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Christian Missionaries
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arsindelve, Executive Director, Delve Christian Ministries
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In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus' final words to the disciples were, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
This command by Jesus has been called "The Great Commission" and it still holds for Christians today. We are called to do what we can to spread the word about Jesus Christ. Missionaries are those Christians which have decided to make this mission their full-time job. These men and women travel to remote destinations where people have not heard the Gospel of Christ and bring them the Good News. They rely on the financial and administrative support of their home churches and other Christians who want to help make their work possible.
The goal of a missionary must never be to convert someone against their will, especially through force or coercion. God has made each of us with the ability to make our own choices, and so a true choice to follow Jesus Christ must be made freely and from the heart. A conversion to Christianity which is forced has no meaning and is not genuine. The goal of a missionary should be to ensure that everyone knows the good news of the Gospel and has an opportunity to make their choice from a place of knowledge and understanding. Compelling someone to make the right choice is the job of the Holy Spirit and no one should interfere. Helping them to understand the true nature and consequence of the choice is the only part missionaries can play.
There can be no doubting that Christians throughout history have been guilty of using force and coercion in an attempt to covert others to Christianity. Although they may have had honorable intentions, anyone who has done this has missed the point of Christianity and is guilty of a serious sin. The apostle Peter encourages us to be ready to explain our faith in Christ, but cautions that we must always do so "...with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15)
One of the ways that missionaries can demonstrate what Christianity is about is to provide an excellent example through their service, love and compassion. That is why when missionaries come to a new location, often their focus is on improving the quality of life. Christian missionaries aid communities in making improvements to food and water supplies, education and heath care. This compassionate work is done to demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ in a real and tangible way. This kind of loving service, when done with genuine care and concern, is the best endorsement of Christianity anyone can offer. People are naturally drawn to this kind of love and compassion and will want to know the reason for it.
The first Christian missionary, the apostle Paul explains in Acts 20:35, "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
This same principle is true for all Christians, even those who are not full time missionaries. In our work, our families and our communities, people will judge our conduct and that will become, for them, how they perceive Christianity in general. If we are kind, loving and compassionate, people will want to know more about Jesus. If we are sinful, greedy, judgmental and unkind, people will want nothing to do with him. This is what Peter meant when he wrote, "Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world" (2 Peter 2:12 - NLT)
What makes someone a missionary is that they have moved to a new area and have made service and evangelism the primary purpose of their life. However, all Christians are missionaries of Christ, even if the people they influence are only their family, co-workers and neighbors. Every Christian has been called to live a life in the example of Christ and tell people about the good news.
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