What do you think of when you hear the term “MISSIONARY?”

Author: Cultural Observations | December 9, 2011 | by Adventures in Missions

5 responses to “What do you think of when you hear the term “MISSIONARY?””

1. 1. cargo pants, long skirts, hair in a pony tail, wide brimmed hats
   2. kind of cringe at the connotation the word ‘missionary’ has due to the crusades and other harsh attempts to ‘convert people
   3. I wonder if the term applies to me just because I am a Christian living in a foreign country attempting to love on people as Christ might…

2. My Dear Daughter Amarja,
   As your Dad, having been a Missionary to Japan many years ago, I can still recall the fashion in which people thought of Missionaries then. They romanticized our lives abroad as something exotic, living in a foreign land which they respected, yet could never even dream of doing themselves. Since then, in our modern society it has become fashionable to paint a dark picture of Missionaries as the precursors of mass colonization and propagation of western civilization, social mores, and oppression of those nations in which those missionaries have been serving.
   In fact to be a missionary is the opposite of both of these falsely held beliefs. The position of Missionary is neither to be romanticized by society as experienced in my own past, nor demonized as it is so thought of by today’s society. If one would delve into the true History of Missions and Missionary societies throughout the ages they would find that the majority of historical Mission works were honorable and many times placed the Missionary in positions wherein their own lives were endangered and in many cases the missionaries were martyred by the very people to whom they were striving to proclaim the Gospel message of God’s peace that passes all earthly understanding. Missionaries also have lost their lives standing in opposition to the oppressive elements of western civilization upon the people to whom they were called to serve.
   The true meaning of the term Missionary is “sent one.” Just what does that mean? Sent who, what, when, where, how and by whom? First, let’s look at the question “sent by whom?” The Holy Bible in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark share to us what has become known as the Great Commission. Herein we read that prior to His ascension into Heaven, Jesus in His glorified body now taking leave of His disciples to return to His Father in the Heavenly realm spoke to His followers, saying “Now you go into all the world and Preach the Good News to all of creation.” (Mark 16:15ff)If you read further you see that this is to be done boldly in order to save the peoples of the world who are lost in their sins. And there is more, we are to be healers of their spiritual oppression, as well as their physical illnesses. Wow that is a powerful message! Now we know who sends, namely Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. He is our ideal model, as His truly was the First Mission to Save the world.
   The second question we’ll answer is,”to whom or where are we sent?” The answer is of course “All of creation”(Mark 16:15) Matthew’s Gospel states “to all nations” (Matthew 28:19). We are to begin right here where we are then as God’s Holy Spirit leads us we are to venture out into wherever in the world He desires for us to go. No excuses are desired, nor respected by Him! His desire is that we only follow His lead and GO!
   You will notice that I’ve been using the phrase “we go.” This is the answer to the question “who is a Missionary?”
   Earlier on I already have answered the question “what is the Missionary to do?” I will reiterate it here, just in case it wasn’t clear enough. We are to “proclaim or preach the Good News (Gospel)to all of creation (Mark 16:15), or to every nation” (Matthew 28:19) We are to Teach and Baptize (Mark 16:16; Matthew 28:19&20). We are to be “Healers of illness, both spiritual as well as physical” (Mark 16:16-18).
   Now I will answer the questions “when & how?” The answer for these questions is found in the Gospel of Luke, the 24th chapter and the 49th verse and I quote “I am going to send you what My Father has promised; but wait until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Here Jesus is speaking of the promise of the Holy Spirit. We are never to attempt any mission endeavor without first being equipped by God through the power of His Holy Spirit. I believe that wherever it seems that a mission has failed to be fruitful, it is because we try to go on our own power, with our own personal agendas. That can never work successfully for very long!
   So my darling Daughter, Amarja I have given you the answer to your query. I’m sorry if it was not in the simple way which you desired, but it is the truth. If you can glean any knowledge or learn how to answer a question like this more simply please let me know. I only know what I know and it isn’t a head knowledge, it is knowledge which I hold deep within my heart of which I hold the deepest conviction. Jesus’ death and resurrection, have completed His earthly Mission which He specifically came into the world to accomplish. We know this as fact because the Gospels were written by eye witnesses to the events of Jesus’ life.
   As Ever Your Loving Father, Bryan
   p.s. Fern sends her love your way too.

3. 1. Called by God
   2. Has counted the cost and
   3. has determined to lay self down for the sake of advancing the kingdom.

   Thanks be to God for all the missionaries serving Him today!

4. I just wanted to write the first three words…

   1. Willing
   2. Submitting / Surrendering
   3. Blessed

5. Amarja,

   Just came across your blog for the first time today but have followed one of your team members Stephanie. I hate to say this, but when I think of “missionary”, I can’t help but think of stupid looking glasses, pocket protectors and white collared shirts.

   In fact, I’ve tried to come up with another term for “mission trips” because of what people think about the term!

   However when I think of what you are doing, I think of Isaiah and you bringing hope to the hopeless and setting the captives free in the name of Jesus. I think of you giving your all and loving on girls who are in great need.

   Thank you for doing what you do. May God bless you REAL GOOD. Merry Christmas from Boise, Idaho USA!