Physical needs first or spiritual?

[Periann]

I am reading Revolution in World Mission by KP Yohannan, founder of Gospel for Asia ministries. One of his major points is that one of the biggest lies of ministry today is that if a man is hungry feed him first and then give hime the gospel. KP denounces this as a socialistic type of gospel and one that wont stick. He states that it matters not what physical state a man is in, but the spiritual state that is of true importance. So the approach should be share the gospel, and if you can, provide for the physical needs. I was wondering what you guys thought about this.

 

[JillLars]

I would say that maslow's hierarchy of needs comes into play here. If a person has no food, not shelter, and is not safe, they will not be as able to focus on things, including spirituality. I think that a person who does not know when their next meal will be, and have struggled with it for a long time will be more likely to scoff at the idea that God will provide for them. I think that providing a combination of these needs is the best way to show people the faith, because not only are we teaching them of the gospel, but we are showing them Christ's love in a physical sense as well.

 

[Suzannah]

Quite simply, I agree with KP. Why? Because I have lived most of my life in such countries and I know first hand what he is talking about. Maslow should have nothing to do with the Gospel of Christ, in my opinion and also, if we are equating third world "social needs" with our own western standard, then we are acting as the White Colonial out to save the natives from themselves. That's not the Gospel. Just my two cents.

 

[JillLars]

Maslow doesn't have much to do with the gospel, but it has everything to do with people's susceptibility to the gospel. Everyone has a need for nutrition, shelter, and safety, that is not a western standard. Funny that you equate wanting to provide food and shelter for natives to saving them from themselves, one could argue that preaching the gospel to them would be the same thing. I don't agree, but I don't think you can logically say that people in 3rd world countries need the gospel, and don't need to be fed and sheltered.

 

[Suzannah]

I guess I didn't make myself understood and I apologize for that. I never said they should not be fed or housed. I meant that the Gospel must come first. And I too, like KP, have seen "social work missions" completely ignore the Gospel and concentrate instead on "stemming the tide" of hunger. While that's certainly going to make people more comfortable, it doesn't do much for their eternal state, does it? That's all I meant. I didn't say NOT to feed them. I just said that it has to come first.

 

[JillLars]

I understand what you're saying suzannah, sorry if I sounded like I was disagreeing. I think there needs to be a balance between the two because if the you focus on the gospel before other needs people will not be as susceptible. I know some people (in the U.S. especially) who are actually turned away from Christianity because of missions using the gospel first, then food approach. These type of missions are willing to refuse people food if they don't listen to the gospel first, and in my opinion that is about as un-Christian as it gets. I understand wanting people to hear the gospel, but punishing them by sending them out into the streets will not do anything but turn their hearts away from Christianity.

 

[Knarf188]

I read half that book then get diverted haha... because everyone keeps handing me books =)... but anyways ... I totally agree with KP... I think he mentions Jesus, he first preached then fed the 4000 =)... but let us not just throw the Bible at them let us surround them with love... for that is what Jesus is all about LOVE!!! I LOVE YOU JESUS!!! haha just my 3 1/2 cents =). take kare and God Bless...
Your brother in Christ,
Frank

 

[Hez]

I do disagree with what I think you called "social missionaries." Not much it being accomplished with just feeding people, only then you are suppling their physical need, and not helping them for eternity. I also believe that that a meal can be the gateway to sharing the gospel with someone. I do have to admit though, I don't know how well this works in all situations, or countries.

I know when I went on a short term mission trip to South Africa, we were in schools most of the time. While we couldn't really supply the things they needed, they were still pretty open to the gospel, and what we had to say. We had some school supplies we could give them, but not very much. I think though, if you were to go to a begger on the street, and talk to them about the gospel, and then say goodbye, God will provide....isn't a good way to spread the gospel.

So in other words I agree with you guys on pretty much everything, and I just wanted to share my two cents!

 

[ElElohe]

Likewise, P4Israel

I think I agree more with Jillars on this matter. Look at how Christ worked. He healed, and people listened. This was not a ubiquitous situation. At times He did just preach. But He did both.

In a muslim country, a relief or social approach is often the best way in. They are so hostile to Christianity, yet there are accounts of hearts being softened by the love Christians show. To completely avoid the social aspect is to be overly pious.

Think personally. If you were naked and homeless, what would be first on your mind. If you were starving or dehydrated. It would seem, having not read the whole book of course, my prejudgement would be to say AP K. is not looking closely enough at Scripture.

I have his book waiting on my shelf and am eager to read it.

 

[Wisdom's Child]

John 6:26
"Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled."

It has been my experience through my revival and outreach ministries that the people become more receptive to the spiritual things once their physical needs are met. It's hard for them to understand your telling them about God's Love while they physically hunger. All the unsaved comprehend is their physical state, when their needs are met and they feel loved and secure they then begin to ask where the source of these blessings come from.

 

[IlGino]

I would say that maslow's hierarchy of needs comes into play here. If a person has no food, not shelter, and is not safe, they will not be as able to focus on things, including spirituality. I think that a person who does not know when their next meal will be, and have struggled with it for a long time will be more likely to scoff at the idea that God will provide for them. I think that providing a combination of these needs is the best way to show people the faith, because not only are we teaching them of the gospel, but we are showing them Christ's love in a physical sense as well.

Top stuff Jillian - I agree with you 100% here I think you need both and when your dealing with people in the thirs world who dont have any food why would they listen to a rich westerner who preaches ideals but doesn't help you out - I think you need to hel the physical needs because without that you don't have credibility in people's eyes!

 

[a'miepje]

I think its important to do both............ and to let God guide ya in what you do.......

Jesus said in Matthew............. when I was hungry you gave me food, when I was thirsty you gave me a drink, when I was naked you clothed me, when i was in prison you visited me.........

I have been to Africa on missiontrip twice now.... first they sahre the gospel then they feed them......... they do both.......... First they feed them Spiritually, then physical, they also help out in building houses etc etc........
During my first trip one of the people that came with our team met this poor african man on the dump where we were evangelising/having church. they started talking about God and my friend was sharing scriptures with him, teaching him etc......... then it was time when the food was handed out so my friend was like why dont you go get some food......but the man was like no, i rather stay here talking with you then go get food. the man hadnt eaten for a while but he was more hungry for the spiritual food he was getting from my friend then to go get some of the bread that was handed out at the otehr side of the dump............

I guess where you see a need GO, wether its spritual or physical.............

the ministry i am involved with in africa (mozambique) sais......... bringing Jesus to the people means more then sharing the gospel, it means to feed when they are hungry, helping the kids on the street getting a home, it means to give clothes when they need them, loving them when they are sad etc etc

btw i havent read the book yet either, is it good??

 

[Periann]

the book gives an inside look on the missions field and although I wouldnt call it best seller material it can be interesting at times. I think the point that KP was trying to make repeatedly is that even a beggar has need of spiritual salvation, and he reiterates that you cant place physical needs above spiritual. In fact he states that most Western Missions are solely physically oriented and in the end fail in the spiritual aspect. I automatically thought of the 700 club. THe 700 club helps a lot of people but do they really teach the word of God? I dont know...Ive just seen them offer food and blankets and toys (which aren't bad) but not really the word of God. So in part I think KP might be right about that...

 

[AfricaWim]

Amen. The difference is that on the mountain Jesus fed people that as a rule HAD food on a daily basis.
Here we have people that have not had a nutritious meal for MONTHS. So what does that say about your witness if you tell them to shut up and hold out while you first finish your sermon.
Is that a true reflection of the God we serve??
Dunno. doesn't work for me.

 

[Supreme_Arbiter]

[noflame]​

 

[Periann]

yup Supreme Arbiter, that was totally uncalled for.

For the record. I think spiritual needs are of the most important. However that doesnt mean that physical should be ignored.

 

[Chriswoods83]

I don't know if people are still posting on this "thread" or not. I am gonig to first comment that K.P.'s book is very awesome, I am reading it now. I think it's a great book about the huge benefits of native missions work.

I really wanted to reply about spiritual needs or physical needs fist. I noticed a few people mentioned Maslow's hierarchy of needs. According to Maslow man must meet his first, primary needs in order to worry about other things. For example worried about food and water as opposed to Christ.

Maslow was wrong according to the Gospel, and thats what I go by. Matt6:33 "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well"--Jesus is refering to food, water clothes, shelter, anything and everything.

So, while peoples greatest need is to know Christ as king, if they die of hunger before you can tell them about it what good has been done? None. So, I am not sure if I answered anyones post or not. But I threw in my 2 cents.
Though I will post one last comment relating to Maslow as a non-Christian. Look at his triangle of needs. Itl saying that man is constantly searching for more. Even years after finished, he came back and added more to his triangle, he realized that there is more. While the Christian's needs are like an upside down triangle. With Christ being the point. We must first have the point before anything else. But anyways just my thoughts...

 

[Surprised by joy]

I read about half the book, and the greatest effect it had on me was to re-apply the burden of missions heavily to my heart. If I remember, he made two major points:
That if the western world would only give up a tiny portion of their wealth, it could be spread about to further thousands of missionaries in third-world countries.
And that 'humanitarian' missionaries, while saving people from physical death, are condemning them to the far more important spiritual death.
K.P. Yohannan never said that missionaries should not offer food to physically starving people. What he said was that the Gospel was more important. What he condemned were 'missionaries' who only offered food.

That book inspired me to re-dedicate myself to the spreading of the Gospel. Whether I will stay in the States and support indigenous missionaries, or whether I will follow God to the ends of the earth (I would do that; I don't know if He will ask me), I will serve Him and preach the Gospel.
This book should not inspire arguments about whether or not to feed hungry people! It should convict us of our deep calling.

 

[SerialCoder]

All the unsaved comprehend is their physical state

Wow! Now that is rubbish. What is going on in this thread is what i term Theocentrism "The belief that ones religion or religious ways are greater than another's." It is really quite sickening. In your quests to be righteous, you have forgotten that in the end, saved or unsaved we are human. I will agree with Maslow 100% We will not focus on our greater needs until you have satisfied the lesser. I'll venture a guess that if thrown into the wilderness with no provisions, each of you would enter into a mode of survival where you would seek to satisfy your physical needs. Because you would be out of your element, you would probably be set in a cycle of satisfying your physical and safety needs untill you died or your were rescued. That would mean (by the quote above) that you were "unsaved"

I think the irony here is that you are all missing where Maslow's theory is really coming into play. It is with the missonary work. You are all doing this mission work to satify your self actualization needs. In asking questions like "is it better to feed the hungry first or save them?" You show the true face of the christian machine (christianity designed and manufactured by man) as aposed to how Jesus might have intened it. If Christ was reading this thread he would indeed be hurt. Show some humanity and do what you feel is right when you are helping others. They are not lesser people than you.

 

[AfricaWim]

You are all doing this mission work to satify your self actualization needs. In asking questions like "is it better to feed the hungry first or save them?" You show the true face of the christian machine (christianity designed and manufactured by man) as aposed to how Jesus might have intened it. If Christ was reading this thread he would indeed be hurt. Show some humanity and do what you feel is right when you are helping others. They are not lesser people than you.

Uhum, you've wandered a bit off-topic but:
You have a preconcieved idea of why Christians do missions and the way they view the "unsaved" that is a bit insulting. I dare you to join us for a week/month/year of missions and will stand corrected if you return with your present views.

God Bless