Rarely am I tempted to snatch up a banner, climb upon my hobby-horse and charge into battle. Though I claim Scottish ancestry, I’m no Wallace.
That said, I do occasionally happen upon a cause that so overpowers my aversion to conflict that off I go, tottering precariously upon my dubious steed.
What nefarious windmill has propelled me to such action today? ‘Tis nothing less than the misuse and abuse of the word “missionary.”
“Everyone should be a missionary” is a phrase commonly heard in Christian circles.
“So,” the person says to the others gathered around, “you don’t have to go to Africa or to the Amazon jungle to be a missionary. We should all be missionaries right here where we’re planted.”
At which point they turn to me and say, “Isn’t that right?”
In such gatherings I am impervious to the call to battle, so I smile weakly, nod my head and say, “Yes.” And with that one word I strengthen the cause of those who would equate “sharing your faith” with “being a missionary.”
Go to the dictionary and you will find various definitions of “missionary,” ranging from proselytizing, to being sent out of your home country on a mission.
Personally, I think it means being a boat.
Tribal people often make their own canoes. They chop down a perfectly good tree,
hollow out a groove down the length of it, then stretch it and carve it into shape. They put it into the water and paddle away.
What once was a tree has now become a boat, an instrument to be used for a defined purpose. That’s what a missionary is. A missionary is someone who used to be a tree but now is a boat. It involves a change of identity and purpose.
When we share our faith, or in other ways reach out to those around us during the course of our normal day, that’s not being a missionary; it’s being a caring Christian. The majority of Christendom is a forest of trees standing strong and tall in their place, providing food, shelter, and oxygen to the world around them. A few of those trees will be chopped down, hollowed out, and become boats.
So let’s eschew (bless me) the temptation to say that everybody should be a missionary. Why dilute the meaning of being a Christian by implying that only missionaries share their faith? Let’s all be noble trees, and yet be prepared at any moment to feel the bite of the axe.
Have you ever heard someone say that all Christians should be missionaries? Have you said those words yourself? Do you think this post makes a mountain out of a mole hill?
I have found myself guilty of bobbing my head in agreement with, yes we are to all be “missionaries”. I think that must come from the feeling that a missionary worries he may elevate himself if says different…I like the way you put it though in that it’s not only missionaries who are to be sharing their faith!
Lori, I think part of it, too, is that we understand and agree with the sentiment people are trying to communicate when they say we should all be missionaries. So we tend to just nod and go along with it.
I just have to say, I really enjoy your use of the English language, and you are an amazing writer. I love how you word everything so graciously, as not to offend anyone…..and I totally agree with you. Sharing our faith with someone is quite different when being compared to bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ to an unreached part of the world, to a group of people whose language you do not understand, and whom they do not understand. Your family is Matthew 28:19-20 fulfilled. I am enjoying your book very much. I am on the missions board at Temple Baptist and enjoyed meeting your mom & brother Bobby last week. I am taking your mom out for coffee before she returns to Venezeula. I see Wes and Tenley every week. What an amazing family history you all have. May the Lord always keep you and bless you.
Cynthia, we so wish we could have been there for the generational meeting at Temple! But the Jank family was well represented. And we’re so glad you’re enjoying OWDATW. We hope it helps give a picture of what tribal missions (and the Jank clan) is about. We’re hoping to receive Bobby and his son Micah to our house tomorrow. It’ll be good to see them both. Wish we could join you for the coffee. And thanks so much for the work you’re doing on the missions board there at Temple. How exciting to be a part of a church that has ministries unfolding around the world!