lord.

THE CHALLENGES OF BEING A MISSIONARY TO THE UNITED STATES

Jesus said, "A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house."

There is an innate challenge in outreach to those in your own country. Ezekiel faced this as God warned him: "Then He said to me, "Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them. For you are not being sent to a people of unintelligible speech or difficult language, but to the house of Israel, nor to many peoples of unintelligible speech or difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. But I have sent you to them who should listen to you; yet the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, since they are not willing to listen to Me." -Ezekiel 3:4-7

"SLUGS VERSUS HUGS!" OR THE "WARM FUZZIES" CROWD

The pagan, Post-Modernist thinking that says "all truth is relative" has influenced even those in the Church. Some think that it is at least impolite or bad manners to tell others they are in danger of hellfire if they don't trust in Jesus. Warm fuzzies and sentimental stories are what these types want to hear and not hard truth. A pastor from my home church once said, "You'd be getting a lot more support if you handed out hugs instead of slugs. Our modern Evangelicals like stories that give them "warm fuzzies." I personally believe your ministry is far more important for our times."

THE "I'M OK HERE SO YOU MUST BE TOO!" EFFECT

The standard of living required in The United States requires more funds than in a country where the dollar has more purchasing power. The cost of doing business is also higher here as well. Both of these factors are part of the financial challenge of being a missionary to America. Some also wrongly believe that it is easier to raise money here for home missions. The truth is that support is sometimes dropped for home missions in favor of those in other countries because of this very idea. Add to that the false romantic notion that people in poorer countries are somehow much more deserving of the Gospel and you have a major challenge on your hands in raising support.

THE OSTRICH SYNDROME

Some people feel threatened by the very thought of their homeland being inhabited by hostile non-Christian or pagan people who need to be persuaded about the Gospel. Their imaginary comfort zones are invaded by this truth and it makes them feel uncomfortable or even unpatriotic to think this.

THE FALSE PATRIOTIC PRIDE/SUPERIORITY COMPLEX

This is similar to the ostrich syndrome in that these folks feel that "superior Christian nations send missionaries to the less fortunate backward ones" and that "the United States is a Christian nation." It takes spiritual humility and discernment to see we are, as Dr. Francis Schaeffer pointed out; "a post-Christian nation."

THE ONLY PLACE TO GIVE YOUR SUPPORT TO FALLACY

It is quite right that Christians should give to ministries to the poor, to their home church fellowship and overseas missions. However, it makes it difficult for the American Apologetics mission when these causes are portrayed by leaders (through insinuation or outright declaration) to the Body of Christ as being the ONLY things worthy of concern and financial support. In a day and age when many churches are apostate or uninterested in the apologetics approach in favor of pagan Madison Avenue techniques this becomes an even more poignant point.

THE "I SHOULD BE AN APOLOGIST TOO?" PROBLEM

There are those who are spiritually threatened or challenged by the notion that a missionary is needed near them because that means that maybe they should be involved in Apologetics Evangelism in a greater way with their personal time or finances. Sometimes if one's affluent American lifestyle contrasts much too sharply with a needy missionary endeavor nearby it can make some feel embarrassed and not want to be too closely associated with it. It is hard to justify some of the expenditures all of us Americans make on trivial or selfish things when a legitimate ministry of God goes wanting.

This can lead to opposition and faultfinding on the part of some in order to try and justify their heart's position. It may take the form of judging the pragmatics of the missionary operation. A former missionary to France once told me that an American businessman cut off his support to him when he found out that the missionary didn't keep an American 9-5 "business schedule." He said, "You mean you don't keep the same business hours I do?" The answer to this type of attitude about pragmatics is found in Romans 14:4 "Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand." Constructive criticism is one thing and should be welcomed, but the demand to conform to someone else's vision of what God is calling you to do is wrong.

THE INVOLVED (BUT FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS) GROUP

There are still others who do get involved in apologetics ministry but for the wrong reasons. Some Americans see public/broadcast ministry as glamorous and get involved only long enough to find out apologetics ministry has many unpopular and mundane aspects to it that it can be quite emotionally and spiritually taxing (I suffered a constrictive stroke in the midst of one such hot spiritual battle). Some like to proudly win arguments and see apologetics as a way of doing this. A few are not called as teachers, yet still want to establish themselves in their own "ministry." People like this will "help" with the ministry until they have discovered all they can about the way to "do it" themselves. One new apologetics minister once told me how he was very pleased that he was now "making more money in ministry" than he had been as a salesman and that he was finally "getting respect" from his relatives because he was getting airtime on the local radio station! I reminded him he was dealing in esoteric or specialized knowledge which is very impressive to those who haven't studied it, and that his expert status should not be a cause of false pride to him.

"Now concerning things sacrificed to idols:   We know that we all have knowledge.  Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth."
The Apostle Paul-1Corinthians 8:1

C.S. Lewis pointed out in his book Mere Christianity: "If every one else became equally rich, or clever, or good-looking there would be nothing to be proud about. It is the comparison that makes you proud. The pleasure of being above the rest. Once the element of competition has gone, pride has gone. That is why I say that Pride is essentially competitive in a way the other vices are not. The sexual impulse may drive two men into competition if they both want the same girl. But that is only by accident; they might just as likely have wanted two different girls. But a proud man will take your girl from you, not because he wants her, but just to prove he's a better man than you." One clergyman looked at the house we live in and made a comment that it was bigger than his house and said something flippantly derogatory about our being missionaries in this light. I informed him that we don't own the house, the ministry does, and that a family of eight and the ministry needs the room.

The above forms of immaturity are not what should motivate any minister of the gospel. People with false motivations who do get involved for awhile can be problematic and discouraging when an apologetics mission is trying to encourage as many Christians as possible to participate. Perseverance is required in realizing the Lord's purposes are what must be served and that He must be our focus.

HIS MINISTRY IS A PRIVILEGE!

The above categories of challenge have all been encountered right here in America in 18 years of doing this ministry. Many people don't "get it" -but many do! Though this page deals with hurdles and challenges inherent in the American Apologetics mission landscape, there are many more pages that could be written of the wonderful brothers and sisters who are properly supportive. These are they who self-sacrificingly contribute of their time, labor and worldly goods in order to reach this post-Christian American culture, by encouraging the Church to follow the example of the Apostles.

All of this is why maturity in supporters and associates is vital to the Apologetics mission!  Won't you please prayerfully consider what The Lord would have you to do?

To better understand our mission's current needs please click here: acurrentneed.htm

To better understand challenges facing a missionary to the United States of America please click here: apologiagiving.htm

The Following Ministry Is Provided By Mount Carmel Outreach (A Division of The Institute For Christian Apologetics)

· Radio Program Perspective Underground : Heard Saturdays at noon on WFEN (88.3 FM in Rockford IL & 103 FM in Madison, WI).

· Interdenominational Teaching and Discussion Groups: Held every Monday night for the past 18 years at First Evangelical Free Church from 7:00-9:00 PM. We are also conducting a discussion group at Crossroads Church in Freeport, Illinois on Thursdays nights from 7:00-9:00 PM. In the future weekend meetings will also be held in our auditorium.

· Interdenominational Pulpit Fill and Sunday School/ Adult Group Teaching

· Broadcast Media Appearances, Teaching and Speaking at both secular and Christian venues for all age groups.

· Prayer, Counseling and Information Distribution services given in person or by

phone at: (815) 947-2858 and via E-mail at Contender@aol.com

· Our Website at www.contender.org: Visited by many including quite a number of University students

· Tape Catalog: Featuring 107 tapes of radio programs and the largest conference on discernment and evangelism issues ever held in the Midwest: "The Rockford Conference On Discernment and Evangelism."

· Research and Writing: For instance, we contributed to several sections of The Cults Charts Book which was edited

by our board member Dr. H. Wayne House and published by Zondervan publishers.

· Our Journal/Newsletter The Contender: Posted on our website, not as a reminder or "nag" letter, but as one that teaches and informs. We do this about six times a year, and if you want it sent to you in the mail as a hard copy let us know when you mail us your gift.

To join with us in this ministry please make your check out to:
Mount Carmel Outreach and mail it to P.O. Box 5761 Rockford, IL 61125

Please also let us know if you would like a copy of our tape catalog.

To better understand our mission's current needs please click here: acurrentneed.htm

To return to letter click here: abriefletter.htm