difference of preaching & missionary

Tuesday, August 25, 2009 6:53 PM

From: "Carlos Burman"

Dear Eiko,

How have you been this past week?

Its been great weather this past week if you enjoy the sunshine ,hasnt it.

We went to sasebo over the weekend and then stayed at a Ryokan in Ureshino in Saga prefecture..so we enjoyed nice food and a couple of days rest.

Anyway, we are all back to work again and i have seen your email asking whether there is any difference between a missionary and preaching.

Well..these words are very similar,however...the word "Missionary" comes from the Latin word "Missioninimus" which means "To Send" " the act of Sending a person to a foreign land usually for a religious purpose but not strictly for that reason.

A missionary is equivalent to the word "Apostle" which in the greek means a person Delegated specially for the service of spreading the word".

Thus the word Missionary is normally a person who is sent to another country,in the Bible...those who were missionaries couldnt be one because of thier own voluntary attitude alone...but normally they would have had to also be a wise,spiritual person who new the Bible deeply.

The apostle paul was one of these missionaries sent by Jesus Christ.

However, on the otherhand, The word "preaching" comes from the latin word "Praedicare" which literally means "To Proclaim".

The person Preaching does not have to spend countless of hours in preaching just as long as he does what he is able to do within his circumstances.

A preacher proclaims not neccesarily in a foreign land but most often is a preacher in his own nation.

However, the difference between a preacher and a missionary is that a missionary is SENT or DELEGATED SPECIALLY...he doesnt send himself....this person has a desire for this work..he also is capable, wise and has a deep understanding of the Bible....qualities that you would expect of a missionary

A preacher, however, can voluntarily preach without having to be sent or delegated.

At Matthew 28:19 and 20 Jesus said to ALL his followers and to his potential followers to "make disciples of people of all the nations".

Today whether we are missionaries or not...all christians should and must obey the command to be preachers.

Jesus often said in the Gospels "For this i have been sent" and all those who were missionaries in the first century were sent or delegated by apointed mature men who always seeked Jehovahs Guidance as to whether a person was ready to be a missionary or not...Timothy was an example of that.


Anyway I hope this answers your question...speak to you when i see you next

Takecare

Carlos


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Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 10:00:49 -0700
From:
Subject: Re: Jesus and Abraham
To:

Thanks Br Carlos..
Abraham is the ancestor of both Jews -Isac and Arabs - Ishmael so it is quite a matter of course Jesus is the descendant of Abraham.

His heavenly life before his birth is a belief. No one can confirm that, so we believe so as Bible mentions.

Sr Ogata went to Nepal and I think she is a missionary. Historically Christianity was spread by many missionaries including Paul's and Iesus people as Ignatius Loyola in 16 centuries, etc.

Is there any difference between missionary and preaching ? I think they are the same, but merely different in expression.

Sincerely,

Hiroshi