A major reason for the failure of most missionaries is that the normal problems in Sunday church are packed into a seven-day week. Another problem involves jealousy and envy.
The translators of the King James version got this one right, while most modern translations got it wrong. "Jealousy" refers to a person having something, but being afraid that someone else will take it away. King Saul was jealous of David, fearing that David would steal his kingdom. Jealousy is not a big deal in the Bible, however.
"Envy" refers to a person who does not have something, but he feels that it should rightfully be his. The Bible talks a lot about the problem of envy, when a person demands a position, an honor, or leadership that someone else has. We'll see how this relates to missionaries.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Why Missionaries Fail Part 18
Kitchen Komedy 2
One Sunday, the four of us were happily preparing the church kitchen when a fifth person showed up. She immediately started scolding people for what they wee doing and began re-arranging things and giving orders that made no difference. After aggravating us for three weeks, she explained that a group of women had formed a committee and put her in charge of the kitchen.
Since the church had not authorized this committee (and we hadn't been allowed to vote) we ignored her. Soon we had a group of four women showing up every Sunday to pretend they were in charge, while the four of us did all the work. Both groups ignored the other, and no real harm was done.
But if we had to put up with people like that seven days a week, there would have been problems.
One Sunday, the four of us were happily preparing the church kitchen when a fifth person showed up. She immediately started scolding people for what they wee doing and began re-arranging things and giving orders that made no difference. After aggravating us for three weeks, she explained that a group of women had formed a committee and put her in charge of the kitchen.
Since the church had not authorized this committee (and we hadn't been allowed to vote) we ignored her. Soon we had a group of four women showing up every Sunday to pretend they were in charge, while the four of us did all the work. Both groups ignored the other, and no real harm was done.
But if we had to put up with people like that seven days a week, there would have been problems.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Why Missionaries Fail Part 17
Kitchen Komedy 1
My wife and I stated showing up early at the Baptist church to get things ready. This included getting the kitchen set up for the refreshments after church. A Godly older man also started showing up. And then, the Cookie Nazi appeared.
She had earned her name by slapping people's hands if they took to many cookies after church. She angrily demanded that no one but her set out the cookies. I realized that she wanted to serve God, but due to her ill health and constant pain, arranging cookies was about all that she could do. So we let her arrange the cookies, and she did a very god job.
She thought the three of us were wonderful, and she told people how nice we were. But Folks, if we had to put up with her all week, this story might not have had a happy ending.
My wife and I stated showing up early at the Baptist church to get things ready. This included getting the kitchen set up for the refreshments after church. A Godly older man also started showing up. And then, the Cookie Nazi appeared.
She had earned her name by slapping people's hands if they took to many cookies after church. She angrily demanded that no one but her set out the cookies. I realized that she wanted to serve God, but due to her ill health and constant pain, arranging cookies was about all that she could do. So we let her arrange the cookies, and she did a very god job.
She thought the three of us were wonderful, and she told people how nice we were. But Folks, if we had to put up with her all week, this story might not have had a happy ending.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Why Missionaries Fail Part 16
Timeout for a commercial. My friend Bob Murillo graduated from the same college as me, and he started the Independent Baptist Church of Guadalajara. Last Sunday they had 495 in attendance. Not all missionaries fail.
One reason that missionaries can't get along should be obvious. The normal stresses of life are magnified when you have to live with people seven days a week. Not all Christians obey the Biblical command to be "endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." But at least you can get away from those people after church.
Which brings up two good illustrations of Church Kitchen Komedy...
One reason that missionaries can't get along should be obvious. The normal stresses of life are magnified when you have to live with people seven days a week. Not all Christians obey the Biblical command to be "endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." But at least you can get away from those people after church.
Which brings up two good illustrations of Church Kitchen Komedy...
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Why Missionaries Fail Part 15
In 1977, Bill Gothard's Basic Youth Conflicts drew 24,000 people to hear him. He explained that less than half of all missionaries returned to the field after their first two years. He then explained that the biggest single reason they didn't return was that they couldn't get along with the other missionaries.
Gothard explained that he was going to start giving missionaries seminars on how to get along with each other. Despite his usual success, Gothard failed miserably in this endeavor. If missionaries didn't know how to get along with other Christians, how did they raise support?
So why do missionaries have so much trouble getting along with each other?
Gothard explained that he was going to start giving missionaries seminars on how to get along with each other. Despite his usual success, Gothard failed miserably in this endeavor. If missionaries didn't know how to get along with other Christians, how did they raise support?
So why do missionaries have so much trouble getting along with each other?
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Why Missinaries Fail Part 14
Folks, I've seen this here in Mexico, and I've seen it in the US. If you are a good musician, you can get away with murder. I have seen talented musicians drive people out of the church, drive off rival musicians, openly rebel, and use musical ability as a means of gaining political power within the church. It is amazing how far a musician can advance in Christian work without God. That doesn't mean that there aren't very many dedicated Christians who sacrifice their time and effort in order to serve the Lord through music. But it does mean that an immature Christian can wind up on the mission field, and without enough people to listen to his music, find himself a failure.
Most Christian musicians really do love God. But they hear enough praise and gratitude that they sometimes forget that it takes more than musical ability to succeed as a missionary.
Most Christian musicians really do love God. But they hear enough praise and gratitude that they sometimes forget that it takes more than musical ability to succeed as a missionary.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Why Missionaries Fail Part 13
Jim and his wife arrived here in the Gringo Zone, all excited about being real live missionaries who were receiving financial support from churches in the US. A good musician, Jim could keep the Mexican kids entertained with hymns they did not understand, while his wife failed miserably as an orphanage worker. They wound up at the local Baptist church, where Jim became song leader. In his first service, he felt "led of the Spirit" to go off into goofy music that caused a church split and he was fired after his first week.
Heading to the local Assemblies of God church, the two of them blamed their failure on the Baptists, caused conflict there, and returned to the US.
They failed in their original ministry, caused problems in two churches, and returned to the US--all within six months. But Jim sure was a good musician.
Heading to the local Assemblies of God church, the two of them blamed their failure on the Baptists, caused conflict there, and returned to the US.
They failed in their original ministry, caused problems in two churches, and returned to the US--all within six months. But Jim sure was a good musician.
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