Recently, I was speaking with a friend who is a missionary to the Dominican Republic. Amid our encouraging talk I asked him about discouraging aspects of his ministry.
His answer surprised me. He confessed that the most discouraging aspect of ministry in his region is the other missionaries.
He went on to describe in detail how so many western churches send people to the island for mission work but in reality they are just on a vacation. They collect a check, get the benefits, and kick it at the beach. There engagement with the locals is minimal and when it is at all, it is often critical. They take up space at church and are really not willing to serve (because after all, they are missionaries).
After talking asking other international missionaries the same question I have regrettably gotten a similar answer.
My conclusion: What a bunch of lazy bums. They should be kicked in the rear and told to get to work.
Then I hear the echo of Nathan the prophet: ‘You are the man!’
What?
Many of us are not called to be international missionaries BUT all Christians are called to be missionaries (Matt. 28.18-20). We are called to be intentionally engaging people around us with the gospel with the same zeal that would be ideally displayed by missionaries.
Sadly, instead of zealous missionaries we often look like club-med, lazy missionaries. Engagement with unbelievers is limited (unless it is critical). We take up space at church are reluctant to serve because we are busy (family, jobs, etc). We sometimes act like we are on a vacation at the beach rather than on a battle field for souls. And listen, I am not pointing the finger at a nebulous crowd full of indistinct faces. I know at least one person in that crowd, for I am there. I feel this stinging rebuke of this missionary landing on my lap. I need the reminder that I am not on vacation but on mission. I have to just be reminded to cease with the sandcastles and pull my head out of the sand. I am here for work.
