I was at an event recently where a missionary from Africa came and shared about their work. After he spoke a pastor came up and shared how blessed he felt that a member of his church was called to the mission field. Although it sounds odd it seemed as though in the mind of the pastor this persons calling was “higher” because he left the USA to go the missionfield.
So I was left wondering, if this person is a missionary then what am I? Is the USA not a missionfield? More specifically is where I live the Bay Area not a missionfield?
You may read this and say well of course it is, to which I agree, however it seems like a common theme of the evangelical denomination is to celebrate and point to those who leave country and family because THEY have higher callings and are the true “missionaries.”
This line of thinking is highly unfortunate because it de-emphasises the work of the local church and puts an emphasis on foreign missions. Now don’t get me wrong there is nothing wrong with foreign missions, my point however is that not everyone is called to use their time and talents over seas.
I saw this played out fairly regularly during my eight years of service in the high school group at my last church. Young people felt as though they had no mission purpose in their school, neighborhood or city. They looked forward to summer mission trips to Mexico or other places to feel valuable for the Kingdom. It wasn’t until I started to explore with them what the Kingdom now concept really means that they began to see their schools, neighborhoods and cities with Kingdom eyes.
The bottom line is that God has designed humans to have a range of skills and abilities. All these skills and abilities are valuable tools with tremendous Kingdom bearing fruit capabilities.
I have been fortunate enough to have been mentored with this mentality. I’ve wrestled with God on what my time, talents and tresure should be focused on to yield the kind of Kingdom fruit God has equipped me to produce. I use my knowledge of business and strategy to help non-profits whose causes i’m passionate about be more effective. I serve with organizations helping business put a Kingdom agenda together and focussing on being a blessing to their community. For me the fusion of Kingdom and business is my passion. God has generously placed me in an influential role and equipped my brain to be valuable in that regard.
The question is not who is called to be a missionary and who is not. The question is what talents has God equipped you with that he wants to see bear Kingdom fruit. Then explore the question of where God has placed you or where can God take you that those talents can yield maximum Kingdom results. For some that may be a foreign land but for many it’s a question that needs to be addressed so they can have local impact.
I’d love to see the local church celebrate and bless every member of their congregation as a missionary. This I believe would have a profound impact in helping people understand thier calling. Teachers, employees, taxi drivers, waiters and waitresses, managers, vice presidents, CEO’s, police officers, fireman, doctors, nurses, stay at home mom’s, senators, presidents, congressman, etc etc are all called to be missionaries and bring about Kingdom impact.
Sadly many just don’t know it yet.
Col 3:17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
Ben, we can identify so deeply with your expression. We too were subjected to that sort of “discrimination”, for fifty years! Because we were always paying our own bills (just like our good brother Paul!) even though we were doing many of the same things as the ones “overseas”, for less “benefits and compensation”!, we never made it to the “prayer lists”! And had to listen many times to the “praises” of the folks that had all their bills paid by the church.
I doubt if there is much that can be changed about that, as long as the “corporation model” of “church” is accepted by most folks. But as a very dear brother who had also been grossly abused by “the church” told us the last time we were together, “The Lord knows the truth, and it is his opinion that counts!”
You are on the right track, brother. Keep on keeping on!
“I’d love to see the local church celebrate and bless every member of their congregation as a missionary. ”
Wow, so would I. Part of the problem is that too many evangelcials look at church as an event to which they can invite someone. The church is looked at as an evangelistic event rather than an equipping event like in Ephesians where the pator/teacher equips the saints for the work of ministry.
I’d like to see Christians make the most of opportunities like the coming Christmas season. We look little outside the box of our four walls and our programs. But everybody must know someone with whom they could share Christ at this opportune moment.
I’ve tried to do it through a reflection on the Christmas truce of long ago. See a review here: http://christianbooknotes.com/2010/oh-holy-night-the-peace-of-1914-by-mike-snow/
There could hardly be a more needful mission field than right here in teh USA.
That is a powerful story of peace, Michael, and one I always find compelling.
We are not all missionaries. I know we don’t like to hear it. I know it makes us feel less valued. But our feelings are not what is at issue here. It is the whole concept and understanding of ministry. It is at its core an issue of truth.
Missionaries are “sent ones”. The whole idea is that they are sent out from their natural home to another place–a place with a different culture. They are sent by the church not because their job moves them there, but because they are going explicitly for sharing the gospel.
Now, let me say, that does not mean those of us who “stay at home” are less valuable. Or that our ministry of evangelism to our peers is less important. But to say that we are the same as those who are called to leave the security of home for the sake of the gospel is the same as us is not fair nor helpful.
Let me ask you this, would you call yourself a martyr? Why not? Don’t we all die to self as we follow Christ? Would you say you have given the same as a martyr while you still draw breath? Of course not, to do so is to belittle the sacrfice of a true martyr. But what if it made you feel less important than a martyr? Again, that is not the issue.
It is the same with missionaries. To say we are all missionaries, does nothing for us. All it does is “brings them down to our level” instead of recognizing the unique call that God has on their lives–that call does not make them more important but it is unique and we all should recognize that.
I think what you are responding to is the fact that you don’t feel valued in what God has called you to do as you reach out to those around you. And I understand that disappointment. But this concern is self focused. It is worrying about what others say. Instead, we should be concerned about being faithful to God in whatever he calls us to. Part of that faithfulness is recognizing God’s unique call on the lives of others.
I think you’re missing the point, Brian. Ben is pointing out that in elevating the overseas missionary, it’s far too easy for those who are called to other ministries to be devalued, and to feel that perhaps they’re compromising their commitment to God in that they aren’t going too. I have been on the overseas mission field myself, and I can tell you from personal observation that not everyone who goes ought to go. We need to make the commitment as a fellowship to support each member of the Body of Christ in doing what s/he has been equipped to do, whether that’s in a distant country or around the corner.
Secondly, while there are many missionaries who do, in fact, give up a great deal to go where they are sent, I can also tell you from personal experience that this is not always the case. I, for one, have been happier serving in the developing world than in any job I have *ever* had in the U.S. For me, trying to find God’s purpose in my ordinary stateside work has at times been the far greater sacrifice. I have a dear friend that’s spent most of the last decade in overseas missions who would make that statement far more strongly than I just did.
Your attempt at psychoanalyzing Ben is pretty inadequate. What you don’t know is that he comes from a missionary family and knows whereof he speaks on a very personal level. He’s doing valuable work for the kingdom here in the United States and, last time I discussed it with him, is quite excited about it. He has been badly devalued by certain church authorities, to be sure, but I can tell you that I’ve known a lot of self-focused people in my life, and he’s not one of them.
Most importantly, though, talk to a few missionaries. Even those who’ve been “called to leave the security of home for the sake of the gospel” know full well that they *are* “the same as us” and take great pains to point out that what’s going on is at God’s behest and through his grace. At least that’s been true for the many missionaries I have known.