The term “missionary” is one we hear and use frequently. But ask Christians to define what a missionary is or does, and you’re bound to receive a different answer each time, inevitably leading to confusion.
Can your friend who’s traveling to Haiti to work in an orphanage for a week call herself a missionary? What about the Christian from India who’s an Uber driver and active evangelist in San Francisco? Or how about the American training pastors in South Africa? To complicate matters, most of us have heard those who say everyone is a missionary.
While it’s true every Christian has a role to play in Christ’s mission, I don’t think it’s helpful to call us all missionaries. But if not everyone’s a missionary, how do you determine who is?
‘Sent Ones’
The English word “missionary” is derived from the Latin missio, which means “sending” and corresponds with the Greek word apostello. The related Greek word apostolos gives us the English “apostle” and describes a person who’s sent with a specific task or mission. To be a missionary, then, is to be an apostle—a “sent one.”
But this simple definition can be confusing. Most Christians recognize the 12 apostles have unique authority as the foundation stones of the church (Eph. 2:20). Nevertheless, when we read the New Testament, we find the word apostolos applied to individuals outside the circle of the Twelve.
Most notably, Paul calls himself an apostle even though he wasn’t among Jesus’s first disciples. Many others also receive the designation, including Barnabas (Acts 14:14) and apparently Silas (1 Thess. 1:1; 2:6–7), Jesus’s brother James (Gal. 1:19), and likely Apollos (1 Cor. 4:6–10), perhaps even Andronicus and Junia (Rom. 16:7, NIV).
One helpful example is Epaphroditus. Paul recognizes him as a “messenger” (apostolos) from the church in Philippi who ministered to his needs and risked his life for the work of Christ (Phil. 2:25, 30). And when the churches from Paul’s ministry send relief to the suffering believers in Jerusalem, they appoint “messengers” (apostoloi) to go on their behalf and encourage the believers (2 Cor. 8:19–23).
From these references, we see the term “apostle” can be used in the New Testament to refer to those selected and sent out by the church with a specific responsibility in fulfilling Christ’s mission.
The term ‘apostle’ can be used in the New Testament to refer to those selected and sent out by the church with a specific responsibility in fulfilling Christ’s mission.
Not Everyone’s a Missionary
When someone says “every Christian is a missionary,” it’s based on the assumption the Great Commission was given to all believers (Matt. 28:18–20). While Jesus invested unique authority in the Twelve, many understand we’re all similarly sent (John 20:21). In other words, every disciple of Christ is a disciple-maker. And I agree.
However, as some have noted, when everyone’s a missionary, no one really is. Consider this analogy. We recognize that all Christians are called to serve, but that doesn’t mean we’re all deacons (“servants” in Greek), those recognized and appointed for official service by the church. The same is true for missionaries. Not everyone should bear the title of those set apart and sent out from the church on mission.
The key here is seeing the responsibility of the local church. To be “sent” is inherently passive. Missionaries aren’t self-senders, just as no one is self-appointed to be a country’s ambassador. Instead, it’s the unique responsibility of the local church to call and commission ministers for Christ among the nations (Acts 13:1–3), and it’s the responsibility of missionaries to continue in an ongoing relationship of accountability to their sending church (Acts 14:26–28).
Attempting a Definition
Based on these observations, I propose the following definition of a missionary: A missionary is a qualified Christian sent out under the authority of a local church to an area of recognized need in order to pursue the work of the Great Commission.
A missionary isn’t one simply by virtue of what she does or where she goes but because of how and by whom she’s sent. The typical believer isn’t a missionary just because he practices evangelism and discipleship in his community. Nor is a Christian businessman a missionary just because he splits time between Berlin and Beijing. Action and location alone don’t make a missionary.
Instead, someone is a missionary when she’s been sent out by a local church. Therefore, a businessperson, short-term volunteer, or rideshare driver could be a missionary. The term is flexible, not requiring a certain occupation or duration or even a specific funding model.
Missionaries aren’t self-senders, just as no one is self-appointed to be a country’s ambassador.
Being a missionary assumes one is invested with the church’s authority to carry out the Great Commission. From the example of the early apostles, we know this work involves establishing local churches through evangelism, discipleship, and leadership development. If our work doesn’t contribute to that mission—even in a supporting role like Epaphroditus—then we can’t rightly be called missionaries.
Last, this work should be carried out in an area of recognized need. Such need can exist nearby or far away. In my opinion, we shouldn’t reserve the title of missionary only for those learning a new language and reaching an unreached people group. By those criteria, Paul and others wouldn’t qualify. Instead, it’s better to consider the various needs that call for sending workers into an area. That could involve everything from pioneer evangelizing to church strengthening to leadership training.
Whose Call?
The definition I’m proposing, then, both expands and limits who qualifies for missionary status. It means a dentist who merely cleans teeth or a volunteer who only drills wells likely shouldn’t be referred to as a missionary. It also means an investment banker sent to be a witness in a global city or a short-term minister sent to train indigenous pastors could be recognized as one.
But my goal in this article isn’t to evaluate every possible ministry and decide whether it qualifies as missions. Nor do I intend to scrutinize various understandings of who should be considered a missionary. Instead, I simply want to offer a definition I believe could bring greater clarity on a topic that often leads to confusion.
Ultimately, I’m suggesting it’s not up to us as individuals to determine who is or isn’t a missionary. Instead, that’s the call of the local church. This makes answering the question “Who is a missionary?” both easier and more difficult. For those in church leadership, it most certainly implies a significant responsibility.
The Gospel Coalition