One of our supporting churches recently had a missions focus week, and it’s always an encouragement to us in the field to hear such things. It’s really nice to hear from a group after a while and be reminded that there are so many lifting us up in prayer, which is the most important support for a missionary, in my opinion. If your church supports a missionary, I would encourage you to get their contact details and send a quick “hello” with a reminder that you’re praying for them. Seriously. It means a lot to a missionary.
This particular church sent us some questions, mostly about how they could pray more specifically or if they could send any necessary supplies along to us. Great stuff; we really appreciate the thoughts and inquiries. But one of the questions came with an explanation that, during missions week, the theme was something like “Superheroes”, and that they were calling their missionaries this in the Sunday services.
Superheroes. Hero would be hard enough to live up to, never mind adding “super” to it. Us as Superheroes? Hardly.
Because I know this church and some of its people, I am convinced that they had the best of intentions with this, so I don’t take offence directly. They really do mean well. I know they are trying to encourage others to the mission field, or at least giving towards missions, and as someone with a background in the Creative Ministry Arts, I applaud the creativity applied towards what is unfortunately viewed by many Christians as a dull subject. Some of the faith-stretching things we’ve done to follow God’s call have certainly been out of the ordinary, and we’re definitely unusual. But that’s where the similarities stop.
A Superhero is someone who saves the day, a person who doesn’t really act very human. They are an entity that is so beyond our physical limitations that we cannot really aspire to be like them, just look to them. In most of the comic books, a Superhero is a hired gun who handles the bad guys; other mortals are not encouraged to join in the battle.
As a missionary, we are frail, fallible humans who have our own doubts, missteps and failings like any other Christian. Just because our calling has been to another part of the globe doesn’t mean that a Christian in their home country can’t be following their calling, too. A recent search term to this blog, “Can missionaries feel depressed?”, tells me that there is a perception that we are a perfect, well-adjusted lot.
Though well-intended, I fear that this comparison of Missionary=Superhero could discourage more Christians than it’s meant to encourage. “I’m just a regular guy,” could be the thought, “God uses super-Christians, and I’m not that.” While humility is so important in this area, I’d hate for someone to feel they couldn’t follow a call because of this appearance.
In all actuality, I think it also backfires with those who take the call. Some missionaries wax poetic about all the adulation they received on fundraising or furlough, it appears that they may be addicted to “Missionary Worship.” The problem is that you rarely encounter that in your mission field; meanwhile, the communication from your homeland dries up and you’re left with yourself. No more Christian cheerleading squad to sing your praises about how brave and sacrificial you’re being.
Once you start labeling callings, then you have comparisons. Is the man who loses his family connections when he converts to Christianity and becomes a pastor in his homeland less of a Superhero? What about the woman who bravely witnesses to prostitutes in a rough part of her home city? Must you give up things of earthly importance (possessions, status, career, relationships) to be a Superhero? If one didn’t have to go through those things, yet is still following God’s calling, it doesn’t negate their ministry or make it any less special.
Missionaries are another part of the Body of Christ, no more or less important than any of the members; we just happen to be at the forefront of public ministry from time to time. Let’s encourage our missionaries without flattery, and let’s encourage Christians to interest in missions with candid talk, not grandiosity.
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I’ll just be honest, I’ve struggled with this because I have often thought of missionaries as heroes of the faith. The simple fact is that many people don’t do what you do. Some can’t, and those of us who are in that boat find other ways to minister, but for others, they could go and don’t. So you are different (in a good way). A lot of people could be in the military and go be “heroes” but they choose not to.
Ok, so not a superhero, but you’re definitely not a “regular” Christian either. I hope that doesn’t offend.
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Retirement Ceremony =-.
Dan, I guess it all depends on what the definition of a “regular” Christian is. Since all Christians are commanded to be ambassadors and missionaries (sent on mission) then missionaries are the “regular” ones, just like the person who takes meals to their sick neighbor to show the love of Jesus, or the person who meets for coffee with their friend to discuss Jesus, or the mom who continues to preach to her renegade daughter through love and sacrificial service. Missionaries simply do those things in another part of the world because the gospel needs to be preached there on a wide scale.
.-= Kevin´s last blog ..Nothing but questions =-.
I like your blog Kevin. It’s very intriguing! I agree with you that everyone is essentially on mission, including me, and I’m here in sunny San Diego. Still, I have met many missionaries and while they look like regular Christians, it’s hard to think of them as such. I’ll take your word for it though!
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Retirement Ceremony =-.
@Dan: Thank you for your honesty, and I’m not offended. I know I’m not considered “regular”–and that’s the problem. Kevin said it best; I’m doing (and other missionaries) what we’re all as Christians supposed to be doing, just in a different part of the world. Mission is reaching out where God has placed you, whether it’s sunny San Diego or even in one’s own backyard or hometown. He just happened to place me 5,000 miles away, but if He had me go back to America I’d still be doing what I’m doing.
Is living in another culture more difficult? Sometimes. Is living by faith on funding nerve-racking? Absolutely. Yes, those things make me different as a missionary, but my witness and outreach should be the same no matter where I’m at or how I’m funded.
I lived in Japan for a few years while in the Navy. I understand your thoughts. While over there I spoke occasionally in Japanese churches and led a conversational English class. And, truth be told, I never thought of myself as a hero either. Interesting now that I think about it.
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Kabul 24: Review =-.
Great Post. This is a difficult issue to address because we have a tendency to either make heroes of the missionary or we down play their lives. I had someone tell me once that it took just as much sacrifice for them to sing in the choir as it did for me to serve and live overseas. Really?
I’m not a hero….I’m just a guy who heard the call of God and obeyed. I still struggle…I still have bad days…I still cuss when I hit my thumb with a hammer. My calling does call for me to give up a little more than some others may…but I also get more out of my calling than some others do.
BTW, if we were superheroes…I would want a super-stomach….not matter what I ate I would never get sick….that would be a cool superpower!
.-= Grady Bauer´s last blog ..Dealing with Obstacles =-.
@Grady: The “choir” comment from your friend shows me that people don’t get it. Different parts of the body do different things, some more, some less. No question that missionaries sacrifice more than some others; we do lead different lives than those of our friends and families in the States. We’re equal in the sense that we’re just as human, frail, and messed up as the next Christian (who might not be sacrificing as much but still serving as God has called them).
Hmmm, superhero power that I’d like…speed reading!
I just can’t think of missionaries as “super heroes” because we don’t have any special super power. We’re just human trying to do what God calls us to do. I wouldn’t discount the people who serves in church choir as worthless but I would really challenge everyone to listen to what God wants you to do and do it. If it’s work in a job and provide for a family or other missionaries and serve in a choir every week, then its good. If it’s to live overseas and have to trust God for even the most basic needs, then it’s good too. But I’ll say one thing, being a missionary is scary!
@Tai: I agree. While being a missionary is scary, if we’re all following God’s calling then being a Christian is scary (but in a good way)!
I really admire the humility you display in your post. You claim that you are not a superhero, and I agree, you are just an average human. You have however taken on the exceptional mission of bringing the message of God to others. Though you are just as human as any other person, and may share in the same flaws, your mission is blessed and know that God is always watching over you!
@Christine: Thank you for your encouragement.