Say what you mean and mean what you say

The local church where I serve supports a missionary in Venezuela. This precious, young family is working with New Tribes Mission and has been there serving with the prayer that they can reach a certain people group with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

A few weeks back, some comments made by Pat Robertson sent shockwaves throughout the country of Venezuela. Even though Robertson has revoked his original comments, it makes no difference in the eyes of the government of Venezuela. A few days back, President Chavez ordered all New Tribes Missions out of the country.

It has been interesting to see how God unfolds His sovereign plan for this family. I am being purposefully ambiguous as it relates to names, places, and people groups for obvious reasons. Naming them in any type of Internet format could cause them to be targeted and identified.

It is also a great reminder to me to watch what I say. Being a pastor, I use words to communicate the meaning of Scripture. I am rebuked by the exhortation from James, "Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well." (3:1-2). It is easy to criticize Robertson, but how many times have we said things from the pulpit that we regret? Most of us do not have media microphones and video recorders filming our every word. Robertson does. Let's learn from his mistakes.

These are difficult issues to think through as Christians. It is clear that the government in Venezuela is against NTM, which is evangelical and fundamental in their approach to the Gospel. To put it Biblically, they are against God and His Gospel (cf. John 15:18-27).

The apostle Paul wrote, "But I shall remain in Ephesus until Pentecost; 9 for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries." (1 Corinthians 16:8-9). Oftentimes, we pray for open doors for effective service, then we are surprised when there is opposition! In Paul's case, an open door from God was synonymous with opposition from sinful man. Perhaps we could remember that the next time things are difficult in ministry and in life!

The saga of what will happen with the NTM missionaries is firmly in the hand of God. From our perspective, we see very dimly. Let me close by quoting part of a recent email from our missionary family, "God's sovereign rule is best viewed from back a bit and not with your nose pressed up against the glass. Up close things seem out of control...until things become clear, let's take a couple of steps back from the glass. All we are doing is fogging the view."