Should The Missionary Establish Institutions?

Transcription

1 Should The Missionary Establish Institutions? Introduction: Many current authorities on missions feel strongly that missionaries should not become entangled in establishing, running and financing institutions for benevolence and education (such as hospitals, secular schools and Bible schools. They believe the missionary should devote himself completely to church planting and the development of self-supporting, indigenous churches. Others believe that since Christ commands us to help people in their earthly needs, and to develop church leaders, organizing institutions is justified if this is the most effective way. What can we say about this? 1. Works of benevolence and leadership training are authorized by Christ - Galatians 6:10; 2 Timothy 2:2. 2. The early church organized where necessary to help the poor. A. Feeding widows in Jerusalem - Acts 6:1-6 B. Enrolled widows in Ephesus - 1 Timothy 5:9,10,16 C. The principle of fittingness and order - 1 Corinthians 14: Some countries will only allow a missionary presence if the missionary provides organized services for social and physical needs. 3. Examples of institutions often used by missionaries: A. Hospitals and clinics B. Secular schools C. Agricultural projects D. Bible schools 4. Institutions which distract the missionary seriously from gospel work are not justified. A. The gospel is our first and most important work - Matthew 28:19,20. B. Administration and financing of institutions can be time-consuming. C. However, it is sometimes possible to organize institutional work under trusted, able nationals so that it does not over-involve the missionary. 6. The main purpose of benevolent work is not evangelistic, but to do good. A. Benevolent work did not make many lasting converts during Jesus' time, and it still doesn't - John 6:10,11, Real converts are drawn to God and his righteousness. B. Works of goodness and mercy are justified for their own sake, provided they do not

2 replace evangelism as a priority. C. However, benevolent work does aid the gospel indirectly. 1) It shows in action the gospel of love we preach. 2) It shows the goodness of God and our sincere devotion to Him. 3) Some people who are contacted through educational and benevolent work do become Christians. 4) Benevolent work sometimes opens a door into a country. 5) Benevolent work helps the standing of missionaries with a foreign government. 7. The question of whether to have Bible schools to train leaders: A. We must train leaders in some way - 2 Timothy 2:2. B. Paul used a systematic, daily, centralized training program in Ephesus - Acts 19:8-10. C. Samuel, Elijah and Elisha had training schools for prophets - 1 Samuel 10:5,6,9-11; 19:18-24; 2 Kings 2:3-5; 4:1,2; 5:38; 6:1,2. D. Problems associated with centralized Bible schools: 1) Some students use the school for social advancement and inexpensive education but do not have a servant heart for Christ. 2) Students may resent it if the administrator is a North American or European. 3) Once students from the rural areas become accustomed t city life, it is hard for them to return to their home areas to help the church. (This is also why nationals from less-developed, very poor countries should not usually be trained in the U.S. for future church work back in their home countries). 4) Many students assume that they will be put on American support when they successfully complete their studies. Motive becomes a problem, and there may be bitterness if they are not supported, and also a weakening of the national church if they are (see earlier lesson). 5) Often the people with greatest leadership potential are in business and professions, not in the Bible school. 6) A proud professional spirit may be created among trainees. Most of these problems can be overcome by: 1) Holding the studies in a rural setting where students may live like they do at home (if your are training students from a rural culture). Studies may be held in one place or by moving from church to church. 2

3 2) Making it clear that neither foreign support nor ordination is coming to students as a result of the studies. (If the student loves God and wants to equip himself for service, studies are available. But national churches are responsible for support and ordination). 3) Including spiritual as well as intellectual training in order to counteract wrong attitudes. A very important factor is spiritual mentoring by the missionaries with selected, promising disciples. One on one mentoring and discipling can provide more powerful fruit in the long run than any other approach. E. Many authorities advocate extension studies using programmed lessons and a tutor who travels between students, with the student paying for the course. F. Some use itinerant, "on the job" training such as Jesus used with his disciples. G. Some use week-end or evening studies for students involved in other occupations during the week. If we pray for wisdom, there is always some format that will allow us to train the needed workers. Conclusion: The question of institutions is not a simple one, but must be decided on a case-by-case basis according to the needs and problems in a given situation. The use of institutions certainly has dangers, and can easily be overdone. Part 2: The Missionary and Less Important Works Introduction: Many missionaries have gotten side-tracked by good works of lesser importance and have never succeeded greatly with their main priorities. Let's get a scriptural perspective on this problem. 1. The job of the missionary, first, last and always, is to preach the gospel - Matthew 28:19,20. A. The apostles would not leave the word and prayer to serve tables - Acts 6:1-6. B. Paul warned Timothy the evangelist not to get entangled in secular affairs - 2 Timothy 2:3-7. C. Jesus placed learning the word above feeding visitors - Luke 10: D. Jesus refused to become entangled in side issues that would have used up his time for his main ministry - Luke 12:13,14; Mark 1:44,45. E. Jesus required his disciples to follow the same principle - Luke 9:59-62; 10:1-4. F. We are to be careful of our use of time so that we can fully accomplish our priorities - 2 Timothy 4:5; compare Ephesians 5:15,16. G. We cannot please God if we fail to preach the gospel because we are entangled in other things - 1 Corinthians 9:16,17; 2 Timothy 2:4. 3

4 2. People's greatest need is spiritual. A. The worth of an eternal soul- Matthew 16:26. B. Godliness profits more than physical training - 1 Timothy 4:8. C. Heart-change will affect all the behavior that causes human problems - Matthew 15:11, D. The gospel even affects economic, social and physical problems - Ephesians 4:28 1 Timothy 5:8 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 Matthew 6:33 3. But secular, social and physical demands crowd in to distract the missionary. A. People are constantly bringing their personal problems. Examples: 1) Disputes and "cases" to be settled 2) Weddings in distant places 3) Transporting dead bodies home from the hospital 4) Transporting personal belongings 5) Sickness, personal needs 6) Miscellaneous personal requests: fix bicycle, insecticide for termites, old scrap iron for a "church bell," a blackboard for the church building, transport a relative home, fix radio, need eyeglasses, need employment, etc. 7) Administrative duties in mission work: payroll and employee records, tax withholding, equipment failures, procuring supplies, government reports, etc. B. Works of compassion are part of our duty, as long as we do not let them displace the gospel in priority. 1) We will be judged on the basis of our compassion - Matthew 25: ) Jesus constantly helped people's physical needs - Acts 10:38. 3) Love will help people - 1 John 3: ) Real faith will meet people's needs - James 2:14-17,22. 5) Works of mercy are justified for their own sake, even if they do not lead to a 4

5 conversion. 6) Ministries of mercy do help the gospel indirectly, by proving the sincerity of our preaching, and influencing foreign governments to allow gospel preaching. 4. Where lesser works threaten gospel work, the missionary must learn to say "no" - Luke 12:13, The missionary must learn to delegate less important jobs. Acts 6:1-6 Exodus 18:13-26 Conclusion: It is tragic for a missionary to make all the sacrifices involved in mission work, and to invest years of his/her life, and then fail to achieve his/her main purpose because of distractions. The missionary and the overseers must not let this happen. Part 3: Women in Missions Introduction: While scripture gives the leadership role to men, women can be active and very effective in the mission field. Paul speaks of Euodia and Syntyche who shared his struggle in the cause of the gospel - Philippians 4:2,3. 1. Women are not less regarded than men in the grace of God - Galatians 3:28. A. Women helped in Jesus' ministry - Luke 8:1-3. B. Phoebe served the church at Cenchrea - Romans 16:1,2. C. Priscilla along with her husband Aquila helped Paul, and also helped correct Apollos' error - Romans 16:3; Acts 18: D. A Hebrew slave girl told the Syrian army commander, Naaman, how to be healed by God through the prophet Elisha - 2 Kings 5:1-3. E. Jesus first appeared to women after his resurrection - John 20:1,11-16,18; Matthew 28:1,5-10. F. Women can teach some things better to women - Titus 2:3-5. G. To the extent that God has differentiated male and female roles in scripture, women can gain more fulfillment and recognition, and do more good, by accepting those God-given roles than they can by rebelling against them. 2. What women can do in the mission field: 5

6 A. The first and greatest work of a missionary wife is making a home for her husband and children - Titus 2:4,5; 1 Timothy 5:14; Genesis 2:18. She can do other important work as well, but in this supportive role, she participates in her husband's work and fruit. B. There are many ways and situations where God allows and wants women to teach his word: 2 Timothy 1:5 Titus 2:3-5 Acts 18:24-26 C. Some functions women have fulfilled in missions: Personal evangelism Teaching homecrafts, literacy Teaching school Teaching missionaries' children Translating scripture Clerical work Nursing Doctoring Orphanage work Other social work Special work with women - Titus 2:4,5 3. Problems particularly faced by women missionaries: A. If she has gone to the mission field mainly because her husband wanted to go, she may not have enough personal motivation to persevere through the trials and pressures of missionary life. She must develop her own motivation for missionary service. B. The married woman probably will have a greater adjustment to make to a strange culture than her husband will, because culture and conditions may necessarily change her approach to homemaking (different foods, housing, sanitation, health hazards; lack of conveniences; people of a different culture coming into the home constantly; possibly household servants; buying food in the open market; the effect of the situation on her children, etc. C. The single woman particularly faces loneliness in the foreign field, and often may not find suitable male social companionship or a suitable marriage partner. D. The single woman missionary will be suspected of immorality in some cultures. 6

7 E. The missionary wife has to adjust to new role expectations. She may be called on to give a hand with many unfamiliar tasks on the field. F. Caring for children and schooling them can be much more difficult in some fields. G. The burdens and pressures of mission work put new strains on a marriage. 4. Important qualifications for missionary women: A. Adaptability. A woman must be secure and adaptable enough to accept and relate to a foreign culture. B. Physical and emotional health. Mission work will put strains on both. She must be able to resist or recover from disease and fatigue, and must be able to endure homesickness, loneliness, change, etc. C. For married women, a strong marriage relationship and willingness to work to keep it strong. D. Willingness, for Jesus' sake, to submit to cultural limitations on a woman's behavior - 1 Corinthians 9: E. Ability to live away from parents, relatives, and grown children without being emotionally undone. F. Ability to relate well to other missionary women on the field. Conclusion: God can use women as mightily as men for service in missions. The key for both men and women is the servant spirit of Christ. 8 by G.B. Shelburne, III (except for any graphics and scripture quotations). May be reproduced for non-profit, non-publishing instructional purposes provided document content is not altered and this copyright notice is included in full. Format may be altered. South Houston Bible Institute, Crescent Landing, Houston, TX , U.S.A., tel , <shbi@shbi.org>, web site < Scriptures, unless otherwise noted, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION and 1984 by the New York International Bible Society, used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. 7