What makes a missionary?

25 posts / 0 new
Last post
londijoy
londijoy's picture
Offline
Joined: 2006-04-28
What makes a missionary?

I would welcome comments and insights to this article.

So You're a Missionary?

I'm a full-time overseas missionary. We have just returned to the states for our third furlough and are anticipating speaking with many groups of people as we go about the country updating our supporters on the progress of our work. Undoubtedly as we travel about and share our stories, people will come to us and commend us on our work and tell us, “I'm a missionary too. It is just that I live in the US. There are lots of needs here too, you know.” Or another comment often heard is, “Why go to a foreign country to be a missionary when there are so many needs of our own people here in the US. Why don't you work with them?” Sometimes people sound defensive, as if perhaps they are uncertain as to whether they are fulfilling the great commission of taking the gospel to the whole world.

I must admit it is a question I've often pondered: What makes a person a missionary? Is it just a title for being a Christian in a non-Christian world? Can one be a missionary and continue to live one's own life as a Christian in their own environment and still consider themselves to be a missionary? Does it matter if we understand this term and its usage or not?

These questions and many more have been in my thought processes for some time. As I search for the answers to these real questions, it occurs to me that the definition of the term “missionary” needs clarifying first. Webster's calls a missionary: “One who is sent on a mission, especially one sent to do religious or charitable work in a territory or foreign country; one who attempts to persuade or convert others to a particular program, doctrine, or set of principles; a propagandist.” So a missionary is one who is a. sent b. doing religious or charitable work c. in a specific territory or foreign country

d. attempting to persuade or convert. Obviously we are talking about Christian missionaries, so the religious or charitable work would be to send someone to persuade or convert people of a particular territory or foreign country to the gospel of Jesus Christ as Ransomer and Savior. I find this definition very exciting, as I realize that 'missionary' means one has been 'sent', it is not a solo project, but the conjoined efforts of others believing in the need to do the work and the belief that they have a work to do, choosing and sending their emissary to a specific 'territory or foreign country' to do 'religious or charitable work'.

“Are we so insensible as a peculiar people, a holy nation, to the inexpressible love that God has manifested for us? Salvation is not to be baptized, not to have our names upon the church books, not to preach the truth. But it is a living union with Jesus Christ, to be renewed in heart, doing the works of Christ in faith and labor of love, in patience, meekness, and hope. Every soul united to Christ will be a living missionary to all around him. He will labor for those near and those afar off. He will have no sectional feeling, no interest merely to build up one branch of the work over which he presides and here let his zeal end. All will work with interest to make every branch strong. There will be no self-love, no selfish interest. The cause is one, the truth a great whole....Those who are at ease in Zion need to be aroused. Great is their accountability who bear the truth and yet feel no weight or burden for souls. Oh, for men and women professing the truth to arouse, to take on the yoke of Christ, to lift His burdens. There are wanted those who will not have merely a nominal interest but a Christlike interest, unselfish--an intense ardor that will not flag under difficulties or cool because iniquity abounds.” 2 SM 382. (Italic emphasis my own.)

Webster's definition along with Ellen White's counsel highlights what I believe to be at the heart of missions, the heart of being a missionary. Obviously, to be a Christian and to claim salvation as one's own requires “a living union with Jesus Christ,...doing the works of Christ in faith and labor of love,....Every soul united to Christ will be a living missionary to all around him. He will labor for those near and those afar off.” She goes on to say that a missionary must feel the weight and the burden for the souls they are working to convert; there must be “an intense ardor that will not flag under difficulties...”

I would like to say that being a true missionary, wherever that takes place must meet certain criteria in order to be a true mission, which according to Webster is “performing missionary duty; an organization for carrying on missionary work in a territory.” By its very nature true missions cannot be complacent! It is active and purposeful. If not actively pursuing the purpose for being in a territory or culture, there is no point in being there. The sole purpose in being there is for evangelism which is to convert to the gospel of Jesus Christ (including, but not limited to medical, educational and/or developmental work in order to meet real needs).

The true missionary can't settle down or settle in. One must always been on the alert for a move. Just as Jesus lived here, discipled some men to continue His work, secured our salvation through His death on the cross, so He too had to leave His place of mission. True missionaries must ever be ready to leave their place of mission at a moments notice, either because the work can be turned over to trained leaders, or because of being ousted from the territory because of politics. You don't live in that culture for the purpose of making that culture one's home, but for the purpose of evangelism. Self-sacrificial living is the key word here.

In this setting the focus of everything one does is for the purpose of evangelism, from the home you live in, to the food you eat, to the clothes you wear. The whole focus is to become one with the culture within which you are living and to become one with the people – incarnational ministry. This was Jesus' example – coming from His lofty position as Ruler of the Universe and becoming one with the lowliest of the lowly. He didn't come here to live as even a rich man, though that would still have been well beneath what He was used to in heaven. No! He took the position of carpenter's son. He lived in a poor home; they were poor in the things that would be considered necessary for decent living. Jesus identified with the poor and so must we. Just as Jesus came from heaven and became one with the lowest of humanity, so we from the incredibly blessed country of America should go to the neediest of mankind and identify with them in order show them Christ's true character. In other words, missions is a life-style of self-sacrifice. On must be willing to “take on the yoke of Christ, to lift His burdens.”

When one is sent to a territory or foreign country, one is instantly out of one's comfort zone. The climate is different, the food is different, the housing is different, the bed is different, the clothes are different, the music is different, the language is different, the social etiquette is different, to name a few differences. You are far removed from family and friends and from all that is familiar. You are definitely out of your comfort zone! Therefore, there are frequent, if not constant reminders that you are not “home”, you have a purpose for being at your mission post and when that mission ceases to be your purpose, you are no longer a missionary, but an immigrant or a citizen.

So, what do you think? Is it possible for a Christian to be a missionary at home? I'd say yes if,

a. they have a “living union with Jesus Christ” b. they've shown evidence of “doing the works of Christ in faith and labor of love” c. they are “a living missionary to all around him” laboring “for those near and those afar off” d. they must feel a “weight or burden for souls” e. they are sent (someone agrees with the need and is supportive of their work) f. they have a specific territory that they are targeting g. their sole purpose in being there is for evangelism h. living sacrificially

“There are wanted those who will not have merely a nominal interest but a Christlike interest, unselfish—an intense ardor that will not flag under difficulties or cool because iniquity abounds.” 2SM 382

londijoy
londijoy's picture
Offline
Joined: 2006-04-28
Discussion invited

I'd like to encourage people to make comments, rebuttals, other insights, etc.

I'm new to this whole type of blogging experience, but I'd like those of you out there who have thoughtfully read this to discuss the issues I raise. Though I've drawn conclusions for my self so far, my perspective may be different from yours and I'd welcome hearing from your point of view.

Looking forward to hearing from ya'll.

rww
rww's picture
Offline
Joined: 2006-04-16
Can we be a missionary at home?

I don’t think it is possible to be a missionary at home. 

I am not a missionary but if I were, I believe it would be a little frustrating having people tell me that they are missionaries too, “only here in the states.” I guess the best way to handle this would be to smile, say “that’s really nice, and keep up the good work.”  We don’t want to discourage anyone, right? 

But.. What is wrong is saying that every Christian is to be a missionary? It is just like saying that every Christian ought to be an evangelist. A missionary is specially called of God for a distinct ministry.

My understanding is that in the traditional sense the term missionary has been reserved for those who have been called by God to a full-time ministry of the Word and prayer (Acts 6:4), and who have crossed geographical and/or cultural boundaries (Acts 22:21) to preach the gospel in those areas of the world where Jesus Christ is largely, if not entirely unknown (Rom. 15:20).

What difference does it make? Are we just nitpicking in our definition of a missionary? If every Christian is already considered a missionary then all can stay put where we are, and not go anywhere to spread the gospel. Where would this leave the approximately three billion people who are not being effectively reached today?

My hat is off to all full-time overseas missionaries.

I am the Lord’s and now no longer reckon myself to be my own but acknowledge in everything His ownership and authority. That is the attitude God requires, and to maintain it is true consecration. I do not consecrate myself to be a missionary or a preacher; I consecrate myself to God to do His will where I am, be it in school, office or kitchen, counting whatever He ordains for me to be the very best, for nothing but good can come to those who are wholly His.”   Watchman Nee, T he Normal Christian Life

christopher
christopher's picture
Offline
Joined: 2006-04-10
I agree

As I was reading this forum article :) I had to ask myself if I was a missionary. I've been a missionary before, and I tend to think that I am not a missionary now. I wish I was. I liked being a missionary, but God hasn't called me to that right now.

I suppose some confusion comes because having a purpose is often thought of as being synonymous with having a mission. I believe we all have a purpose but in the narrower sense we are not all missionaries.

Clarification on this point can be encouraging. If I thought I was a missionary right now, I'd have to conclude that I was a pretty lousy one. I do have a purpose; God is guiding my life. This is enough. If God leads me to be a missionary someday, I'll be ready to go.

Another interesting point I just thought of: if being a missionary is a specific calling and not simply being led by God, it would be possible to go as a missionary and not be following God. This highlights the importance of a person being called first. I want to be a missionary, but I must not go if God has not called me.

NoBlesseOblige
NoBlesseOblige's picture
Offline
Joined: 2006-04-23
Guilt Trip

Thanks for the insight; I was really starting to feel guilty! So, one could be going to the right place for all the wrong reasons or going to the wrong place for all the right reasons, or, if called AND God-led, going to the right place for the right reasons. The call AND God's leading are the essentials; I see that know. Someday I'll be this smart...

christopher
christopher's picture
Offline
Joined: 2006-04-10
Quote:Someday I'll be this

Quote:

Someday I'll be this smart...

It's that brain infarct again!

NoBlesseOblige
NoBlesseOblige's picture
Offline
Joined: 2006-04-23
Yeah, they're coming more

Yeah, they're coming more frequently and in closer succession. I think I'm about to give birth.... to something.

Lipsj
Lipsj's picture
Offline
Joined: 2006-04-12
I agree. I think that often

I agree. I think that often people confuse missionary with ministry. We should all have a ministrybut Missionary is a spiritual gift that God gives to thoss he calls to a particular ministry.

somertyme
somertyme's picture
Offline
Joined: 2006-04-11
What is a "Calling"?

I just read a portion of this interview with Os Guinness, and I thought it might add to the discussion here. It may not directly address the question of "What is a Missionary?", but it may help to clarify a part of the answer.  What do you all think?

"On one side is a spiritual distortion. Often, calling is equated only with kindness. Such Christians say, "God called me here or there." But what they really mean is, "He guided me." Yet that is only a minimal part of what calling truly is.

On the other side, calling has been equated merely with occupation or work. That is purely a secularization. And behind it you can see two enormous distortions over two thousand years.

The first distortion I describe as the "Catholic distortion." This creates a higher-lower, sacred-secular divide, which goes all the way back to people like Eusebius. He spoke of the Christian life in terms of two types of believers, "perfect" and "permitted." The perfect included monks, nuns, and priests-people who "had a calling." The permitted were soldiers, farmers, businesspeople-those who "just had jobs."

That represents a kind of spiritual aristocracy of the soul. I'm afraid Augustine, Aquinas, and many of the great names of the west followed this line of thinking. And, oddly enough, the Catholic distortion is still very much alive and well-in evangelical circles! Phrases such as "full-time Christian service" are commonly heard.

The other distortion is what I call the "Protestant distortion." This distortion is opposed to spiritualizing the concept of calling. There is no question that the genius of the Reformation was in its affirmation of calling as including work too. Yet it has put so much emphasis on work and vocation that one's work, what one does, has become virtually synonymous with one's calling.

At the high point of the Industrial Revolution, work was made sacred-an idea that isn't scriptural at all. (Scripture is much more realistic than that.) And calling was made secular-what one does. This Protestant notion is as much a distortion as the Catholic one, only in the opposite direction.

I have tried to set out a balance of the two. There is a primary call, which is by the Lord, to the Lord, for the Lord. And there is a secondary call, which is what we do as we follow the Lord-meaning, we do everything as unto him. And, of course, the secondary should never become the primary."

adam
adam's picture
Offline
Joined: 2006-04-17
Called to Stay?

I am still trying to figure out how I feel about calling.  Something that Keith Green said has got me thinking.  You can read the article that he wrote (just a few days before his death) here. Here is a piece of what he had to say: (boldings are his)

"You don't know how many people I've met who have said to me "Keith, I agree that more people need to go to the mission field, but I've never heard God tell me to go."

Well, the truth is that God has already told you to go in His Word. In fact, He commands you to go... "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." ( Mark 16:15) That's right... YOU ARE CALLED!

In fact, if you don't go, you need a specific calling from God to stay home. Has God definitely told you not to "go" somewhere outside your country to preach the Gospel? If He hasn't, then you'd better start praying WHERE to go, instead of IF you should go - for again, you're already called!"  

 It is easy to say I don't feel called to go as a missionary.  But do I feel called to stay here?  Or is it just easier.  Pehaps the problem is that I don't feel called at all.  I think that we better be just as sure that we are called to stay before we decide to stay, as we should be sure of our calling to go before we go.

 Anyway, if you have time, read his entire article and let me know what you think.

 

londijoy
londijoy's picture
Offline
Joined: 2006-04-28
Keith Green article

Thanks for sharing this article with me.  It is very good for outlining what constitutes being a missionary. I found it very interesting that he has run into the same sorts of comments "I'm a missionary here..." and the same sort of excuses.  I guess they are universal and not just within Adventism...

After all the good things he had to say about us each already being called, etc.  I found it interesting to suggest that one could go on a short-term mission trip and try on missions to see if it fits or not.  To me, that contradicts everything he said before and after.  Either we're committed and completely dependent on God to orchestrate our work in the mission field from how we adjust to the new culture, to the very spiritually centered work of actually teaching, etc.  Missions takes full commitment to God first and if we aren't completely committed and completely (as completely as possible in our humanness...) dependent and confident in His Sovereignity (to use Keith's title for God), sure we'll need to "try on" missions to see if we can make a go of it.  But if we are truly connected and sure of God's guidance in our lives - we go at HIS bidding, we go in HIS power, we go under HIS enabling....We show a lack of trust, I think, if we have to "try on" something that God has called us to; "try on" to see whether we can do it or not, or perhaps we want to "try on" God's power and see if He will really come through for us and "make this thing work". 

I think you have a very valid point - that Keith brought out, that we should be just as convinced, just as called, to STAY as to go.  In other words, we must ask ourselves, "Am I in the center of God's will for me at this moment?"  IF the answer is no, then we must find out why not and what we must do, or where we must go in order to be in His will.  If the answer is yes, then we will discover that we are doing everyday, what He calls us to - we're consciously, purposefully ministering God's grace daily.

Thanks for the insights.  Keep up the communique' as it keeps me sorting these things out.

londijoy
londijoy's picture
Offline
Joined: 2006-04-28
Calling

Thanks for sharing the article by OG.  I find it interesting that he draws a distinction between calling and vocation.  I think that calling is something that Jesus does to each of us as human beings.  He calls us into relationship with Him.  When we accept, His calling to us broadens to what He desires to do in us and through us and that, I believe INCLUDES vocation.  I don't believe that we can separate the two.

In other words, He desires to do a particular work through us (and of course IN us, as well in order for us to be fitted for that particular work). He outlines that specifically in the Great Commission.  No Christ-follower is exempt.  But we each play different roles - not of our choosing, but of HIS.

londijoy
londijoy's picture
Offline
Joined: 2006-04-28
Missionaries at Home

Thanks for your comments.  I think what I hear you saying is, that not everyone is called to cross-cultural (as in different nationalities) ministry (missionary), but that everyone, every Christian is called to be a "minister of the gospel".  I think you are absolutely right.

In that sense then, every on of us, missionary (cross-cultural) or minister (all Christians) must all be seeking to be in the center of God's will; and the will of God He has already outlined for us in the Great Commission - the gospel to the whole world.  We all play different roles in fulfilling that commission - that mandate, but we must each be actively participating in it, conscious of God's will for our own lives, whatever and wherever that is.

Otherwise we are a bunch of Jonah's....

londijoy
londijoy's picture
Offline
Joined: 2006-04-28
missionary vs. ministry

Right.  But the Great Commission is on all of us Christians, and we must know what God's will for our lives are - what HE has planned for us within that mandate.  I believe we each have a role to play and it isn't of our own choosing. (Though when we choose to follow Christ, we are saying to Him, "Use me how you see fit.  Do with me as You want...")

As I said earlier, I believe that we are all, as Christians, called to ministry, but all are not called to be missionaries, anymore than all are called to be evangelists (as rww said), or teachers, etc.  Spiritual gifts come into play here - but that is God's work in us, something He has pre-ordained to do in us and through us.  I think we greatly shortcut God's work in us by not seeking to know His will for our lives and comfortably going on a life happens.  He wants us to live on the edge - that is where we can really see Him working!!

londijoy
londijoy's picture
Offline
Joined: 2006-04-28
God has not called me

Which brings us back to the question of calling.  How do you know you aren't called (yet)?  How does one know they are?  And as Adam said in quoting Keith Green, Have you been called to stay?  And if so, for what?

Do you think it is possible to know clearly what your ministry is in staying?  Can you outline a "mission statement" or statement of purpose in the ministry you are called to "stay" and do? 

Just some thoughts to keep us seeking to know God's will for our lives.  I know there are no easy answers, but that is no excuse to not keep asking the hard questions!!  :)  It keeps us accountable!

londijoy
londijoy's picture
Offline
Joined: 2006-04-28
call and leading

To my way of thinking it is not possible to separate call and leading.  If God calls, He's leading.  If He is leading, He is calling.

The bigger question is: Are we listening?  Are we following?

christopher
christopher's picture
Offline
Joined: 2006-04-10
taste or test

I have pondered before how the Children of Israel could sin in testing the Lord in the wilderness (Jesus repeated this later, “It is written, 'Though shalt not test the Lord thy God!'”) and we could be instructed to “taste and see that the Lord is good.” But tasting and testing are not the same. The children of Israel did not believe, and thus put the Lord to the test. (KJV is more clearly wrong: it uses tempt instead of test) Here's the difference:

  • Testing results from unbelief

  • Tasting is the first steps of belief

Perhaps it is tasting not testing that Keith Green invites His readers too. Perhaps “trying on missions” means knocking – a part of seeking God's direction in our lives.

From this perspective, unless there is no doubt that God has told us to go, it would be folly to assume that we knew what God's plan for the rest of our life was.

I think it is a matter of semantics. It is clear from Keith Green's life and ministry that he was not interested in watered-down discipleship.

christopher
christopher's picture
Offline
Joined: 2006-04-10
of Jonah's whats?

I was briefly confused.  I think you meant "Jonahs" not Jonah's.  Smile

londijoy
londijoy's picture
Offline
Joined: 2006-04-28
watered-down disciplesip

I like that comparison between tasting and testing.  In no way was I wanting to insinuate that K. G. had a watered-down discipleship ministry.  I just think that we short-change ourselves when we think that trying something out that God has clearly called us to, is not really discipleship.

I know that we have used that phrase too in the past, "Well, let's just see how this works out.  If it doesn't, well, we can always go home."  That isn't clearly understanding that this is not about us; it is not about things "working out", but rather, how much are we willing for God to work out in us and through us?  How much are we willing to sacrifice of our own comfort for the sake of the kingdom?  Can we trust God to truly provide EVERYTHING that we need including our ability to withstand hardship, deprivation, illness, separation, etc.???

londijoy
londijoy's picture
Offline
Joined: 2006-04-28
Jonah's or Jonahs

You are right!  Jonahs...

christopher
christopher's picture
Offline
Joined: 2006-04-10
It may be possible, but it

It may be possible, but it is NOT safe to separate call and leading.  Abraham was called to leave his home and go into a strange country, but it was God's leading that brought him through that strange country.

A call involves my knowing the next, or some future step.  To follow God's leading, I don't need to know the next step until it is happening.

An example:  I know I am called by God to go to Mexico.  So I make my own plans and vacation in Mexico.  I have a great time, but I make my own plans.  Alternatively, I trust God to lead me in going to and doing what ever His will is in Mexico.

I believe that knowing ones calling is a great responsibility because it is all the easier for us to make our own plans.

Consider the promise of a son to Abraham.  Consider how he made His own plans and then finally followed.

christopher
christopher's picture
Offline
Joined: 2006-04-10
"trying it out"

While I think that "trying out" missions is not something that should be done by someone who is clearly called to go, and is truely committed, I think it can be a stepping stool. There are many long-term missionaries out today who are there after going on a short-term mission trip or being a student missionary for a year. I think that for those who hesitate and feel unsure of the call, this might be just the first step of the journey. Once they have gone, the needs become much clearer, and the call to stay may become much more distinct.

 

oops, this is somertyme, logged in as ckg Smile

somertyme
somertyme's picture
Offline
Joined: 2006-04-11
One calling

I agree with this statement: 

"He calls us into relationship with Him.  When we accept, His calling to us broadens to what He desires to do in us and through us and that, I believe INCLUDES vocation.  I don't believe that we can separate the two."

 So it isn't really 2 distinct callings--i.e. 1. called into relationship  2. called to do something specific.   Instead it begins with relationship and grows from there to include everything that He asks us to do.  The calling is to love Him and to serve Him, and to seek His will in all things. Does that make sense.

somertyme
somertyme's picture
Offline
Joined: 2006-04-11
So my question is, what if

So my question is, what if we desire to know what God is calling us to do, but He seems to be silent?  Does that mean we aren't seeking hard enough?  Does it mean we are within His will?  Does it mean that we aren't really listening?  Do we just pick something and start doing it, and hope that God will bless us?  How do we know? I pray for God's leading in my life, and I can see that happening in small ways, but so far it is nothing that seems like a calling besides being a wife and mother (which I do believe is a calling, but it seems different than what we're talking about here somehow). In the past when God has called me to something specific (going to the Philippines, teaching at Y., etc.) it has come to me fairly clearly that God wanted me to go.  So if I'm not hearing a specific call to go now, could it mean I am to stay?  Or should I just assume that I should go?  Hmmm, so much to think about.

tgeorge
tgeorge's picture
Offline
Joined: 2006-04-28
I agree with Keith Green

I read the first part of KG´s article and I really agree what he said about us all already being called. Although, as Somer mentioned, I definitely think that God communicates with us on a person level and not just through the Bible, but that he could actually come to you and say ¨Go to Timbuktu!¨ But there is such a gigantic concentration of christians in the US, I am sure that God would be delighted if most of just went overseas to all these countries who have never heard the gospel, and like bumbling idiots (or in Jesus´words children) tell people the good news. I´m not saying that children are bumbling idiots, but young children rarely plan anything, they just do what there parents tell them to do...or do the opposite of what there parents tell them to do.
Some of us are sure to be martyred, some might not have the slightest clue what to do, but that is the glory of it. In our weakness He is made strong. What are we trying to do here anyway, live our lives or something? That´s for heaven. You got to clean your room before you can go play put-put golf, not just piddle around in your room, have halfhearted fun, and hope it will all just go away so you can go play your put-put. Thats not life! Stop hitting marbles into your shoe with a broomstick, clean your room and encourage others to clean their rooms too, so we can get it done and all go play put-put together.

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
Login or register to post comments