What are missions? What is mission work?
It can be a buzzword of sorts in Christian circles. People often use terms like “local missions,” “foreign missions,” “mission-minded,” and “mission trips.”
This makes communication in a postmodern world challenging and often unprofitable. There should be a clear understanding of what we mean when we use a given word, as someone else may use the same word but have a different meaning. So, let’s define the terms upfront as we think about the topic of “missions.” I, personally, enjoy clarifying terminology when discussing anything important; it’s almost necessary these days.
What exactly is “the mission,” or what are “missions?”
As we think about the New Testament, who do we speak of most, or think about first when we think of missions? Who is the first to pop into your mind? Is it Peter, James, or John? Maybe, but I’d have to say probably not. Most people would automatically think. Paul, of course. Why is this?
Given the abundance of information about his missionary journeys in the New Testament, we know that Paul is best known as “the missionary.” Be aware that he was also the apostle to the gentiles. The other apostles primarily focused on ministering to their own people group, the Jews. While Paul went out to the Gentiles, people different from himself, in places away from his own home, to places where people looked different, spoke different languages, and believed different things. They had different worldviews and cultures.
The other apostles pretty much stayed around people who were like themselves, believed the same things, and shared the same culture and language. We must acknowledge that Paul’s mission to the Gentiles differs significantly from the way he preached the gospel to the Jews in Jerusalem. Paul crosses cultural lines with the gospel. He went to the “ethnos.” He went to the nations, to other people who were not like him.
Jesus states the following in Matthew 28:18–20, which is known as the Great Commission:
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations (ethnos), baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the ἔθνος
Original Word: ἔθνος
Transliteration: ethnos
Phonetic Spelling: (eth’-nos)
Definition: a race, a nation, the nations
This word can mean:
a race, people, nation; the nations, Gentiles (non Jews).
The Great Commission, in this text, is the “mission” that we as Christians refer to when we talk about “missions.” But in light of the clear command of Christ here, are we using this term correctly? Oftentimes I think we don’t. First and foremost, I firmly believe that the majority of people possess the purest intentions, and I commend their eagerness to serve. Nothing but love and respect for them there.
But the mission is to literally take the gospel and make disciples of people from other nations. Of course, this mission extends beyond our own borders. I believe the Scriptures do not afford us the luxury of a binary approach to missions. Each local church should strive to be involved in gospel proclamation at home and overseas. This involvement can take various forms, such as going, sending, supporting, or praying. To the best of their abilities, they should engage and dedicate themselves to both local ministry and foreign missions. It wasn’t a beggar’s plea, but a King’s command to His people!
In foreign missions, the call is to reach and make Christ followers of people who are unlike ourselves. This involves transcending geographical, ethnolinguistic, and cultural barriers. One could argue that the term “local missions” actually refers to evangelism and/or other forms of ministry. But according to the command, actual missions would be evangelism and discipleship in a different cultural context than your own.
For now, let’s say that, at the very least, missions, as we see in Scripture, are crossing cultural barriers with the Gospel. Some may not see that as significant. But I would argue that it is very important that we make such a distinction. We must define the terms.
I say this only because when we use terms like local missions, we refer to activities that aren’t really missions. We actually are only doing “local missions” if we are crossing those cultural barriers in your own area or hometown. If you are a member of a predominantly white church or community and are actively reaching out to nearby populations such as Hispanics, Indians, Asians, etc., I would consider this to be a form of “local missions.” But anything else is, well, something else.
It may be benevolence… good. We must extend mercy and assist those in need, just as we have received mercy ourselves.
It may be evangelism…absolutely essential. We must preach the gospel everywhere. But this usually plays out most naturally where we live and in the surrounding area with people that are involved in our daily lives.
Disaster relief…amen. We should rescue those in need and suffering. As well as being the right thing to do, this opens up new opportunities to share the gospel with people outside our immediate circle who need hope.
In no way am I trying to downplay the importance of these ministries and important acts of Christian service. But this is not local missions; it’s another kind of beneficial and necessary local ministry.
When we refer to something as a mission, we may mistakenly believe we are fulfilling our calling, when in reality, we are only fulfilling a portion of our mandate. Why? Because we have been calling it something else that it really is not. That’s why defining the terms is so important here.
We are called to evangelize the surrounding community, but the church is also called to the nations (ethos). We can do that by equipping others or by going ourselves. Likewise, we may do that through sending, and that means commitment, funding, and communication. But when the church does that and a person takes the gospel across cultural lines for the purpose of making disciples, then the church has participated in “missions” in the most biblical sense.
Our knowledge is that mission work is the local church’s work, God’s will, and the way He has chosen to call people from every tribe, tongue, and nation to Himself and exalt His name! God is calling a people unto Himself; Christ is building His church, preparing His bride, and has invited us into this work. We are all those who bear the name of Christ. What an honor it is to serve our King in this way! What kindness, to bring former rebels into His family as sons and daughters, allows us to serve Him in this holy work. Let us understand it not as a sacrifice, but as a privilege.
This idea of missions overseas also necessitates a support system. An important partnership between the local church (and other supporting churches), the missionary, and the “Epaphroditus.” The missionary, a fellow soldier and worker, serves as a messenger and minister to the missionary’s needs.
I will unpack some of what that partnership looks like in another chapter, using an example from the book of Philippians with an outline.
In Christ,
Antonio Salgado
Antonio serves as a director of BCM, overseeing ministry efforts in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Venezuela.