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Attention Christian Ministers of the 3rd World

Pavel Mosko

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This is just a general complaint when dealing with Christian ministers on Facebook and other similar social media platforms. It often comes across to me (based on past experience) people from Africa, India and Pakistan etc. often see Christians from America and other western countries as being rich, and kind of a wallet or money tree that they can shake when their own ministry, church etc. has problems and needs.


Relatively speaking we may be rich as far as standard of living goes, but not really when it comes to our own economic and financial well being, meaning we may not be that far ahead of paying our bills, and what we have in our bank accounts. Meaning that many people in the west might only be a few months away from homelessness and other problems if they encounter a problem like long term unemployment.


Besides that their own church, church tradition etc. may not be doing that great. Actually come to think of it that often is true for the person in question, including myself and folks I've known people who in the past and present that are having to work to plant a church, or start a ministry and having to work a "tent making" job like saint Paul to make ends meet.


Besides this I will just have to say relationships are a two way street. No doubt Christians living outside the Western World have it tougher and should get more support from their brothers and Christians in so called "Christian" nations. And this goes doubly with how I've seen some churches handle financial manners questionable spending, and for my time spent in the Faith / Prosperity end of the Charismatic movement... this goes quadruplely.... But there are things called manners, and decorum, and some folks are just way to pushy than what is OK for us in this end of the World. Not to mention, their is a big problem of scamming etc. and an even greater need for discernment etc. and that is something that takes time so you need to learn to back off simmer down etc.


By the way, it should be said I am not inclined to give to you, your church, your ministry no matter how much you attempt to schmooze me! (Lots of people want to contact me with instant messenger, Facebook virtual telephone app etc. but not having really anything much to say, except to try to make light conversation etc. This annoys me, and tends to interrupt the projects and things I am actually working on).


OK folks thanks for listening to my rant! :)

I wrote this as as something I might have to post on Facebook, where I have an ever increasing list of "friends", and I think half of them are just there to solicit money for me in some way either as an almsgiver, would be romantic suitor, political donor etc. but especially as a fellow Christian brother/sister.
 
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Carl Emerson

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This is just a general complaint when dealing with Christian ministers on Facebook and other similar social media platforms. It often comes across to me (based on past experience) people from Africa, India and Pakistan etc. often see Christians from America and other western countries as being rich, and kind of a wallet or money tree that they can shake when their own ministry, church etc. has problems and needs.

It seems to me that what people see is not a true representation of what it happening 'on the ground'

The faithful, humble, giving Pastor is not and will not be seen on social media.

Many who are first will be last - and the last first.
 
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Pavel Mosko

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It seems to me that what people see is not a true representation of what it happening 'on the ground'

The faithful, humble, giving Pastor is not and will not be seen on social media.

Many who are first will be last - and the last first.

I think a lot of people, including ministers are doing it for advertising, fundraising etc.. It is a very cost affective way of being visible, basically is free etc.


And there are some interesting benefits. I had some issues with my smart phone 2 weeks back, but I was reminded of these folks of the handy virtual telephone, I basically gave up my land line when I moved etc. so if my apple phone goes out I got some big problems, but if worse comes to worse I can call my close friends and relatives virtually from Facebook which is nice. Living by myself, having moved away from my relatives years ago, I feel myself too dependent on my phone. like if it breaks it's a major problem since it does all this stuff, besides being used to summon help for emergencies and other problems.
 
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Carl Emerson

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I think a lot of people, including ministers are doing it for advertising, fundraising etc.. It is a very cost affective way of being visible, basically is free etc.

What happened to the gift of faith???

I guess I am 'old school'
 
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Pavel Mosko

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What happened to the gift of faith???

I guess I am 'old school'

Oh I can't completely blame them. It's kind of like the saying of cutting a log with a dull axe vs. a sharp axe. You're offering to them can buy many times more stuff for them in their economy, than it can be in your own country, and they potentially can see it as the answer to all their prayers etc. This is kind of where the whole issue originally came up in the first place years ago.


I kind of believe charity starts at home as far as giving, but when you take care of that it's good to think about the 3rd World and pick somewhere where Christians are the minority, and where the money can not only go for a good cause but a long way as well, and even pay for some necessities that we take for granted like clean drinking water etc.


But there really is this aspect of setting limits etc. Even if you sponsor them for something yearly etc. the fact you bailed them out of one crisis, or funded that one project makes them hope that you will do the next one next month or next season, even when you spell out "hey this is a once a year" thing (The rest of my tithes offerings etc. are going to my other church folks, need Christian friends etc.) they just want you to be a full time donor, by trying to chat you up all the time when their next big project is in the works.


I sort of had this problem before dealing with Christian friends and benevolence type aid. Like keeping a Christian brother from being evicted, having their utilities shutoff, getting groceries etc. because they have had unemployment and other problems. I think that thing is good and should be done and I make a point to try to do it within reason because I actually believe it is a much better use of your finances as far as Christian stewardship goes than how I've seen some churches use it especially some of the Charismatic ones where they had all kinds of ideas on Prosperity etc. which mostly were a rationalization why such ministers and their friends should live high on the hog so to speak. But that being said, I also have seen it where your helping them becomes too much of an easy crutch, where they can over rely on you, where you have to give them a "I'm not your source, Jesus is" speech. And it seems to me this problem is kind of similar to that.
 
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Carl Emerson

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It is worth remembering that the sin of sodom was...

...withdrawing ones hand from the poor.

I happen to be launching a global initiative orientated at communications support during natural disasters.

I work in with a company in the US that directs 90% of their profit to feeding the starving in third world like Lebanon and Congo.

I am not a liberation theologian but note that Jesus mentioned the poor when describing the Kingdom to JB. Sadly however, many Christian aid initiatives are so culturally contextualised and PC that the chances of their benefactors hearing the Gospel are just about nil.

Do I digress - don't want to hijack the thread.
 
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Pavel Mosko

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It is worth remembering that the sin of sodom was...

...withdrawing ones hand from the poor.

yeah.... The sin of Sodom went way beyond that, or at least how we think of "hospitality", the perversion of wanting to sexually molest newcomers who enter town as a sadistic hazing ritual pretty much sets a record when it comes to having "bad hospitality".
 
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Pavel Mosko

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Personally I have stayed right away from facebook.

Seems like a vortex of indulgence.

I avoided it too for years, wanted to get back into Christian Blogging and it look like the best way to do that at the time, and right now I'm actually doing some video Blogging (something I think the Lord actually wants me to do as far as ministry development) and it helps me with that too.

 
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Carl Emerson

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Mmmm.. interesting.

Your musings seem to present a depersonalisation of God at work with us - as if He somehow makes energy available for us to partake of.

I don't feel comfortable with this disconnect.

To me it is relationship - learning to be servants - then being privileged to partake in His work fuelled by His Spirit.
 
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Pavel Mosko

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Mmmm.. interesting.

Your musings seem to present a depersonalisation of God at work with us - as if He somehow makes energy available for us to partake of.

I don't feel comfortable with this disconnect.

To me it is relationship - learning to be servants - then being privileged to partake in His work fuelled by His Spirit.

Thanks that was a useful bit of feedback.
 
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