Was reflecting on a journal I wrote the last time I was in Thailand, and I think it is in perfect timing that I came upon this this entry. I just wanted to share one of my favorite team discussions because after being a short-term missionary 9 different times in the same year, a reality check is healthy:
We are college-educated westerners. We may “give up our rights” when agreeing to participate in short term missions, but Jesus’ divinity is wrapped up in self-emptying love. He owns who He is to be like the people. America, we aren’t the majority. Money doesn’t solve issues and a lack of time isn’t an excuse. In terms of privilege we may not be able to control our image and our influence, but it is important for the sake of the gospel to understand how other cultures view us.
24 things World Christians wish North American Missionaries would quit doing:
1. Talk about your “rights” in our country
2. Making sure you know how privileged you are compared to us
3. Act like you know more about our own country, city, town, or neighborhood than we do
4. Make us feel like we’re getting a free ride, lunch, or the true offer of the gospel because of your “good graces”
5. Demand we keep your schedule
6. Impose on already present ministry
7. Give more glory to being North American than to Christ
8. Truncate the gospel with short sighted quests for “soul winning”
9. Minimize our challenges while grumbling about yours
10. Offering up bobbles, beads, and trinkets so we’ll listen to you
11. Be loud
12. Use fear tactics which are contrary to God’s grace
13. Speak ill of other Christians
14. Create a sense of obligation through your “generosity”
15. Overstay your welcome
16. Use high pressure sales tactics
17. Talk more than listen
18. Plant your flags in our soil
19. Asking for submission
20. Lie about how you will help in the future
21. Dismiss our search for truth by insisting we accept your version of it
22. Pretend to be our covering
23. Making us make short term salvation decisions
24. Making discipleship exclusive by addicting us to your resources, materials and methodologies.
Cultural sensitivity is important. As we take a posture of listening to the cries of the global church, I pray they would continue to humble us by teaching us how to steward our privilege well.
Why do you think we are often scared to critique American practices through non-American eyes?
