The Lectio Letter - Issue #88 - 3 Reasons I (often) don't call myself a missionary

"Unfortunately, evangelicals in mission still tend to proceed as though their major problems are methodological. They are not. They are theological.”

— David J. Hesselgrave

"Identifying the gospel is both simple and challenging. No culture-free expression of the gospel exists, nor could it. The church's message, the gospel, is inevitability articulated in linguistic and cultural forms particular to its own place and time.

— George R. Huntsburger

Welcome to Issue #88 of the Lectio Letter. This members-only newsletter is filled with music, film and food suggestions, links, and an article written by yours truly.

Some of you might think I’ve picked a strange title for this edition of the Lectio Letter. Many of you probably know of us as people you would describe as missionaries! If that’s you, then you exist in a world where that word makes sense to you. It might even be hard to imagine that the word evokes deep resentment in others.

In this article, I’m exploring how western churches engaging in local mission, the increase of secular narratives and the history of African colonialism creates complications for us when we use the name ‘missionary’.

All of that said, I am deeply committed to the work of God’s mission in the world, but I am not committed to define myself as a ‘missionary’ when it closes more doors than it opens.

But if you get to the end of this edition and feel like “I don’t know what all the big fuss is about”, then grace to you. You live in a world where the word “missionary” makes sense and that’s no bad thing.

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