Who do we (missionaries) think we are?
In late September, I came across a copy of "Operation World" by Patrick Johnstone. This is a very well-known book in the missionary world, as it highlights the spiritual needs and Gospel advancements in every nation of the world. Since I don't actually own a copy of this book, I decided to flip through the section on China to see what it said. The presentation on China seemed very accurate and helpful, and one paragraph in particular caught my eye:
"Witnessing Christians and itinerant preachers have spread the gospel far and wide, but many provinces, districts, and towns are still unreached. Yet it is this outreach that is most violently opposed by the authorities. Pray that they may be ever more bold for Jesus and implement their missionary strategy for China.."
What struck me as I read these words was this: Why do we pray that Chinese Christians who are "violently opposed by the authorities" would "be ever more bold for Jesus" when most of us missionaries are not willing to boldly face violent opposition ourselves?
Many foreign missionaries in "closed" nations such as China encourage the local believers to take risks that they are not willing to take themselves. Who do we think we are? Do we see our continued active presence on the mission field as inherently more valuable than our local Chinese brothers and sisters?
We rejoice when Chinese Christians boldly testify of Jesus, risking their homes, families, businesses, and even their own lives, but very few of us would ever take those same risks ourselves. In fact, as foreign missionaries in China we simply cannot risk as much as the Chinese even if we wanted to! The worst punishment for a foreigner sharing the Gospel in China is to be deported and maybe fined. A Chinese believer engaged in the same activities could face much graver consequences, including physical harm, the loss of a job or home, and even time in prison.
So even though we foreign Christians have much less to lose than the Chinese, we often encourage them to be bold witnesses for Jesus while we exert much effort in protecting ourselves from any chance of facing persecution. If anything, it should be the other way around. Knowing that we are risking so little of our livelihood, shouldn't foreign missionaries should be the boldest Christians in the nation of China?
Something is wrong with this picture. If we are going to pray for boldness and perseverance for our local Chinese brothers and sisters in the face of persecution, then we must be willing to walk that same road ourselves. We must stop thinking that we are indispensible on the mission field and instead come alongside our Chinese brothers and sisters in boldly proclaiming the Gospel!
Even though I wrote this, it is convicting for me as well, because its so easy to fall into the “protect myself, preach less” mentality. But when we see that in local believers, we tend to look down upon them as fearful or lacking in faith… why do we treat ourselves differently?
Thanks. True thoughts. I am enjoying your posts brother.
This is a true fact. After being there and meeting our friends in the country. My thoughts were why aren’t there more of us going. Thank you for your thoughts and I loved meeting your family while visiting. I continue to pray for the work being done through you and our friends all over China.
your sister in Christ!
Jeanetta
Great post Bro. Hope to see you in March.
All for the King,
Denny
I don’t quite understand, and I would like to. In going into a closed country as a missionary, you are in a completely different capacity than a national. You are a completely different entity, and your purpose there is to (I think) minister unto, encourage, uplift, support and supply the national believers. To me, it’s an “apples vs. oranges” comparison. Whereas it would make sense, and is Biblically correct to be willing sacrifice oneself in one’s home environment, you would (I think) be treating God’s provision of the opportunity to minister elsewhere cavalierly, and could be exercising poor stewardship of His resources. Does it make sense to send people who are then rendered incapacitated or ineffective, over and over again? I am not saying one should not be willing to face persecution. I am saying that one must consider one’s role in the process, and perhaps not assume that one should always seek or embrace the holy honor of being overly persecuted in Jesus name, when one might be called to covert, even drudging behind the scenes ministry which does not call for anything but faithfulness and a willingness to sacrifice comfort, safety, self. I apologize for my boldness in speaking, as I have no direct experience in this area. However, it concerns me that there might be a presumption that a lack of public persecution equals a lack of a truly sacrificial spirit, when I have seen many precious missionaries work for years and years, quietly, without being persecuted for their work beyond being harassed or inconvenienced. If it would have served God’s purposes, I’m sure they would have served “to the death”, but they did not attain this glorious state. They were simply faithful to do as they were called to do.
Thank you, Linda! Your comment says a lot of the things that I would like to have said as possible exceptions to the “rule”.
Of course we must use wisdom and not be foolish in our preaching and sharing, and we all have different roles to play. What I am saying in this article, however, is that we shouldn’t be overly cautious at the times when it is most expedient to preach the Gospel!
I think its safe to say that 95% of the foreign missionaries in China share the Gospel much less than what they could easily get away with with little or no ramifications from the government.
There are so many opportunities to talk to people, hand out tracts, and share with small groups (even in some public places), but the vast majority do not take advantage of even these reasonable opportunities because of a fear, or habit, of “getting into trouble” with the authorities.
So some of my original post was actually “tongue in cheek” in the sense that the likelihood of foreigners really being persecuted in China are slim, especially if wisdom is coupled with the needed boldness.
Dear Brother,
Thank you for clarification. My immediate impression, from your response, is to observe: “Isn’t that so human?” To be afforded an opportunity to minister in a closed country, and yet to be fearful, or, at the very least, to have become used to the status quo and not wish to “rock the boat”. And aren’t we all guilty of this? And isn’t it clear that this actually is a wonderful opportunity for the Lord to show Himself powerful and faithful, in spite of our pitiful selves? I love that I now have new information with which to infuse my prayers for missionaries all over the world, and especially in China, to wit: Praise you, Lord, for using weak, fearful, even selfish and self-serving human beings to show how perfectly able You are to get the job done! By Your Holy Spirit, inspire them to do great things in spite of themselves!!! Amen!