It seems this question keeps coming up, so I’d like to address it publicly.

The answer is very simple, but (I suppose) at the same time quite complex.  It all depends upon your perspective...

After much thought and prayer, I am led by God to go. 

To not go would be to disobey my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

If disobeyed Him, how could I call Him my Lord?

I would be denying Him as my Lord in my actions - and so too would He deny me.

At the same time, I am compelled by the love of Christ to go to Kabul.  God has given me a great love for the Afghan people, and I desire to fulfill my joy by going to see them!  Not only that, it is my hope and prayer that I may be able to minister to and serve the many missionaries that are already there (many having been there laboring in love for many years, from a multitude of nations!).  So, I have a great desire to go - and I am filled with an excitement with such a blessed opportunity!

What about fear?

Fear?

Perfect love casts out all fear. (1 John 4:18)  If God be for me, who could be against me? (Romans 8:31)  Nothing can separate me from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus! (Romans 8:38-39)  God works all things together for my good. (Romans 8:28)  What can man possibly do to me? (Psalm 56:11, Psalm 118:6, Hebrews 13:6)  The worst man could do is to kill me.  And what then?  Such a man would do nothing but dispatch me to paradise for all eternity! (Luke 23:43)  In Christ, what is there to fear in death?!?  To live is Christ, and to die is gain!  (Philippians 1:21) Death has no sting - it has been swallowed up in victory.  For the sting of death is sin - and the strength of sin is the law - but God has given me victory through the Lord Jesus Christ! (1 Corinthians 15:55-57) Though I have sinned and fall short of the glory of God - making me worthy and deserving of death and hell (as all are) (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23) yet does God count me righteous in Christ Jesus - He has imputed that righteousness to me by faith. (Romans 4:16-25)  And so, too, do I reckon it so and confess Him my Lord - I am dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ!  (Romans 6:11) His blood has atoned for my soul; He is the Lamb of God who took my iniquities upon Himself (John 1:29, Isaiah 53:5)- even willingly laying down His life for mine, dying for my sins! (Philippians 2:6-11)  And God, who raised up the Lord from the dead shall also raise me up by His power! (1 Corinthians 6:14)

Fear? 

You tell me who I should fear - those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul?  Or should I fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell?

Fear?

Here is a letter I wrote on July 26, 2000 about the end of fear.

Fear?

Here is my personal testimony about the end of my fear.

Fear?

...well...yes.  The flesh remains.  Please pray for me:  Pray for wisdom and discernment, protection and guidance, boldness and meekness - and pray that the trip be fruitful, with fruit that lasts - and above all else that His will be done and Jesus Christ be glorified!

Why Afghanistan?

Again, that is where God has told me to go - though I had planned on joining two other residents at my program to go to India.  I prayed about it, and Afghanistan came up.  At first, I decided to split my trip between India and Afghanistan.  But I prayed again, and only Afghanistan remained.

If you are still reading this, I offer you a few more things.

1.  Read my personal testimony, and this will bring more light to the issue

2.  Read the dream I had, and perhaps then you will understand

3.  Finally, consider the words of my very dear brother in the Lord, John Piper.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen.

My Testimony

Homepage

Mission Trip to Kabul, Afghanistan

Commissioning Dream and a Modern-Day Parable

John Piper