“There are those who advocate that we drop the word (missionary) altogether. Others insist that it should be applied to all committed Christians. Stephen Neill has warned that if everybody is a missionary, nobody is a missionary.”Secondly, it's silly. If everybody is a missionary, nobody is a missionary? If everyone man is a father, no one is a father?
Everyone is a missionary. But not every missionary (Person) will be sent by the missionaries (People) to another land. So what.
Learn the language of the people where you are. Hear their stories, find out what makes them tick. Build a bridge into these people for the love of Christ Jesus. Everyone is a missionary. It does not negate that some are sent further and supported to do so.
I will grant this; Maybe it is best phrased "everyone should be a missionary", because it is clear many are not.
Another quote from the same source.
“The Chinese have a proverb: “If two men feed a horse, it will lose weight; if two men keep a boat, it will soon leak.” What is everybody’s job is nobody’s job. If every Christian is a missionary, missionary work is bound to suffer. It is correct to say that every Christian is, or should be, a witness. It is not correct to say that every Christian is a missionary.”—J. Herbert Kane, Missionary statesman, author, and professorI grew up with horses.... More than two people water a horse. I grew up as a fisherman's son. More than one person keeps a boat in tune. Sure it is the captain, or the family Patriarch who coordinates and assures others do the task. Did you water the horse? Did you tighten that bolt? But we no less felt it was our job or responsibility. It was our job and responsibility of the the whole family.
And I think that is exactly what God is doing. Assuring it gets done.
This is much truer of mission. Anyone can do this where they are in any place, among any people.
The missionary heart: Care more than some think is wise. Risk more than some think is safe. Dream more than some think is practical. Expect more than some think is possible. I was called not to comfort or success but to obedience….There is no joy outside of knowing Jesus and serving him.” —Karen Watson, martyr, March 15, 2004
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