When Silas ended the journey with Paul from Antioch to Philippi, they were thrown in jail. While he was shackled next to Paul, he reflected on what he had learned about grace—that grace not only tells us how we are saved but also who is saved. Finding some of those “who” in Philippi gave him a deeper view into God’s unconditional love and a joy in serving it. And that moved him to join Paul in praising God.
If the church could follow Silas from Antioch to Philippi, we wouldn’t need a Sunday to remind us of mission. We would all experience the joys of sacrifice and the visions of God’s wider mercy. I will try to take us into Silas’ head on that journey and see what he can impart to us.
Silas first met Paul in Jerusalem where Paul had come from Antioch to defend his teaching. The gospel Paul presented was grace apart from the stipulation of circumcision. The Jerusalem Council, with Peter’s strong defense, supported Paul and sent him back to Antioch with their blessing.
The church in the West has accepted grace alone for how we are saved. We get that. After all, that is a perfect fit for the ethos of our culture. We are through and through an individualist society, pursuing whatever brings self-realization and self-fulfillment. The message of free grace, of forgiveness, and adoption by God delivers all of that. What else could there be?
What we don’t get is why Paul told Silas to pack up and get ready to go to regions unknown, places and people that were ignorant of the terms of God’s grace. Silas wondered why Paul wanted to leave Antioch. What else could there be?
There were days and days for Silas to pursue that question with Paul as they walked across Asia Minor.
Paul’s answer began with his specific charge from Jesus Christ to be God’s instrument and pioneer in showing the dimensions of grace to all. God eliminated any distinction between the Jews and the Gentile nations. The Jews sinned in the same way that the nations have sinned. Abraham, the quintessential Jew, was also the father of all nations. God would deal with Gentiles just as he would deal with Jews.
What would that mean about the extent of God’s kingdom? Is it wide enough to include the nations? Yes, God is the God of the nations as well. What about those non-Jews who go before him by faith alone? He will justify the circumcised by faith as he will justify the uncircumcised by faith. The promise of grace includes the nations.
The logic is simple: Since there is no qualification required for grace, anyone may apply. If anyone may apply, then the promise extends to everyone. If grace is meant for everyone, then God wants no one excluded.
The mission of the church was God’s method of ensuring no one would be omitted. How shall they hear? God will send his people to them. God has committed to the church the task of extending the invitation to people in each and every nation.
That is what Silas learned about grace as he moved from Antioch to Philippi.
Today’s church has stopped at Antioch. The message of personal salvation fits so well. We put the individual at the center, absorbing all that comes with forgiveness, and then showing up in church as a happy believer. What else is there?
That is why we need a Sunday reminding us of mission beyond Antioch. That is why over 28% of the world doesn’t know about Jesus. That is why over two billion people of “everyone” have not moved to “no one excluded.” That’s why the church devotes no more than 10% of our resources for the two billion people of the world that remain outside the knowledge of the gospel.
It should take more than numbers to reverse this. What should move us is the unconditional love that has taken Jesus Christ to the cross. We should share in the broken heart of God that many do not know of Christ’s redeeming sacrifice.
I suggest three easy steps, steps that can lead to meaningful participation in this mission.
Begin with learning. Who are these people and where do they live? Find out about the Beja near the Red Sea, and the Qashqa’i herders of western Iran. Learn about the 10 million Marwari of Rajasthan who have less that 25,000 believers.
Then pray. That’s how God plants love in our hearts for these nations. See the beauty that God has put into them. But see also their dreaded habits and patterns that destroy and bind them to Satan’s powers. Go to the Global Prayer Digest. Every page of it lays out a profile of a different nation and how to pray for them.
That makes connections easy. There are scores of agencies working in these parts of the world and can be a channel for your interest and support. Notable for the Anglican world are Anglican Frontier Missions (AFM) and Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders (SAMS). The New Wineskins Network will take you further into resources and connections.
What Silas discovered by moving from Antioch to the Philippian jail was more than theological insight. He saw God’s love in the cross of his Son Jesus Christ as he brought people within the reach of Christ’s saving embrace. The praises come as the church goes to the ends of the earth with the never-ending love of God.
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