Was Jonah a Missionary?

Chapman and Warner argue that many Christians focus too much on Jonah when they ask whether the book is about missions or evangelism. Instead, they suggest that we should refocus on God’s missionary activity and the invitation to imitate Him in this way.

Recently, some scholars have argued that Jonah is not a book about missions. They note that too many people assume Jonah is about missions because he travels on the sea and declares God’s message. This assumption overlooks the fact that Jonah's travel was in rebellion against God’s will. Also, the verbal proclamation is not good news but bad.

Ultimately, these observations do not nullify the association between Jonah and missions/evangelism.

We need the Old Testament to understand missions and evangelism

Chapman and Warner argue that neither perspective adequately considers the Old Testament's definition of missions and evangelism.

Assuming Jonah is a missionary book betrays a naive use of New Testament categories.

Likewise, rejecting Jonah's connection to mission or evangelization is often based on the book's perceived misalignment with the New Testament.

Instead, we should allow the book of Jonah to inform our understanding of missions and evangelism.

God is the missionary and evangelist.

When we do this, Chapman and Warner argue, we realize the book of Jonah is about God’s missionary effort.

By the end of the book, God is the one who desires to save the Ninevites.

Jonah’s disobedience is not rooted in a lack of faith. Instead, Jonah believes God will show mercy to the Ninevites. The prophet knows that God loves to show mercy.

At the same time, God’s missionary effort is directed at Jonah himself. God speaks to Jonah and pursues him into the seas. Throughout the book, God tries to turn Jonah’s heart back towards him.

Throughout the book, God wants Jonah to join His missionary and evangelistic project. Jonah is meant to proclaim God’s message to the Ninevites.

The missionary and evangelism project focuses on the whole of creation.

We see the bigger picture when we allow the Old Testament to inform our definition of missions and evangelism.

Too many people imagine that missions and evangelism focus on humans only. Certainly, humans are the primary beneficiaries of God’s missionary efforts.

Yet, the book of Jonah shows remarkable interest in all creation.

Jonah’s initial description of God acknowledges that He is the creator of everything (Jonah 1:9). Throughout the book, God uses creation to confront, rescue, and convict Jonah. Likewise, the Ninevites’ animals participate in the city-wide fast (Jonah 3:7-8). At the end of the book, God appeals to the animals as a rationale for saving Nineveh (Jonah 4:11).

While people would look at us weirdly for preaching to a herd of cattle, we should recognize that God desires to restore all of creation. So, our missionary and evangelistic efforts should be more holistic.

Jonah is an invitation to participate with God in missions and evangelism.

Chapman and Warner conclude that the book of Jonah is about missions and evangelism if we allow the book to help define those terms.

When the book of Jonah teaches us about missions and evangelism, we see that God is the primary missionary and evangelist.

Yet, at every turn, He invites His people to participate with Him in this project.

We are called to imitate His compassion for both our enemies and all creation.

Ultimately, we face a simple question. Will we choose to participate with God or become angry that he loves to show mercy even to our enemies?