Sometimes people act like jerks.
Sometimes people act like Jesus and others don’t receive it well.
Let’s not do the first and blame it on the second.
-Colby Moore
In mission culture there is a phenomenon that was described by a squad mate as “subtle Christian racism.” This is whenever you have a picture with typical African, Middle Eastern, or Asian children and post it on social media. This can also happen with homeless people or just lower income people across the world.
It’s exploitive.
There was recently an article about a man from the Congo who was dressed in a collared shirt and nice jeans, a prepster at heart. If you google Congo, you will usually find tragedy, cases of ebola, or pictures of the destitute. This man in the article (that I cannot currently find) pleaded that the Congo was not just these things, that there were joyful people there who have careers and others who are pursuing education and personal happiness throughout various venues.
I just met with someone who just returned from the Sept 2013 World Race. As she gave me advice on how the next year will be she mentioned this very concept. There were women on her team that would always take pictures of anyone and everyone they would meet.
For the last few weeks on the road I have specifically chosen not to do this.
How insensitive can it be to be talking to someone about hyper sensitive issues such as depravity, sin, depression, suicide, sexual addictions, etc, and then ask to photograph them? Someone at the Village Church warned me last night about this as well not to do this.
At training camp we did an exercise where we simulated an African market place. A drunk American tourist character was taking pictures of this poor homeless man and I was triggered and instantly upset, shooing the girl away.
People are made in the image of God. This also includes the photographer as well as the one being photographed.
My plead for everyone, and reminder to myself, is to remember this. Check your hearts and be careful about what you photograph. If I was a mother in a Central America and I saw an American visitor taking photographs of the less fortunate I would turn into Mama Bear and pounce.
These are people. They aren’t cheap tourist attractions to take pictures with for your Instagram.
This isn’t always the case. Sometimes we have real connections with people and real friendships and want to share that with the world. This isn’t a black & white issue. There is a lot of gray. Just exercise wisdom in this and remember that our freedom to do something doesn’t mean it should always be entertained.
I leave for the World Race in 16 hours. We leave the country in about a week. My phone will be shut down when we leave for Central America but I will have my apple ID for imessage, my email [email protected], my facebook, instagram, all that. Hit me up for my apple ID.
-J
Follow me on instagram @texasfornever
