What is a missionary anyway?

WHAT IS A MISSIONARY ANYWAY

I have found myself thinking about this a lot as I observe and work with other missionaries. At times I feel a little discouraged by what I’ve seen and experienced. Of course this is only my opinion. But let’s think about it for a minute. What is a missionary? The first thing I’m thinking is, are we gift users or servants, let me explain. A gift user might think their only task in the mission field or at home in their church is using the gift God gave them. If an opportunity or task is available to them that is a gift God gave them, they are willing and ready to serve. But if an opportunity or task is set before them that is not their gift they tend to steer around it or even just say that’s not my gift and avoid anything that doesn’t require the gift God gave them. I’ve heard it many times [that’s not my gift so I’m not going to; or, I will not do it.] When God puts something in front of us and we turn it down are we missing out on something He wants us to learn, or on an opportunity for God to use us in a big way?

Then there is a servant maybe someone  that  uses the gift God gave them in the mission field or at home in their church, but if any need arises they are willing to help whatever the need whatever the crisis whether it’s their gift or not. Are they doing or acting in a place where they have no business or are they just acting the way Jesus wants them to? I mean if we never did anything we are not comfortable and good with would we ever learn or grow in our walk with Christ? Or think about this; if the Holy Spirit is in control of our lives couldn’t He empower us to do things above and beyond our gifts? So if we turn down things other than our gifts are we missing a chance to let the Holy Spirit do the work in our life that He wants done. I have talked to many people who say God always seems to put them where they least expect or are the least comfortable. It seems to me that would mean God placed them doing something above or beyond their gifts. I think we would all agree we are more comfortable doing something we are good at.  And what about the people who turn them down when they say you should not do this it’s not your gift.  Sometimes there may be a time for that, but I feel we need to be sensitive to what the Holy Spirit might be doing in that person’s life and approach that subject with more caution than we originally think necessary.

Next I have thought of this, are they disciples or Pharisees? I know the answer to this seems easy but let me define each one as I have felt myself being convicted when I thought about who they are. A disciple is someone who is a student learning from Gods word daily. Diligently seeking Gods truths and never finishing his or her education from Jesus. They love the Lord for who He is and what He has done, good or maybe even bad in some circumstances to the human eye. They trust His plan and have a strong foundation of faith with roots firmly planted. They are ready to share the good news at any moment and don’t get distracted by what God may be doing do tomorrow.  They understand a relationship with Jesus Christ and devote their lives and love to Him. And most of all they are servants.

Then the Pharisee, the upholder of the law we all know them from the New Testament. But let’s take a closer look: they know Gods word very well and are always first to display their knowledge of it. They teach from it as if it’s a lesson in school but don’t act on the words they are teaching. The relationship with Christ has lost its value and they might be more focused on decoding and uncovering the things that may have been lost in translation. That’s interesting, but what’s the big secret? When I read the word especially the New Testament Jesus lays it out so a dummy like me can understand it. Are we going to understand it all I don’t think so.

Isaiah 55:8-9

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
    “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
⁹ For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so my ways are higher than your ways
    and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

I feel like God is pretty much telling us we won’t understand everything in this verse so we should be careful with our theories.  If God says we are not going to understand Him completely that’s ok. Isn’t that where faith comes in? Don’t misunderstand me I’m not saying don’t study diligently I’m just pointing out that the Pharisees seem to have all the answers and might even add some of their own laws that are not spelled out plainly or just plain unknown in God’s word. Being upholders of the law they may be judgmental OUCH!  All I can say is if you’re a little judgmental read Romans and try not to feel like a Pharisee. Also showy, but I don’t have to go into detail on that. They might also feel as though they have in some way finished learning or graduated with all their knowledge.

Hebrews 4:12

“For the word of God is alive and powerful.

It is sharper than the sharpest two edged sword,

cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow.

 It exposes our inner most thoughts and desires.”

This seems to say to me that the Word isn’t just a history lesson but it is something that will change us in a huge way. Not something we graduate from, but something we are grafted into and is continually changing us for better until our short time on this earth is over.

Next there is near or far the great commission talks about making disciples of all nations, but does that mean if we’re at home we are inactive? I have read books that say we are not missionaries until we go, almost making me feel inadequate or disobedient if I don’t. But who do we send to go? All of us? Or is it possible God was smart enough to keep people at home to raise up the people God has given the ability to go. If so; what or who are these people that bring up our idea of a missionary back home? Is it possible God has different plans for all of us, and for some of us it might be to go and some of us it might be to stay. Do we need to focus on world hunger, orphans, widows, the poor? Or should we worry about the lost and help these others along the way. The great commission isn't for orphans, widows, the poor and hungry it’s for the lost. I believe this is the priority. Of course we will help the needy if we are the loving people Jesus made us.  But think about this; what’s more important, physical needs or spiritual needs? I believe spiritual needs can go much further than any dollar amount. So does helping people make you a missionary? Another thought there are movie stars that believe in religions that defile our God, but they have done more physical good with their seemingly limitless finances than you or I could ever imagine.  Does this make them missionaries?

 After a lot of thought I have concluded that a missionary is not just someone who helps people but someone who is a servant. Someone who might not be gifted in the areas he ends up but if the need arises he or she will get dirty sweaty and even bloody, or stand up for the Lord maybe in front of thousands and even if he doesn’t feel adequate will have faith that the Holy Spirit will step in and not through self but through the Power of the Holy Spirit standing in for them, be used for Gods glory. A missionary is someone who is a disciple of Christ always ready to learn and humble enough to continue to learn no matter where they are in their walk with the Lord. They realize that what they have is a relationship that needs daily work and they strive to love the Lord the way He loves them. They are ready to share the good news at any moment and aren’t distracted by what God might do tomorrow. They display love always because Jesus loves them. They display the fruits of the Spirit and hold themselves to a higher standard not because they are missionaries but because that’s what Jesus wants. They realize the necessity for spiritual healing in their life and all the people around them whether close to home or not.

This is the person I want to become in my walk with the Lord. If you would agree maybe you’re a missionary.