In the post below, church-planter and pastor, Matt Troupe, argues that at one level every believer is a missionary. Matt's article is brief, but his argument is, I think, cogent. We need to inculcate within our people a missional perspective with respect to their own calling in the world. I'd encourage you to read Matt's brief post.

Why Every Believer Is A Missionary

Your servant,

__________________
Bob Gonzales Jr., Dean
Reformed Baptist Seminary
Easley, South Carolina

"Persons need not and ought not to set any bounds to their spiritual and gracious appetites." Jonathan Edwards

Some might have trouble with this in that they might have seen some poor attempts to evangelize go in a really poor direction.
Others believe it is only the pastoral ministry of elders who are called to do this work.
In any case those who speak to others about their soul's condition should remain accountable to the oversight of a local church. It should not be an either /or, proposition.
Going to a hospital or nursing home, speaking with co-workers, or praying about each and every random contact we have should be done with a view to God's glory in the salvation , or damnation of those souls we speak with.
2Cor 2-3

__________________
Anthony D'Arienzo
Sunday School Teacher
Hope Reformed Baptist Church:
Medford, N.Y.

I would rather say that every believer is a "Witness" and keep the term "missionary" for those that are sent by churches in order to deliberately cross ethno-linguistic boundaries with the Gospel.

__________________
Pergamum


"If a commission by an earthly king is considered a honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?"
-- David Livingstone

Perg,

I think we need to be careful that we're not more fastidious in our use of terminology than the Bible itself. For example, I've heard many on this board object to the application of the term "evangelism" to lay-activity and suggest that we use instead the term "witness." This concern is apparently born out of the conviction that "evangelism" is the function of the ordained man while "witnessing" is a function that applies to all believers.

In point of fact, the term "witness" in the NT, particularly in John's writings, is more often a technical expression employed to denote the official witness that

(1) the OT Scripture writers bore of Christ (5:39), that John the Baptist bore of Christ (1:15, 32, 34; 3:26; 5:33),
(2) that Jesus bore of himself and the truth (1:8; 3:11; 3:32; 4:44; 5:31, 36; 7:7; 8:13-14, 18; 10:25; 18:37),
(3) that the Father bore of Christ (5:32, 37; 8:18), that the Spirit would bear of Christ (15:26), and
(4) that Christ’s chosen apostles were to bear of him (1:34; 15:27; 19:35; 21:24).

If there were ever a role that might be too lofty for laypeople, it would be “bearing witness”! Of course, the apostle John wasn’t so penurious with his vocabulary as some clericalists today. He was willing to describe a crowd of people flocking to Jesus on the basis of a Samaritan woman’s “testimony [marturouses]” (4:39). And John will use the Greek noun martus to designate those “martyrs,” whether clergy or laity, who seal their verbal testimony with their own blood (Rev. 17:6).

Similarly, Mark could employ the Greek verb Paul used for “preaching” (kerusso) to describe, on the one hand, Jesus’ official proclamation of the gospel (Mark 1:14) and, on the other hand, the enthusiastic testimonies of a leper now healed, a demoniac now freed, and a deaf-dumb man now hearing and speaking (Mark 1:45; 5:20; 7:32). If the Scripture writers could use gospel vocabulary to predicate both clerical and non-clerical activity, why can’t we?

Indeed, the word "apostle," which is the equivalent to the Latin "missionary," is used to designate non-office bearers in 2 Corinthians 8:22-23. For this reason, I think we have precedent to distinguish between different kinds of "apostles" or "missionaries." And since the responsibility of the Great Commission devolves on every member of the church in some way and to some degree, I see nothing wrong with describing all of Christ's disciples as "missionaries" at some level though I also acknowledge the usage of that term to describe someone officially ordained and sent by the church to plant churches.

Your servant,

A missionary is one who is "sent". We are "sent" because we get our marching orders from King Christ, the One who sends us. So, whether he sends us next door or around the world, we are all sent, to teach as we go and give the gospel.

__________________
Toni Cunningham, Wife of Bill (Theognome)
Parkwoods OPC, Overland Park KS

"Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, As, to be hated, needs but to be seen; Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, We first endure, then pity, then embrace." ~ Alexander Pope

I'm surprised it's not blatantly obvious! Are we soldiers of God forever in training in the barracks or are we given a mission to perform? That "mission" may not be an exact identification of what is thought of as a "missionaries" task, but whatever that mission is, or those missions are, we are missionaries. If overseas missionaries want a word all to themselves, they should make one up and not impoverish the language by disallowing the use of this one.

I would also say that every believer has a vocation in the Lord, even if it's a second job.

__________________
Paul
No denomination, affiliated with FIEC
"Deliver me from worldly dispositions, for I am born from above and destined for glory" - Valley of Vision
"They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation" - Peter

It is not that we need a word all to ourselves, but if everything becomes "missions" and everyone becomes a "missionary" than nothing really becomes missions....

Those that are using the word "missions" for everything that the church does (social justice, arts, etc) are actually the ones impoverishing language and blurring the great urgency of intentional, deliberate and cross-cultural witness.


I do wholeheartedly agree with Dr. Bob that we do need to stress the duties and privileges of all believers to bear witness to Christ and I do not want to object to strongly to any terminology that serves to mobilize the laymen. We are all witnesses, so let us light up the world.

-----Added 8/5/2009 at 02:00:21 EST-----

Dr Bob;


If we translate kerusso as "preaching", would you advocate then that preaching is much broader than merely what occurs in the pulpit by the official ecclesiastical authority of a church, i.e. laymen can "preach" and even women can "preach" if we are all to be missionaries who engage in "preaching" kerusso? If all are sent and all are missionaries, who can preach, give the sacraments, and plant churches?

Oh yes, I fully agree with you there. I think the compartmentalisation is a problem in itself. Our vocation and mission ought to saturate the whole of our lives and not be associated with a particular activity. It's about everyone being aware of their calling, not about finding something for each person to call "ministry" or "mission". There shouldn't be "I'm a missionary because I do X" or "My ministry is Y" because one shouldn't be able to identify in ones dealings with the church and the world what is mission and what isn't if the whole life is mission and ministry and witness.

Wow, I just think we might be agreed 100% then. I guess this happens ever so often.

Regardless, if you start using the word 'missionary' to describe every Christian you are going to confuse a lot of people.

__________________


http://www.villagecommunitychurch.org/


"Preparing a sermon is like cooking a meal. You need pots and pans and utensils, but you don't bring them out to the table where people are eating." Derek Thomas


Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

If theyse all be missionaries how come theyse aint out der mishing?

It would add a whole new meaning to the phrase, "Missionary Support". Obama would love it! Everyone gets a piece of the pie that you guys have been hoarding for the last 2000 years.

I aint been hoarding all that much. My pie slice has been rather thin at times!

Well, c'mon, its not like you do anything important like fix toilets or dry clean shirts.