I Don’t Do . . .

Over the last 40 years, I believe I have heard just about every possible excuse for why Christ-followers cannot faithfully attend weekly church services, be consistent in sharing Christ with the lost, or answer the call into full-time ministry.

When local churches used to host evangelistic and revival crusades, I was fortunate to preach at hundreds of them. During those years, I would ask pastors to give me a list of people to invite. As a result, I invited more than 10,000 Christians to attend the crusades over those years. As you can imagine, I got a lot of positive responses and also truckloads of excuses why that person could not attend.

It’s just amazing to me when believers do not have enough courage or desire to attend their church when it is raining. Yet, these same believers have enough courage and desire to show up for work even though it is raining on Monday!

Yet, when I reflect on and pray over the price that has been paid toward the fulfillment of the Great Commission, it moves me deeply, as I am sure it moves you. We must continue to move forward. The risk is worth the reward. At Global Church Network, we call this Finish2030.

A True Legacy

Adoniram Judson, America’s first missionary, left our shores more than 200 years ago. He and his wife first went to India, where they faced viruses, sickness, and so much more. Then they moved on to Burma, where Judson translated the Bible into the Burmese language. His translation is still considered the standard to this day!

Judson served faithfully for 40 years in Burma. For a season he was imprisoned, but he did not give up. He buried two wives while serving that region. Then, when the time came to sail back to U.S., he died on the boat that was bringing him home.

Some years ago, while the communists were in control, I was fortunate to minister in Burma. A key leader (who I will leave nameless) took me to Judson’s first church. Along the top of the wall over the stage in the auditorium were 13 pictures of Judson’s first converts. The third was this key leader’s great-great grandfather! The man told me that because of Judson, all of his family members have been Christians.

When Judson’s son gave the eulogy at his funeral, he said, “If you are sacrificing without much success, it is because you are sacrificing for someone else’s success; if however, you have much success without much sacrifice, it is because someone has sacrificed for your success.”

Judson is buried in the Pilgrim Cemetery in Plymouth, Mass. – the same cemetery as Pilgrim leader William Bradford. I have stood at both their graves and inside both their homes.

I am so grateful that William Bradford did not say, “I am sorry brothers and sisters, I believe it is too dangerous to set sail in the Mayflower. It is such a small boat! I do not think the risk is worth the freedom of religion.”

What They Never Said

Nearly 20 years ago, Dr. Leonard Sweet shared this story:

Some years ago, two seminary students were walking in the hallway, complaining about their upcoming summer internship. One said to the other, “I don’t like where I am going. I don’t like the pastor I will be working with.” The other student chimed in, “I know what you mean. I would rather do something else. I don’t do internships.”

These two students did not know that 30 feet behind them was walking a distinguished professor who heard their conversation. He said to the two students, “I am grateful that Michelangelo did not say, ‘I don’t do ceilings.’”

With this in mind, I am grateful that:

William Carey did not say, “I don’t do India.”

David Livingstone did not say, “I don’t do Africa.”

James Hudson Taylor did not say, “I don’t do China.”

John Paton did not say, “I don’t do cannibals.”

Jim Elliot did not say, “I don’t do the unreached.”

Abel did not say, “I don’t do sacrifices.”

Noah did not say, “I don’t do floods.”

Moses did not say, “I don’t do wilderness wanderings.”

Joshua did not say, “I don’t do Jericho.”

Barak did not say, “I don’t do battles.”

Esther did not say, “I don’t do such a time as this.”

Ruth did not say, “I don’t do older kinsman redeemers.”

Samuel did not say, “I don’t do anointings.”

David did not say, “I don’t do goliaths.”

Ezra did not say, “I don’t do temples.”

Nehemiah did not say, “I don’t do walls.”

Isaiah did not say, “I don’t do martyrdom.”

Jeremiah did not say, “I don’t do weeping.”

Ezekiel did not say, “I don’t do prophecy.”

Daniel did not say, “I don’t do lions’ dens.”

Jonah did not say, “I do not do big fish.”

Habakkuk did not say, “I don’t do hard stuff and hinds’ feet.”

Mary did not say, “I don’t do virgin births.”

Jesus did not say, “I don’t do crosses!”

John did not say, “I don’t do Islands.”

Peter did not say, “I don’t do upside down crosses.”

Paul did not say, “I don’t do pain and prisons and beheadings.”

Epaphroditus did not say, “I do not risk my life for the Gospel.”

We enjoy today’s successes because others have sacrificed before us. We must endure today’s hardships so that the next generation will go further than we have. It is possible to finish the Great Commission by 2030.

Dr. James O. Davis is cofounder of Global Church Network, the largest pastors network in the world with more than 2,750 Christian ministries and 700,000 churches synergizing efforts to help finish the Great Commission by 2030. Global Church Divinity School has helped train tens of thousands of Christian leaders since 2002. Davis also is author of many titles, including The Joy Book, releasing Nov. 12.