A questions for Christians who believe in missionary work...

[wabisabi]

AKA proselytizing to the 'savages.'

I have heard many Christians say that God will not condemn a person to hell if they have never heard about God, Jesus, etc. If you believe this, why would you support spreading the 'good news' to cultures who have never heard of the Bible? Isn't this akin to taking a group of people who were guaranteed not to burn in hell, and just increasing the chances that they will be?

 

[Azakel]

*Not a Christian....but*
There are also many Christians that believe that Jesus will not come back until all people have(at lest) heard of him. So they have to go tell all the savages about him(even if it means destroying there culture and way of life)

 

[Dunemeister]

I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honour of the nations. But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practises abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

The nations will bring their glory to the renewed heavens and earth. What is beautiful and honourable and good from every culture on earth will be preserved. Those things the church has unwittingly or even culpably destroyed will be restored and enhanced. That said, the church has always, at its best, been careful to identify and promote aspects of culture that are indeed worthy of praise. Yes, there have been mistakes and even a superior attitude. But let's not mistake nineteenth century missionary movements inspired by nationalistic fervor for the missionary enterprise either today or in years prior to that.

As usual, the sentiments so far expressed demonstrate a complete lack of regard for history.

 

[logician]

MOre cultures have been destroyed by smiling missionaries, than any military crusades. Evangelistic religions are the most dangerous entities on earth.

 

[Dunemeister]

MOre cultures have been destroyed by smiling missionaries, than any military crusades. Evangelistic religions are the most dangerous entities on earth.

More ignorance doesn't wash away previous ignorance.

 

[DavyCrocket2003]

Well, I get what you are saying, but it doesn't make sense with my beliefs. God will not send anyone to Hell simply for a lack of knowledge. However, to receive eternal life, you must accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In order to receive a fair judgment, everyone must have the opportunity to accept the Gospel at some point. Missionaries do not increase the chance that someone will go to hell. They are simply giving them a wonderful opportunity. Why wait to receive the blessings that the Gospel brings?

 

[slave2six]

I have heard many Christians say that God will not condemn a person to hell if they have never heard about God, Jesus, etc. If you believe this, why would you support spreading the 'good news' to cultures who have never heard of the Bible? Isn't this akin to taking a group of people who were guaranteed not to burn in hell, and just increasing the chances that they will be?

Brilliant! That's hilarious. Frubals all around!

 

[slave2six]

That said, the church has always, at its best, been careful to identify and promote aspects of culture that are indeed worthy of praise.

Do you mean where they took existing religious rituals and incorporated them into Christianity thus providing us with the Christmas tree, the Easter egg, the idea of the Trinity (and Egyptian invention), the concept of Purgatory and so on? For one who claims your opponent has a disregard for history, there is a great deal of history that you are also ignoring. Tsk Tsk...

 

[Kathryn]

As a Christian, my faith brings great depth, comfort, and meaning to my life. I have inside of me a very peaceful well of joy - that I didn't have when I wasn't a Christian.

I want to share the source of that joy with others! I am not in a position to judge their eternal souls - and I have absolute confidence in the wisdom and mercy of God in regards to judgment.

So many people are searching for truth. I believe I've found a great deal of truth, and I also think, and HOPE, that I continue to learn more truths that I can in turn share with others. This is for the purpose of improving their lives, our society, our children's futures - not for personal gain.

I also learn from interacting with people of other faiths. I believe in celebrating our common values and beliefs, as well as mutually sharing our individual and unique beliefs. I have great respect for each individual - I believe every human being on this earth is made in the image of God and is infinitely precious.

If that's proselytizing, then too bad - I'm driven by gratitude and enthusiasm to share my Christian faith with others, and they can then work things out in their own lives and hearts. At least I did what I could to help.

 

[cardero]

AKA proselytizing to the 'savages.'

I have heard many Christians say that God will not condemn a person to hell if they have never heard about God, Jesus, etc. If you believe this, why would you support spreading the 'good news' to cultures who have never heard of the Bible? Isn't this akin to taking a group of people who were guaranteed not to burn in hell, and just increasing the chances that they will be?

Card-carrying Christian here:
The promotion of a lazy God (for example, a deity that requires humans to carry and deliver a message) usually does not bring "good-news". The knowledge that they bring is that you will not receive the same benefits that their group is currently promoting and that your choice to not follow in their beliefs will produce an unfavorable or disadvantageous fate than if you did follow their God (which really is not a message of “good news&#8221. This message usually requires an imperative RSVP (in other words it is timely and dependant upon the receiver to quickly respond or make a drastic decision).

Well, I get what you are saying, but it doesn't make sense with my beliefs. God will not send anyone to Hell simply for a lack of knowledge. However, to receive eternal life, you must accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In order to receive a fair judgment, everyone must have the opportunity to accept the Gospel at some point. Missionaries do not increase the chance that someone will go to hell. They are simply giving them a wonderful opportunity. Why wait to receive the blessings that the Gospel brings?

The only thing missionaries have brought to my door is faith. Are these the blessings you are referring to?

 

[slave2six]

As a Christian, my faith brings great depth, comfort, and meaning to my life. I have inside of me a very peaceful well of joy - that I didn't have when I wasn't a Christian...

One of my best friends in an Orthodox Christian and we disagree on, well, just about everything, but I will say that his faith (as apparently is the case with you) enhances his natural goodness and is very dear to him. Whenever this is the result of one's faith, it is silly to try to dissuade the person from it. You seem like a very nice person.

The funny thing is that I was raised a Christian and it was not until I abandoned the faith that I found any peace or joy. But unlike you, I do not advertise to people about why I am at peace (unless they are on a forum like this and want to engage in dialogue) unless they ask. I find that simply enjoying life is enough for me and to help others enjoy it is also enough. Why anyone should become a missionary is beyond me. Unless you are providing real, physical relief to people in need, never requiring them to listen to your schpiel about what you think about God, your motives are impure and ultimately demeaning.

My cousin is an RN who works 6 months out of the year. The other six months she and her husband work with the poor in southeast Asia simply because they find fulfillment in serving others and they know that they are helping their fellow man. That's it. No religious attachments at all. To me, that is a pure faith.

 

[Kathryn]

One of my best friends in an Orthodox Christian and we disagree on, well, just about everything, but I will say that his faith (as apparently is the case with you) enhances his natural goodness and is very dear to him. Whenever this is the result of one's faith, it is silly to try to dissuade the person from it. You seem like a very nice person.

The funny thing is that I was raised a Christian and it was not until I abandoned the faith that I found any peace or joy. But unlike you, I do not advertise to people about why I am at peace (unless they are on a forum like this and want to engage in dialogue) unless they ask. I find that simply enjoying life is enough for me and to help others enjoy it is also enough. Why anyone should become a missionary is beyond me. Unless you are providing real, physical relief to people in need, never requiring them to listen to your schpiel about what you think about God, your motives are impure and ultimately demeaning.

My cousin is an RN who works 6 months out of the year. The other six months she and her husband work with the poor in southeast Asia simply because they find fulfillment in serving others and they know that they are helping their fellow man. That's it. No religious attachments at all. To me, that is a pure faith.

Thanks for the excellent response to my post. You make several good points.

I want to clarify something. One of my mottos is summed up nicely by St Francis of Assissi - "Preach the gospel always - when necessary, use words." When I say I testify about my Christian faith, I don't mean that I wear T shirts with Christian slogans on them (frankly, I find that tacky), or go door to door proselytizing. What I mean is that I am open about my faith. In normal conversations with people, if I get the opportunity to share WHY I believe something, or to explain WHY I took some sort of action, I don't hide my faith - I include it.

I grew up in a missionary home, so of course I have known many Christian missionaries over my lifetime personally. I have NEVER met a Christian missionary who wasn't primarily involved in meeting the PHYSICAL needs of the community in which they were serving. This was the PRIMARY focus. You must earn the right to offer spiritual guidance. You can't lead someone spiritually if they are hungry or homeless. Your words would be as empty as a cold, wet cave.

 

[logician]

More ignorance doesn't wash away previous ignorance.

And your point is?

 

[Dunemeister]

And your point is?

Your ignorance of the purpose and benefits/challenges of the missionary enterprise doesn't improve upon others' ignorance of it.

 

[logician]

Your ignorance of the purpose and benefits/challenges of the missionary enterprise doesn't improve upon others' ignorance of it.

I have a cousin who's been a missionary in China for years, I'm well aware of mission work, and what's involved in it, but I still don't approve of it.

 

[cardero]

I have a cousin who's been a missionary in China for years, I'm well aware of mission work, and what's involved in it, but I still don't approve of it.

I was a missionary for a couple of months. While studying with the Jehovah Witnesses, I went door to door until they found out that I still smoked cigarettes. Though I explained to them that I had never (would ever) knock on a door with a cigarette dangling from my mouth, the organization thought that if someone was to recognize me (smoking) outside of the missionary work, this would undermine the message of Jehovah and bring unfair reproach upon the organization. Shortly afterwards, a worldwide precedent was set that anyone who was not in good standing with the organization be allowed to do the door to door ministry. This was back in the early 80’s and I would like to believe that I was the sole reason that this precedent was started and that I have done my part for the Jehovah’s Witnesses. It may now have been changed that only dedicated baptized members are able to go door to door.

 

[Angelfire]

AKA proselytizing to the 'savages.'

I have heard many Christians say that God will not condemn a person to hell if they have never heard about God, Jesus, etc. If you believe this, why would you support spreading the 'good news' to cultures who have never heard of the Bible? Isn't this akin to taking a group of people who were guaranteed not to burn in hell, and just increasing the chances that they will be?

I have never known a missionary that actually wanted to leave their home and family, there church etc, to go and live in some awful country, best described as the back end of the world. They go because they feel God is leading them to go. That is the only reason any sane person would go. I have never supported my church in sending missionaries, the reason for this is that many of them never make it home.

 

[logician]

I have never known a missionary that actually wanted to leave their home and family, there church etc, to go and live in some awful country, best described as the back end of the world. They go because they feel God is leading them to go. That is the only reason any sane person would go. I have never supported my church in sending missionaries, the reason for this is that many of them never make it home.

What is an "awful country" to you is a "native culture" to somebody else.

Appearances can be deceiving.

 

[Angelfire]

What is an "awful country" to you is a "native culture" to somebody else.

Appearances can be deceiving.

What on earth do you mean by "Appearances can be deceiving", do you mean that countries with no decent medical facilities, no decent housing, no decent education, no decent roads, no hot & cold running water, is this what you mean by "appearances can be deceiving".

 

[siddqqeeutube]

Why do missionaries uses lies and deception to propagate christianity to third world countries ? A very good eg. Is they went to the extend of changing verses of bible...john 2:4 "jesus said unto her,woman,what have i to do with thee?.....but in the indonesian bible changed to "mother what can i do for you?....street childrens were provided with good life with agendas of converting them to christian faith...i have known of some of these children who became evangelist and claiming to be ex muslim teacher.they were provided with fake letters from islamic universities.etc.some even fake photos of them with real muslims scholars to strengthened their claim... They wrote booklets about their testimonies and wrote slanders about islam....if u want to help the poor do so w/o any agendas please.