(March 16, 2024), Alan Higgins challenges us to be a radical disciple and be a missionary – like Patrick was…

It’s Saint Patrick’s Day tomorrow and I recall what Ireland’s patron saint achieved in respect of discipleship and mission. The main scriptures – familiar to many – that I have chosen are Jeremiah 29:11 and Matthew 28:16-20… scriptures, I believe, that must have been on Patrick’s heart.

What can we learn from them… and what do they tell us about Saint Patrick, the Irish legend?          

His Life
Patrick’s life exemplifies Jesus’ command to reach the lost. The gospels give us the following messages from the heartbeat of Jesus, not just Patrick, on the importance of fulfilling the great commission.

Matthew 28:16-20 is what Patrick set out to do in Ireland – to make disciples in this nation. His life and ministry teach us to be open to the call of God on our lives.

• His beginning in Ireland didn’t dictate his future, but drew him into a love relationship with Jesus.
• His relationship with Jesus helped him overcome adverse circumstances in both teen and later years.
• His ability to draw close to God and to forgive people had a dramatic impact on the Irish people.
• His willingness to follow God’s call made him a hero of the faith.

Let’s learn from this man of God and ask ourselves a few ‘Am I’ questions. Such as these three –
1) ‘Am I willing to draw closer to God in turbulent times?
2) Am I willing and able to forgive those who have caused pain in my life?
3) Am I willing to follow the call of God and even give my life to those who enslaved me?’

If you do you too could become a hero of the faith just like Patrick! Remember, your prayers, even faltering ones, make such a difference.

His Role
Patrick’s role is a model for the Christian community to forgive others. He forgave those who had kidnapped him as a child… as he did all who mistreated him, misunderstood him – and his mission.

We too must be a forgiving people. If we don’t, then hatred will win our hearts and we will go down the slippery slope of wanting revenge on those who have offended and hurt us – but that is not God’s way.

At the end of this month – Easter – we’ll be celebrating all that Jesus has done for us… especially forgiving us from sin and failings.

And what did Jesus say about forgiveness? In Matthew 5:38-40 He said, ‘You have heard that it was said, “Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.”But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.’ 

At first glance, we might think this scripture teaches that no matter what someone does to us, we are to look the other way, that we are not to take any actions against our aggressors. This could not be farther from the truth.

It is not saying that we are to let people do whatever they want to us. Rather, it is saying that we should let God handle it. After all, God has the final say in everything. He’s still in charge!

His Example
This teaches us that we have to follow God’s calling. And why? Because it will make a difference in this world. Patrick became a hero by –

• Boldly proclaiming the gospel and winning the Irish to Jesus.
• His radicalness in both discipleship and mission.
• Using visual aids (like the shamrock to explain the Trinity). As we use PowerPoint today, he followed Jesus’ use of parables!

His Desire
This was that the Irish people heard the good news about Jesus. Patrick lived in the fifth century (a long time before PowerPoint!), and a time of rapid change and transition.

In many ways we might say that those times of turbulence and uncertainty were not unlike our own dark times. The Roman Empire was beginning to break up, and Europe was about to enter the so-called Dark Ages. Rome fell to barbarian invaders in 410AD. Within ten years its forces began to leave Britain to return to Rome to defend positions back home.

Life, once so orderly and predictable under Roman domination, now became chaotic and uncertain… and Patrick entered the world of that time.

Twelve aspects of his life’s journey…
* He was born Patricius (nobleman) somewhere in Roman Britain to a relatively wealthy family.
* Not religious as a youth he claimed to have practically renounced the faith of his family.
* While in his teens, Patrick was kidnapped in a raid and transported to Ireland.
* Enslaved to a local warlord he worked hard as a shepherd until he escaped six years later.
* Returning home, he eventually undertook studies for the priesthood.
* His intention was to return to Ireland as a missionary to his former captors!
* There he would minister for many years. Indeed, his permanent commitment was clearly to Ireland.  
* Patrick even intended to die there.
* By the time he wrote The Confession and Letter to Coroticus, he was recognised by both Irish natives and the church hierarchy as the bishop of Ireland.
* His life not only touched Ireland but, in time, other nations too.
* Patrick would follow Jesus’ instructions to the disciples to ‘go and make disciples of all nations.’

His Determination
Patrick’s determination to trust God is an encouragement to us all.

That other scripture I mentioned above – Jeremiah 29:11 – says, ‘For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ Would Patrick have been thinking those thoughts when kidnapped and taken as a slave? I believe he certainly did know that God would indeed have plans for his life and that those plans were good plans.

Do we believe that Bible truth when we are going through hard times, and there doesn’t seem to be any hope or future?

We too need to believe that God has plans for us, that those plans are the best for us and will help us just as they helped Patrick (and others who also have been, are, missions-minded!) The plans God has for each one of us will help us to live as radical disciples and radical missionaries.

Thinking outside the proverbial box!
Today we need to be radical in our discipleship, in our mission and in our teaching. Today we live in a world a lot different to what it was like in Jesus’ day and Saint Patrick’s, even 30 or 40 years ago.

Our churches today have needs and we must think outside the box. Are we really going to attract new people into the church if we continue as we have been doing for the past number of years?

The answer to that question is no – at my home church we concluded that we needed to do something urgently to see new families not just attend church but become radical disciples of Jesus as well.

• It will be a long hard struggle but if churches don’t do something now then the church as we know it now will be dead in the next few years.
• We all need to be like Patrick – radical disciples and radical missionaries – to show people around us that Jesus loves them.
• Let’s remember that Jesus cares for them and wants only the best for them – just as Patrick did to the Irish people all those years ago.

What about you?
So, what about you? What about me? Are we up for this task… as Patrick was? I pray we all are.

Matthew 5:13-16 ESV is an appropriate scripture… ‘We are called to be salt and light in the place where God has called us to serve Him.’ It is going to be a challenging task but with God’s help we can do it.

My prayer is this: ‘Father God, we thank you for Patrick and how he brought your good news to the people of Ireland all those years ago. Help us to be people who also bring your message of love and hope to needy people today and to show them that Jesus is the answer to all their needs. Amen!

May you too have a missionary-like heartbeat like Patrick… and Jesus!
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Alan Higgins served at Willowfield Parish Church, East Belfast, Northern Ireland, for 18 years. Although retired, he ministers around as God leads, including interim pastoring, blessing many. Link: OnlinerConnect@gmail.com
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