We often hear this from people who should know better: Elders, deacons, pastors and even some missionaries themselves. The truth is, we are not all missionaries. As Christ followers, we are all called to be witnesses. However, some are called to do ministry locally while others are called to do missions elsewhere.
Just to
explain, I am not interested in endorsing the overuse of titles. When we get to
heaven there will be little need for titles there, so I don’t believe we should
spend much of our time clinging to earthly titles here. That is why this is a
blog post and not a book. However, we need to give honor where honor is due,
while at the same time exposing some of the subtle sins of pride, arrogance and
misrepresentation of the Lord.
In this brief treatise, we will look at this
misunderstanding practically and biblically. We will also explore some of the
root causes for this misuse of the word so that we will know how to handle the
next person who makes this proclamation.
The problem in misusing this word is that there is a
dumbing down of what it means to be a missionary. Just because you give someone
an aspirin for their headache doesn’t make you a doctor. Nor are you a talent
scout when you shout criticism at Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers starting pitcher)
during a ballgame. Why would we call
someone a missionary who simply shares their faith with a neighbor or co-worker
or maybe does a little ministry on the side? It’s like saying I am a car just because
I am hanging out in my garage.
The truth is, all Christians should be actively
sharing their faith and serving people in the communities, workplaces and in
their church. Scripture says that God called “some to be apostles, some to be
prophets, some to be evangelists and some to be pastors and teachers…”
Therefore, we see that there are a variety of different roles, and yes, even
titles, for people to fulfill within the body of Christ. As we will see later,
the title of ‘missionary’ developed later in the progression of the church to
fulfill a specific need and task, just like the roles of evangelists, pastors
and teachers.
The
term ‘mission’ is not found in scripture, yet its’ concept permeates both the
Old and the New Testament. The Latin word missionem
/ mittere means “The act of sending” and was first used to describe Christian
activity in 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad to set up centers for
Christian work in other cultures. The word missionary, therefore comes from
this root as “one who is sent”.
Mission
is a task on which God sends a person whom He has called to introduce another
group of people to salvation in Christ. The word missionary describes the
person who is sent, and the mission of the church is to send missionaries into
all parts of the world until everyone has the opportunity to hear and respond
to the message of Jesus.
In
the Old Testament, there are a few examples of ‘missionaries’ whom God sends
personally:
-
Abraham - to be a blessing to all the families on the earth
- Jeremiah – to be a prophet to all nations
- Jonah – sent to call the people of Nineveh to repentance
In the New Testament, a new mission is birthed where
God sets up the first “sending agency” known as the Church which replaces the
nation of Israel as the keeper and protector and proclaimer of the gospel. He
gives this entity a mandate to do four things:
-
go into all the world
- make disciples
- baptize the followers of Jesus
- teach the gospel (commandments, repentance and forgiveness of sins)
Paul and Barnabas are prime examples of missionaries
that were called by God and sent out by the Church in Antioch. We see in Acts
13 that God spoke through the Holy Spirit to the church leaders concerning
Paul, “’Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called
them’. Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent
them off.”
Three things from this passage that are critical in
our understanding of what constitutes a missionary calling. First, the
missionaries were called by God to a particular task. In this case, they were
called to preach to the gentiles. Second, God confirmed this calling to the
church leaders. This sending entity, the church, heard from the Lord directly
and was instructed by God to set them apart for the task. Thirdly, the church
responded by ceremonially “commissioning” them by fasting, praying, laying on
of hands, and then sending them off. These four elements can be further
elaborated upon by looking at what they represent within the body of believers:
1. Fasting
– A physical demonstration of support that likely lasted for more than just one
day. This means that the decision to support Paul and Barnabas was not an
immediate response, and it came with serious thought and consideration of all
the implications associated with sending someone to another culture.
2. Praying
– A spiritual demonstration both corporately and privately to discern the will
of God in this decision. Prayer meant that the church leaders did not just
engage their intellect, but they surrendered to wisdom that does not come from
an earthly way of thinking.
3. Laying
on of hands – This is more than just a show of support or a gesture of
alliance. This was a sign of unity in body, mind and spirit. The church leaders
were communicating to those who were being sent that “we are a part of you, and
you are a part of us”. Commissioning of missionaries is similar to ordination
of pastors in that there is a long lineage of those who have gone before us.
This is a passing of the mantle of church leadership to a new generation, which
has been passed down for many years. They are communicating that their new task
is an extension of our corporate mandate as a church.
4. Sending
them off – A tangible demonstration of support whereby we can only assume what
took place. These missionaries were getting on a boat and heading for a distant
land. The church likely took an offering and collected supplies that were
necessary for such a journey, and then threw a farewell party. Continuing with
conjecture, we can assume that people who had previously traveled to these places
spent time with Paul and Barnabas to help them prepare for a change of
culture. Others agreed to take care of
family members, belongings and other matters of home.
We should begin to see that this is a serious
endeavor that required much thought, prayer, support, recognition and
endorsement by more than just the individual doing something across town.
Missionaries are called to go to difficult places,
exchanging what they know for something they do not know. They cross barriers:
national boarders, cultural differences, languages procurement and even
socio-economic variations. They study for years and acquire experience that
qualifies them for a certain specific type of work. They have to learn a new
language, adapt to a new culture, sell their belongings and move their family
to places that are often hostile to their presence. Sacrifice is the
predominant trait because many times their families suffer as a result of their
calling. American missionaries often have children who leave the sterile secure
learning environment of their western schools for substandard schools in the
majority world. Aging parents are sometimes left back home in need of care, but
the missionary is far from home. Home visits are infrequent and generally are
not a vacation, but what is now being called “home assignment” where the agency
expects them to be on speaking tours to inform supporters of their activities.
When on the field, they are held accountable for
their actions by the church and their agency. They set goals which are
measurable and are evaluated for their effectiveness. They are grouped into
teams for support and encouragement. This is more than just being Christ’s
representative. They have assignments, tasks, duties, and a “MISSION” for which
they are responsible.”
For someone to say that “we are all missionaries” is
to bring disrespect to the memory of Tom, an American Doctor who served for 30
years in Afghanistan and lost his life when a group of Taliban hijacked his
convoy heading out to treat patients in a remote village in 2010. His wife
Libby still lives there and brings hope and true, honest and heart wrenching
forgiveness to people who are far from God.
Who can compare themselves to Jim, who surrendered
his life on Palm Beach in the jungles of Ecuador in 1956. And even more so, can
there be such a thing as a ‘local missionary’ when compared to Jim’s wife
Elizabeth who decided to stay and work toward reconciliation with the natives
that took her husband’s life, so that they could receive the gospel?
What about Hudson Taylor, David Livingston, William
Carey and all the early missionaries who packed their belongings in their
coffin because they were leaving on a steamer to travel for weeks and even
months to arrive at their final destinations. They knew that they would not be
coming back home, but for the sake of the gospel, they endured much hardships,
so that Jesus could be proclaimed to the ends of the earth. When someone says
“we are all missionaries”, do you see this kind of sacrifice in their lives?
Today, missionaries spend much of their time trying
to get visas for their ministry post. Many modern missionaries don’t go to
school for Bible degrees, but they study for a trade that will earn them
business visas to Restricted Access Nations (RANs). There is an intentionality
present in real Missionaries, because they know God has called them to do
something very special. Something that is different from most other people.
Yes, I believe that all Christians are called to do ‘ministry’, but not all are
called to be ‘missionaries’. Ministry is done locally in our Jerusalem and
Judea. Mission is done globally in our Samaria and to the ends of the earth
(see Acts 1:8).
There are a few who have tried to bridge this gap
with words that may be acceptable for what someone does with their neighbors
who are a little different than oneself: ‘Commissionaries’ is becoming more
popular these days (see article in the
April 2013 edition of Evangelical Mission Quarterly titled: “Are we all
Missionaries?”)
To help define what a missionary is not, here are
some personal examples from my life. My neighbor comes from Mexico and speaks
Spanish. I do not speak Spanish, but I have built a friendly relationship with
him so that I may have the opportunity to share Christ with him through a
translator. I am not a missionary, but just a caring Christian neighbor. I also
travel all over the world for two week trips to visit missionaries on the
field. Here again, I am not a missionary, but a pastoral coach providing for
the needs of missionaries. In our church, I serve as the director of an
after-school center in a high-crime, low-income neighborhood full of people
with different ethnicities and languages on the other side of town. When I am
there, I am not a missionary, but a pastor to kids and families without a home
church.
The word Missionary is so easily abused for many of
the wrong reasons: Pride, arrogance, profit, naïveté, ignorance. Sometimes it
is for financial gain. We all know that if it is for missions, people will be
more likely to give money toward the fund. Some people just want recognition or
notoriety – A baptized form of Christian pride. And for some, it is just out of
plain ignorance. Very few people sit down and consider their words and the
effects they may have.
A good evangelical will understand the concept of ‘the
priesthood of the believer’ – that every Christ follower has been called by God
to be ‘a witness’. The Lord has also empowered each believer with the Holy
Spirit. In fact, the early disciples were not to go out into the world until
the Holy Spirit had come upon them in Acts 1:8. Some were called to go and do
mission, some were called to stay and do ministry but all were called to ‘witness’.
Let’s be satisfied with the distinction between “Ministry”
and “Mission” and not try to exalt one over the other. Seek to give honor to
whom honor is due.
