In our blogs we've been discussing about what the missionaries are doing with their faith and the influence they have on the cultures they work in, but I thought it'd be interesting to see if what God tells us -His followers- to do for other cultures and faiths.
(I will be assuming that Christians believe that "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16))
Followers of Christ support missionaries financially and spiritually, go to LASA trips and sometimes work as missionaries themselves in a culture where Christianity isn't well known to follow Jesus's last commandment, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:15~16). It is clear that God expects those who follow Him to go and preach the good news to all cultures and faiths.
However while obeying the last commandment of Jesus, one must obey the very first and second commandment of His, as well. It's recorded in the Bible that someone asks Jesus, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" and Jesus replies " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself' (Matthew 22:37-39). Since 'Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." according to 1Corinthians 13:4-7, all Christians should be patient, kind, not envy, not boast, not be proud, not be rude, not be self-seeking, not get easily angered, keep no record of wrongs, rejoice with the truth, and always protect, trust, hope and preserve.
So what does God expect His 'Christian missionaries' to do for other cultures and faiths?
He did not call His missionaries to barge into South America or Africa or any other part of the world with a gun in their hands and a hunger for glory and gold in their hearts.
God called His followers and people who want to call themselves 'Christian missionaries' to go and share God's love.
Forcing people to accept salvation directly contradicts the whole purpose and meaning of salvation, which is a person's choice to believe in and follow Jesus.
Simply for the purpose of integrity in our logic and arguments, people who disobeyed God's first and second greatest commandment in the name of God should be discarded from being used as examples of Christian missionaries.
God told those who have chosen to hear and accept God's bleeding love for us to:
accept and love the people around you, for who they are, as He has
and since now you know what the best thing in life is,
teach by showing and giving by action
this indescribable love to those who never even heard about it.
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2 comments:
Minji!
I hope you're enjoying your break. I agree that God expects us to embrace these people with love. I sometimes find myself refusing to even reach out to these people with a plea that the wall of culture is too high for me to break. After reading your blog entry and "Peace Child," I really think I should change my attitudes towards other cultures and faiths, because it is the biggest command that God gave us. :)
Minji - this is an excellent post. You have a solid understanding of Christian faith. Your use of God's word further provides evidence for how we should act. We as Christians are compelled to tell the truth and share the Gospel. It is such a privilege that God asks us to go into the world and share the Gospel. Your perspective shows a sound understanding of the novel Peach Child. I hope that God has used this novel to reveal more of Himself to you. Mrs.Mc.
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