There are many dimensions to consider when one explores what it means to be a missionary. First of all I recognize that “missionary “ is a broad term. A missionary may serve in remote places or he may be your next door neighbor, ministering in the neighborhood. He may be a pastor, a teacher, a builder, a medical practitioner or a servant in some other capacity.

The Protestant missionary movement of the 1800’s had a profound affect on the American church. This vigorous movement emerged alongside religious revivalism and other movements of social reform. There was growing optimism that it might be possible to bring about the kingdom of God on earth. Individual Christians were catching a vision “to go” into many non-Christian countries of the world. Mission Societies were born. Strategies were developed. Clinics, hospitals and schools were established in far-away places. It is not the purpose of this article to evaluate that missionary movement, but the emphasis and call to go out with the gospel remains alive in many churches yet to this day.

Through the years I have received a number of requests from mission boards to provide an evaluation of prospective volunteers. Typically the questionnaire asks questions about the character, personality, spiritual maturity, experience and skills of the person applying to serve. These are legitimate and necessary questions.

I would propose that there are other considerations that are more difficult to discern, but may have a profound effect on the success of the missionary’s work. They tend to be subtle, but powerful issues that often the missionary and the sending churches and mission boards do not recognize. They are issues rooted in the missionary’s view of himself and his view of the people he is serving.

Gary Miller, in his book “Know Before You Go”, states that “Americans… tend to give off an aura of arrogance.” It is my belief that generally this is not intentional and many missionaries would be appalled if they realized that this was the way that those they are ministering to are viewing them. But there is evidence that would indicate this may be a huge problem for Western missionaries. We need to explore why this happens.

American culture is radically different than most poverty-stricken areas of the world. Americans have resources. Americans like to fix problems. Americans love to build. Americans have something that everyone needs – the gospel. On the surface, this seems positive. But in reality it can be a very damaging problem.

The problem is the arrogance. The message we can communicate to the nationals of other countries is, “You need me. I can fix your problems”. As Gary Miller points out, “we become the saviors, they become the saved.” The irony is that by American standards what appears to us to be humble service may be viewed as arrogance by those whom we serve.

The people being served may have a totally different view of the situation than the missionary. Many cultures are relationship based. In those cultures it may not be easy to really know what the people think about the missionary. They will be very reluctant to give a negative assessment. This creates false impressions for the missionary as well as the home boards. The missionary may have a glowing report for the home folks, but nobody thinks to explore what the nationals think.

Arrogance is really a put-down. It says I have superior knowledge – I have superior skills – I have superior tools. It is really an insult to others. Ultimately it says, “I am better than you”. And when we think we are better than others it is easy to begin to isolate ourselves and insulate ourselves from the community we are serving. Do we think the nationals don’t feel this?

There are many things to think about before one goes to serve as a missionary. Certainly feeling a call and having a passion to serve others are necessary components for a missionary. Studying the culture and language of the people you will serve is valuable and necessary. As important as all those components may be, it surely is even more important to know your heart. Ultimately it will be the missionary with a deep sense of humility and a respect for the dignity of the people he serves who will be most successful.