get thee to africa
I have a question for all you faithful readers. Since I am techno stupid to a very high degree I have no idea how many people look at this website or how often so for I know I could be saying the opening to myself but I have many interesting conversations all alone, so back off!
Here is the context of the question. I was spending some good time with my friend Tim a couple of weeks ago and we got to talking about missions. Now Tim has been to about half the countries in the world and has pretty much always wanted to be what is traditionally thought of as a missionary for quite some time. I think as long as I have known him. At least ever since he stopped saying he wanted to marry me if only I was a girl but that is another topic for another day. As we were talking about missions we came to a point where we were both using the same words but talking about different things. Fundamentally we came at the idea of what missions is differently and what it means to be a missionary. So I pose the question to you:
What is a missionary? Or maybe who should be called a missionary? What does it mean to 'do' missions and is it in any way a unique calling?
Please share your thoughts.
Here is the context of the question. I was spending some good time with my friend Tim a couple of weeks ago and we got to talking about missions. Now Tim has been to about half the countries in the world and has pretty much always wanted to be what is traditionally thought of as a missionary for quite some time. I think as long as I have known him. At least ever since he stopped saying he wanted to marry me if only I was a girl but that is another topic for another day. As we were talking about missions we came to a point where we were both using the same words but talking about different things. Fundamentally we came at the idea of what missions is differently and what it means to be a missionary. So I pose the question to you:
What is a missionary? Or maybe who should be called a missionary? What does it mean to 'do' missions and is it in any way a unique calling?
Please share your thoughts.
posted by Jon at
9:25 PM
3 Comments:
I love this question... because as followers of Christ we are all commanded to share the gospel with those who don't believe and to make disciples...encourage the Christians and challenge them, whether that's in the workplace or out in a remote village in the middle of the Sahara Desert. I do think many times (and hopefully this won't come out wrong) but many times we romanticize or rather glorify the idea of "full time" desert living missionaries and we easily lose sight of the fact that God has each of us in the place we are at for a specific reason... to meet the 32 yr old man/woman at work who is still trying to figure out what they believe about this man they called Jesus or helping build a home for someone who lost theirs due to the Tsunami. And you might be the very person who gets to answer their questions in their unending search for God. So who is a missionary? The very "churchy... christianese" answer is we all are. I think the huge problem is that those of us who don't have the "missionary" job title easily lose sight of our purpose and mission while we are here on earth. It's very easy to get caught up in trying to improve our status at work that we lose sight of those around us who are hurting and need to know the love and grace of Jesus Christ.
A unique calling?? The placement and length of time is unique to each of us... question is, are we ready to say "yes" to wherever/whenever God is calling us to go.
Jon, what do you think of the phrase(s), "I think God is calling me to..." What does is mean to be called by God?
By the way, I'm new to reading your Blogs.. but by reading your past ones I think your readers are learning a lot from you... just wanted to throw that out there.
I think that since all of us are commanded to share the gospel with nonbelievers, that defining a missionary as someone who does that is kind of useless since it applies to all believers. (This may not work if we consider missionaries for other religions, perhaps there are some where the non-missionaries do not have to spread their message.) Because of this, it is more useful to limit the term to people who are doing it more as a profession; otherwise, what do you call them?
What do you mean when you ask is it a unique calling? I would probably say any calling is unique, so then yes it is; but, because of that, it is a calling just like any other.
Jon
I have wanted to post on here about missions for the longest time. I must say that I love the title; “Get Thee to Africa.” I know to some, those are the words they fear most from the Lord, but to me… ahhhh, like sweet music in my ear.
Well, growing up around missionaries and being the focus of missionary efforts I find this question very interesting. Also, I have been technically defined as a missionary to the US by the US government. “Yes I am here to save all y’all. If any of you would like a free track or would like to say the sinners prayer, make an appointment with one of my staff and I will find some time to save you.” (I kid you not, that’s what some missionaries do in my country)
Anyway, I have gone from thinking this term is widely miss used to believing that this term is very appropriately used or even under used for any work done to fore fill the great commission. So without going into a boring dissertation and ignoring what I learned in my Theology of Missions class, I used to believe if anyone is going (living out) out to love their neighbor and share the good news through word or deed, they are missionaries, no matter their geography. We are all strangers in a foreign land, right? I would have agreed with your other two commentators…
But now I think it’s just a practicality thing. It’s not even just a name to help identify someone who is vocationally in full time ministry. I think the main reason we call certain people missionaries is because of those forms. Not enough space. They don’t leave space for you to write: “Occupation: someone who is in full time ministry” … they never leave that much space on the form. This really is the answer to your cunundrum. Missionary is just a lot quicker to write I think. Anyway… good question.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home