Who Is A Missionary?
In Christian circles in the last few decades, you may have met many individuals who called themselves “missionaries”. I met one a few years back.
He came to my house and demanded for a place to stay. He claimed to be a missionary, sent by God. As we probed into it, we found out that he wasn’t a member of any local church. He wasn’t sent by a church. He would not tell us about his family. And he didn’t know what he wanted to do as a missionary except that he wanted to evangelise.
Many go out because they desire to serve God or preach the gospel, but some do so out of selfish and unbiblical reasons. These self-proclaimed missionaries claim to be “sent by God” but are accountable to nobody. They are neither a part of, nor sent by, nor accountable to any local church.
We never question but readily accept them as missionaries and servants of God for the fear that we should not be found opposing God and “his servants”.
But that’s not how the Scriptures define missionaries.
Missionary – a biblical definition
The following scriptural principles will help us understand the biblical definition of the term “missionary”.
- A missionary is called and sent by God, through the local church
Paul had an individual call (Acts 9). But ultimately, the call came through the church leadership (see Acts 13) that he was a part of. The Holy Spirit told the church (leaders) to set apart Paul & Barnabas for the mission. The church was instrumental and central in their missionary call and ministry.
An individual may feel called to missions but the call should come through the local church. The church should be able to see if the individual qualifies to be a missionary. The church should affirm and confirm the missionary call of individuals.
After the church at Antioch affirmed the missionary call of Paul and Barnabas, the church sent them off (Acts 13). Neither did they themselves nor any agencies or seminaries commission them – it was the local church’s doing.
The local church holds biblical authority to send missionaries and should send missionaries.
- A missionary is accountable to the sending church
Barnabas and Paul did not just keep moving on but visited their sending church at Antioch. They reported about their ministry and spent time with them and served them for a longer period.
Therefore, a missionary should be accountable to the sending church. Accountability does not mean just finances but reporting, encouraging and giving the church the right to speak into missionaries’ lives (Acts 14:26-28).
At the same time, the sending church takes the responsibility to care for the missionary spiritually, ministerially, financially, and in every other way.
Missionaries and the church
Churches and leaders should be sensitive to the leading of the Spirit to see who God is separating as missionaries and equip them for the task.
Send the missionaries with the blessings of the local church. Provide for their every need possible. Missionaries should remain accountable to the sending church about their time, resources, finances, ministry, and family life.
It’s time we define the term “missionary” biblically, and recognize authentic missionaries.
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