Torch, Fall 2002

Fall 2002 / TORCH 9 Developing A Marketplace Missionary Mentality by Lew Gibbs strong feelings—and dedicate ourselves to the life- changing impact that an encounter with Christ can have on our co-workers and neighbors. Second, we need to transform our perspective on fear. Although there are many verses like “be strong and of good courage”—we should not fear or be afraid—Scripture also suggests that the opposite of fear is not courage. It is love. In I John 4:18, we find, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear …”. If we really loved others, we would not fear making new acquaintances. If we really loved others, we would not fear the exposure of our inadequacies. If we really loved others, rejection and ridicule would not affect us. We should suffer no identity crisis. We should be known as people who care for the poor, the widows, the helpless, children, the prisoners, and the hopeless. We should have a love—yes, a passion—for our fellow human beings, saved or unsaved. We should determine to exhibit this love in every possible venue, including the workplace, not just at a place of worship surrounded by people of like mind. And we should not be afraid to do so! 2. A Nature of Adaptability Marketplace missionaries must be flexible and adaptable. Adapting to the people, certainly not their practices, is the key! To share meeting and greeting people we don’t know way out of our comfort zone. We are afraid of possible rejection, perhaps even ridicule. We are afraid that there may be demands on our personal time! We need to deal with two words here—passion and fear. First, it’s difficult for many of us to admit to a word like “passion.” We are aware of the many New Testament verses suggesting that we “say ‘no’ to ungodliness and worldly passions” (Titus 2:12), or “not in passionate lust, like the heathen” (I Thess. 4:5), and we tend to reject developing or admitting to positive passions about anything, much less witnessing. However, it must not escape our understanding that one of the dictionary meanings suggests that passions are “strong feelings, dedication.” We need to look at the notion of passion from this perspective—one of well-reasoned, The same process is necessary to becoming an effective “marketplace missionary.” It is vitally important for us to study the unique culture of those with whom we would be interacting in the marketplace. We must grasp the issues facing this unique culture and deal with them in a manner that demonstrates a compassion- driven life of integrity and honesty. We need to model Christ in our day-to-day actions and lifestyle. Having our lives read as a gospel before men includes being so adept at employing the skills God has given us that people will naturally be interested in pursuing the authenticity and relevancy of the gospel. In today’s society many people are looking for choices and life-paths that work! Some are not yet totally sensitive to the reasons why, but are sure that the life- model that they presently have is not working. An effective marketplace missionary displays at least five primary characteristics: 1. A Passion for the Lost Why is it that evangelism is such a difficult concept for even the most committed Christian? We have the key to entering the eternal life door, yet many find it difficult to passionately share it. Perhaps the difficulty arises because of an insidious fear. We are afraid of being embarrassed by the potential of not having all the answers that some may require. We find