Missionary Conduct and Training Part 2 of 3

Missionary Attitude, Evangelism and Conduct

(Part 2 of 3)

(Learning to study, adapt and present Christ in love)

Do Not Argue or Offend
Often times, western missionaries have gone out to the far corners of the world to reach the lost only to find that there has been someone there before them.  What the nationals encountered with these tourists or missionaries could have been a positive or negative experience.  Likewise, there will be others that follow in behind you.  

Unfortunately, one major stereotype that runs throughout the world regarding western civilization individuals is pride and thinking that everyone should do things as they do in the west.  (Prov. 13:10 Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise)  Keeping this all in mind, we should be extra careful and humble not to cause offense or to “muddy the waters” for the next witness that comes along. (John 4:37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true.)  (Ezekiel 34:18 Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?)

It is our duty to study the culture, history, and at least attempt to learn some of the language, customs and religious beliefs of the people groups to whom we are called to help in order to be a testimony of Christ.  Our studies in these people groups and cultures will help us reach them without offending them while on short term mission trips or volunteer trips and projects.

First, we must become the student to be an effective teacher or witness.  (2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)  “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” )  This knowledge is not to be used for arguments, but to aid in understanding the people and present the Good News in the best way possible to them as Paul did.  Acts 17:22-24 (NLT)  “So Paul, standing before the council,[a] addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.  “He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples,”  Paul did not argue with them but instead used what they already believed and told them about the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Secondly, to avoid offending the people we are wanting to reach for the Lord, we must be culturally sensitive.  This can be done by taking some cultural sensitivity training that pertains to the people group you with which you wish to reach or work.  (Prov. 18:19 An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city.  Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars.)  First of all, we really need to examine and clean up our own cultural baggage we may be packing when we prepare to leave for cross-cultural ministry.  Becoming a long term missionary will take these steps even further and require more adaptation.  (Prov. 17:14 Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out.  Prov. 17:19 Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin;  Prov. 18:6 Fools’ words get them into constant quarrels; they are asking for a beating.)

It is OUR responsibility as the guest to not argue or cause offense when crossing into other cultures to evangelize, minister or volunteer.  We must learn to be the example of an effective witness for Christ both home and abroad.

Links to begin your Cultural Awareness and Cultural Baggage

Go to these links for more information on:

Short Term Mission Trips or Short Term Volunteer Trips

Missionary Conduct and Training Part 1 of 3

Missionary Attitude, Evangelism and Conduct

(Part 1 of 3)

(Learning some very important lessons from two missionaries)

Respect and Adapt to THEIR Culture
To start this portion of the study, I wanted to give you a little information about two very successful missionaries, J Hudson Taylor (Founder of China Inland Mission) and the Apostle Paul.

Hudson Taylor’s preparation and attitude:  (some excerpts taken from http://www.wholesomewords.org)

Hudson Taylor heard his call from the Lord to go to China at a young age.  He decided to learn what he could about China and its culture and to prepare himself for the Chinese mission field.  Who was Hudson Taylor? “J. Hudson Taylor (1832-1905) was an English missionary to China. Founded the China Inland Mission which at his death included 205 mission stations with over 800 missionaries, and 125,000 Chinese Christians.”

In these three years of preparation for the mission field:

• He eat simple foods that were mainly rice, oatmeal and brown bread.  

• He moved to a very poor area of the city: “a very undesirable portion of the city of Hull. Two rows of poor little cottages faced each other, and between them was a ditch where rubbish was thrown. The neighborhood was called "Drainside." When the tide rose high enough the rubbish was carried away. Unattractive as this was, Hudson Taylor selected one of these cottages as his dwelling-place. A room less than twelve feet square was his, while his landlady, Mrs. Finch, with her children, occupied the upstairs room and the kitchen.”

• He worked hard and ministered to people: “At the close of his day's work he would take his lonely walk to his comfortless room, and on Sundays he visited the sick and helped the poor. It was not the kind of life one would be apt to choose, but God's blessing was upon him, and that is more than all the world has to offer.”

• He did what he could to learn skills that would be helpful on the mission field and the language in preparation for China.

• Faith, the most important lesson he knew he must learn: “There was one lesson that young Mr. Taylor knew he must learn, if he wanted to be a successful missionary in China, and that was the lesson of faith. He knew there would be many times in that far-away country when he would have no one to depend upon but God, and he must know how to get his prayers through and receive an answer. He wanted to know how to "move man, through God, by prayer alone."”

Once in China, Mr Taylor set out to the work he was called to do:

• He used his learned skills to help others, ministering to their bodies and then ministering to their souls.  “As he ministered to the needs of their bodies, he told them of the cure for sin-sick souls. A school for boys and girls was started and Mr. Taylor was happy. There were difficulties too, but Taylor had fitted himself for hard things by the rugged life he had lived before leaving England.”
• He chose to adapt to their culture and dress.  “For some time he considered the question of adopting Chinese dress, and finally decided to do so, believing he could accomplish more for the Lord in that way. He had his head shaved, leaving a little hair which would grow into a Chinese cue [hair tied at the back of the head in a braid], and with baggy trousers, white calico socks, satin shoes, and to complete the costume, a loose silk gown with wide sleeves, he attracted less attention, and won the hearts of the natives as he could not do when in English dress.”

You may ask yourself, “Where did Mr. Taylor come up with his plan of action: what he should do and the faith to do it?”  I believe he read about the first missionary in the Word of God.

Paul’s Use of His Freedom: (The first missionary).
Paul chose to adapt to the cultures and customs of each people group he ministered to.  1 Cor. 9:19-23 “Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ.  When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law.  When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.  When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.  I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.”

Paul became all things to all people groups.  He did not try to walk in superiority or the attitude that his way or culture was better then theirs.  He adapted to their ways without sinning.  He did not use his freedoms in Christ to do what he wanted, but instead to become all things to all people in order that they may share Christ.

It is our job as missionaries to learn their culture and beliefs.  Take the time to find out as much as you can about the specific people group, culture and primary religious beliefs of those to whom you will be ministering.  Each culture has its own sense of what is acceptable and what is not; what is rude and what is not.  For instance, in Thailand, it is not proper to touch a person of opposite sex in public even if you are married.  Doing so would place the woman in the category of a prostitute and the man as someone who is associating with this type of person.  Then in China it is not proper to look someone directly into the eyes for a length of time.  Some eastern cultures believe if is an insult to touch their heads with your hands or point with your foot.  So you see, it is our work to learn and put into practice their culture’s dos and don’ts, not to try to change them or make them feel inferior or even possibly insult them.  It is their country and culture, not ours.

Respect and Adapt:
Hudson Taylor and the Apostle Paul respected and adapted to the new culture, choosing to become like one of the people they ministered to and adopted their dress, language and culture.  They chose to become one of them in order to share Christ with them without sinning.  Within every culture on the earth, there are things that are not pleasing to the the Lord and we need to stay sinless, keeping our testimony and lives in unity with the Word of God, without offending.

Go to these links for more information on:

Short Term Mission Trips or Short Term Volunteer Trips