Defining terms
What do we mean by ‘church’? What do we mean by ‘mission’? And what do we mean by ‘missionary’?
Church
The ‘church’ (which might be defined in varying ways) is a state of being, or a corporate gathering, rather than an institution. Ekklesia (‘called-out’) , Congregation, or ‘Assembly’ are perhaps better terms.
As those called-out, Christians are collectively called-out from primary identification with this world and its agendas and instead called-in to service of God as His ambassadors / representatives here. As those who ‘assemble’, we come deliberatively and intentionally before our God to worship Him on His terms. This is both an act of adoration in response to all the wonderful things He has done through His Son Jesus, whom we acknowledge as ‘Lord’, and also a witness to the world at large that Jesus is Lord.
Prosaically, the ‘church’ can be thought of as a ‘body’ of believers in a particular town or village. This was the analogy drawn by the apostle Paul, who uses the idea of the human body to describe the church, emphasizing both unity and diversity. Paul highlights that believers, though diverse in gifts and roles, are united as one body with Messiah as the head. Drawing from 1 Corinthians chapter 12, this metaphor stresses that each member is essential and interdependent, contributing to the overall health and function of the body.
The phrase “the Body of Christ” is common in the New Testament for the ‘church’ (all those who are truly saved). The ‘church’ is called “one body in Christ” in Romans 12:5, “one body” in 1 Corinthians 10:17, “the body of Christ” in 1 Corinthians 12:27 and Ephesians 4:12, and “the body” in Hebrews 13:3. The ‘church’ is clearly equated with “the body” of Christ in Ephesians 5:23 and Colossians 1:24.
Mission
Mission is a permanent and intrinsic dimension of the church’s life. The church is missionary by its very nature and it is impossible to talk about ‘church’ without at the same time talking about mission. Because God is a missionary God, God’s people are missionary people. The church’s mission is not secondary to its being. Rather, the church exists in order to be sent to those outside. There cannot be church without an intrinsic missionary dimension. Emil Brunner’s famous adage is very pertinent: “The church exists by mission, just as fire exists by burning.”
Missionary
In one sense all Christians are missionaries, as all have the primary obligation to give an account of the hope that lies within us (1 Peter 3: 15), and this in response to Jesus’ ‘great commission’.
But a missionary can also be defined as a person set aside by their local assembly (or church, or fellowship), with the specific task of sharing and/or preaching the good news of Salvation through Messiah Jesus. In this specific sense a missionary might be a full-time missionary (probably working with or via a mission agency) or a short term ‘voluntary missioner’ (or ‘voluntary evangelist’). This latter is a wonderful way to become engaged in evangelism activities whilst continuing to live in a local or home-based context whilst (possibly) doing a full time secular ‘job’.
Big task – Big Helper
So, Mission is part and parcel of what it means to be a Christian. In his book “Prophetic Evangelism”, Daniel Holland outlines thirteen different types of evangelism. In a sense different types of ‘evangelism’ are differing types of ‘mission’. Dan Holland’s list is non-exhaustive. The task that our Lord Jesus gave is a big task and there are many methods of fulfilling it. Always in the background is wonderful Holy Spirit who enables and guides. We don’t do this alone! Remember, Holy Spirit serves as our divine guide and enabler. Bible verses like John 14:26 and John 16:13 describe His role in teaching, guiding, and comforting believers, while Acts 1:8 and Romans 8:26-27 highlight His empowerment for witness and intercession. Finally, Galatians 5:25 calls believers to walk by the Spirit.
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