Do missionaries have any understanding?

human_being_ said:

Hello Everyone!

Do Christians realize that in their attempts to proselytize non-Christians in other countries that do not have a long historical Christian background they should generally take more time to explain every aspect of what the Bible, the Christianity really are? It seems to me they prefer to offer an easy-to-consume Christianity heavily packaged together with Western (middle class) values that have nothing to do with real Christianity... In other societies and cultures it can be quite dangerous and destructive... I consider it very unfair. Why would they do it? It's not sensible at all...

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Fly-in, Fly-out missionaries are - as you not- probably worse than useless. But they may not always realise it - in some cultures it would be culturally impolite to refuse to convert - but the "convert" hasn't really converted at all, just pretended to for the duration of the visit. So the missionaries go back to their home churches all enthusastic about how many lives they won for Christ, and more missionaries are sent, and really its all a waste of time, money, effort. This even includes missioning in Islamic countries where Christian missionaries are acting illegally and dangerously.

BUT

Many mission organisations put missionaries into contexts for a long time, and expect serious relationship building, living in the culture, etc, to be part of being a missionary.

That said, distinguising between Christianity and one's supposedly Christian culture is a challenge for anyone.

Yes missionaries do have an understanding. Most of what we do is not easily transportable back to the western cultures that we came from and perhaps even support us with money and prayers. So many missionaaries only tell the stories that you can relate to.

For example where I am, missionaries are not allowed. But I have been here for 4 years 'undercover' and there are many others here also. If I were to visit your church, I would have only one conversion story to tell.

Before the harvest can be reaped, the field must be picked of stones, plowed and planted. Work mostly without intrinsic rewards or obvious results. We are entirely dependent upon God to direct our path. But when the time is right God will send, or raise up, the preaching type missionary to bring in the harvest. That's the work that is seen by you.