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When did we start using the title “missionary?” I was reminded of this a couple weeks ago when someone with a life matching the traditional use of the term spoke briefly at my church. She asked if the word was Biblical and if anyone could tell her where the term was used in the Bible. No one of course was able to speak up and she gave a short word about that calling actually being on everyone’s life, not a select few. I have shared her views for sometime but had never quite gotten to the root of the misunderstanding of it. Before I keep going though I want to say that I don’t have a problem using this word in general, but I think we as a church have begun to attach much dangerous stigma to it as a title.
We define this “missionary” as someone who goes overseas to spread the Gospel. Someone with a specific calling to do so, someone probably a lot holier and more anointed than us. This is where we have gotten into error – this specific and selected few. I think when Jesus said in Mark 16:15, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” we got a little insecure and a little uncomfortable. Like many things that are a little vague, the church has labeled it, written a definition of it and put it in a box up on a pedestal alongside every other more “spiritual” calling.
“Who, me? I can’t do that, I’m just little old me. I don’t like traveling. Or speaking for that matter. I like living here where it’s familiar and comfortable.”
So, where in this did Jesus spell out that He meant the only way to fulfill this command was for you to go overseas, live in a hut and speak to great crowds? I don’t see it. And where did He say He only meant it for a few of the people He was speaking to? I think we have mis-defined this Great Commission for so long that we have effectively cut it off from applying to us at all.
Go into all the world.
Would that apply to where you are right now? You’re in the world aren’t you?
Proclaim the gospel.
Is the only way to proclaim the gospel preaching in front of large crowds? I think most of the time it is actually more effective when lived out and told from one friend to a searching other.
In our religious mindset we have tried to define this commission specifically so that we can tell if we are measuring up to it or not or duck out if we don’t have the necessary skills. Leaving it like it is means anyone could do almost anything, that much freedom could not be good.
God showed me a picture the other day of a map of the world. All of a sudden, the lines just lifted up off of it and nothing defined or separated the countries. As the lines left I felt relief as confusion lifted as well. Confusion of callings and life’s work and where I should go. What if that really happened to the church as a whole? What if we stopped caring so much about missions and “where” and “how far” but asked God “what” and “who”? It would all just be about God and doing His work wherever and however He told you. Because, in reality, none of us are exempt from spreading the Gospel and not all of us are supposed to go overseas. Some of us are supposed to invade the business world with the Gospel of Grace. Some of us are supposed to be in politics and use the gift of influence for Jesus’ purposes. Some of us are supposed to be great grocery store clerks, doctors, lawyers, waiters, chefs, realtors, taxi drivers and engineers on fire for God and spreading the Kingdom to our end of the earth. Can you imagine what that would look like? To what degree heaven would invade earth? It’s so beautiful!! Each doing his own calling, secure in his own identity and what God has called him to. The freedom to be where you are and to proclaim the Gospel in the best, unique way that you do.
So, if you’re called overseas, go! If you like speaking to large crowds, speak! If you’re a taxi driver that prays for everyone he sees, taxi-drive! If you’re a stay-at-home mom raising disciples of Christ, raise them! I pray we all walk in our callings before it is too late.
“Missions is too important to be left to the missionaries.” – Paul Van Der Werf
