Some time ago I was on a trip with a few friends. We met an Asian couple who were on vacation in the same city we were visiting. They were very nice people and in the course of our conversation we learned that they were also Christians. When they realized our entourage was composed of Christians, they shared with us that they are doing ministry in a Middle Eastern nation that is closed to Western missionaries. Though this Asian couple must be cautious in how proceed with their ministry, they have much more freedom to pursue that particular type of ministry than an American missionary would.
Some of my readers may wonder why an Asian couple is allowed to do limited ministry in the Middle East while Christians from the West are not welcome at all. There are a variety of reasons, but the one that is most obvious is that no who looks like them ever invaded a Middle Eastern nation! Please do not misunderstand me. I am not saying that our nation does not have some level of responsibility on the world stage. Nor am I speaking against any particular political action any of our American leaders have taken in recent years. I am simply pointing out that political choices as a nation have a greater impact on American Christian missionary activity than we may realize. The fact that an Asian Christian couple can be in a place where American Christians would not be welcome is a prime example of how political choices affect mission opportunities.
Lord, help we American Christians have the wisdom to know how to rise above politics and focus on building your Kingdom. Lord, bless Christians from other nations who have access to places that western missionaries do not have. Give those missionaries favor with government leaders who may not favor Americans at all.
I've sometimes wondered when foreign missionaries will be arriving in the United States to evangelize our nation. One thing I heard from the local population when I spent time in Korea is that too many American missionaries want to "Americanize" the people just as much, if not more than, evangelize. I'm sure that those are isolated cases, but it might be a cause for some of the reluctance in foreign lands. I agree, let's praise God for those missionaries who can venture into difficult regions and spread the gospel of Christ.
ReplyDeleteI like this.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting point.
ReplyDeleteSomeone may think you are un-American after reading this post.
ReplyDeleteI love America, it is a great nation. But I love the Kingdom of God more. The two are not one and the same.
ReplyDeleteAmen, Dr. Dorsett! America is a great nation, but the believer is waiting for the kingdom of Christ, a home not built by hands, whose architect and builder is God.
ReplyDeleteWow, this really makes you think.
ReplyDelete