While researching an earlier Christmas article on Nate Saint, I came across some amazingly challenging words from missionary and martyr Jim Elliot. As a refresher, Elliot was one of five missionaries that were killed by the Huaorani people in January of 1956. Elliot and his friends had purposed to give their life to take the Gospel to those same Huaorani people, a mission that was ultimately completed by some of the men’s wives (and even one of their sisters.) Elliot was a fiery and passionate man of God, and kept a journal that is full of inspiring quotes and challenges; here are two that should hopefully stoke the fires of missions in us:
“It makes me boil when I think of the power we profess and the utter impotency of our action. Believers who know one-tenth as much as we do are doing one-hundred times more for God, with His blessing and our criticism. Oh if I could write it, preach it, say it, paint it, anything at all, if only God’s power would become known among us.” – Jim Elliot
“We are so utterly ordinary, so commonplace, while we profess to know a Power the Twentieth Century does not reckon with. But we are “harmless,” and therefore unharmed. We are spiritual pacifists, non-militants, conscientious objectors in this battle-to-the-death with principalities and powers in high places. Meekness must be had for contact with men, but brass, outspoken boldness is required to take part in the comradeship of the Cross. We are “sideliners” — coaching and criticizing the real wrestlers while content to sit by and leave the enemies of God unchallenged. The world cannot hate us, we are too much like its own. Oh that God would make us dangerous!” – Jim Elliot
Jim Elliot
Lord raise up more like Jim Elliot – those who would prophetically kindle our hearts to burn with holy fire and rouse your church from its sleep!
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