If you want to evangalize, KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT and let your life reflect Christ.  If people ask, explain- but don't try to trick people into asking and don't start preaching if someone does.

Indeed, I consider missionaries to be EVIL.  They come in with the primary goal of changing people to their religion- and at best, helping people is way down on their list.  If they DO help people, it's to pressure them to come to the preaching.  Most missionizing is dishonest at best.  They ignore the realities of life, and focus on pseudoreligiousity.  I refer to them as "spiritual headhunters"- seeking numbers to brag on instead of helping people (who are often in real pain!)

I also have SEEN missionaries abuse people and sponge off of churches "back home".  

One (fundamentalist) group from this area was going to send missionaries to MY tribe- claiming that our traditional faith was "heathen devil worship and witchcraft".

Our traditional faith is a form of Christianity that predates Columbus.  We have a eurocentric church on our reservation.  We may have different names, but they are for the same persons.

I'm also aware of missionary work among western tribes- trying to destroy our culture, while prattling about all the good they were doing to anyone who would listen.  

In one case, at least, the mission boarding school was being run by pedophiles and all of the children were abused.  

The Episcopal Church in Canada was sued over this.

I know one of the children (adult now).  He's several years younger than me, and still dealing with the destruction done to his soul.  Not all was due to sexual abuse either- spiritual abuse because of his ethnicity was also a factor.

So- think LONG AND HARD before you support any form of missionary work.  Much of it is actually a scam- and most of it is actually very destructive.


by ArchaeoBob on Mon Nov 13, 2006 at 10:56:41 AM EST
Parent

However, I also think that some missionaries, through arrogance and a failure to reflect on their own power-relations with the peoples they are targetting, can be harmful.

by Richard Bartholomew on Mon Nov 13, 2006 at 05:29:01 PM EST
Parent

An example- the Assemblies of God are derisively called the Clap Claps by one culture that I know of- because in that culture you do NOT clap in worship, and the A/G church DEMANDS it in their services.

In our culture worship is largely done through dance and feasts.  How many times have I heard sermons against dancing???

In other words, are they blind to how the people they are missionizing think?  (People do NOT think alike!!!)

I now look with DEEP suspicion on ANY missionary work.  If the missionaries were willing to take the WORST instead of demanding the BEST for their use, then the attitude towards them in general (as being offensive thieves and working for ethnocide) might change.

It would also help if they just preached the Love of God and Christ Crucified, and left the other baggage at home.

Or in other words, if they don't understand it, don't mess with it (and DON'T JUDGE until you DO understand).

by ArchaeoBob on Mon Nov 13, 2006 at 06:45:53 PM EST
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