If you are looking for a good book to read that will make you think and scratch your brain. This is it. If you have any interest in how Christians are to be involved in the social ills of our world this will definitely be a great read for you. I am midway through it and have already scratched my brain more than once and said a few, 'amens', along the way.
If you think as a Christian you need not be concerned about social ills in our world, then wake up! If for one minute you believe the governments in our world are going to resolve and heal what ills the masses in our world, then you should pull your head out of the sand.
Maybe for me this book is so powerful because we see so much pain and suffering and want to do something to change or alleviate as much as possible. You cant help everyone, or you cant save everyone, for sure, however, if we make an effort and step outside our comfort zones, whatever that is, then we can alleviate some of the pain in the world.
The biggest step is the one out of your comfort zone. For some it is your career or school or home. For some Christians it is your church walls. What a novel idea for Christians to take what they learn on Sunday or Wednesday or Thursday and apply it in the city street to the homeless, or to an orphanage in a poor country, or to a school or university in a communist country like China. But I am getting ahead of myself. Start in the place where you are and do something to help someone who cannot return the favor and who may never step foot in a church building. Or who may turn their back on you and refuse your help in some way.
Can we tackle a very real sacred cow in the church? Could we stop thinking that mission trips and such are for the purpose of making us feel more spiritual and holy? I know, I did the same thing for years, until I finally realized God did not necessarily want me to return from a mission trip feeling a spiritual high. Sometimes, well, most times I came back from those trips emotionally broken and hurting for the families I met and the kids I fell in love with.
I'm not saying let's quit taking mission trips, maybe we need to thin out some of the people who are going on these trips. Make it tougher to go. Have an application process and make participants do an interview on why they desire to go and what they hope to see occur. Possibly have each participant do references and ask a series of thoughtful questions. Most mission organizations do this, but most churches simply post a list and everyone who gets their money and stuff together goes, regardless of their preparedness.
Maybe instead of allowing the ones who are not quite ready to go, instead have them raise money that will be given straight to the missionary. Kind of an offering. This money should not be used on the group's trip expenses, rather for the work of the missionary. For $200 a missionary friend I know could pay a pastor in Africa for 4 months. 4 months. I believe a national pastor could do much, much more good in 4 months than an unprepared mission trip attendee who doesnt even speak the language.
There is a group from a church we work with in Texas who actually tells teens they are not quite ready to go and asks them to wait. What a novel idea! Waiting and growing in the grace of the Lord is sometimes best. Especially in the area of mission trips.
Do we want more groups to go on mission trips? Yes, but more groups with members who are fully prepared and focused on God and His plans, ready to serve, sacrifice and even eat foods that you dont like and cannot pronounce and go to bathrooms that smell so awful you want to barf.
Smaller groups, better prepared, fully devoted to prayer, and with servants´ hearts is what we seek.
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