Posted on 01/31/2009 10:30:22 AM PST by Between the Lines
Undercover missions are an irresponsible means to spread Christianity. This type of mission work has created an ethical quandary that evangelicals are at a loss to justify.
While the mission of seeking out unsaved souls is an admirable one, it is dangerous to do so in a country where Christian evangelism is illegal. When a missionary goes to work in one of these places, they not only endanger themselves, but converts as well.
In the summer of 2007, China expelled more than 100 missionaries in a secret operation that was the largest expulsion campaign of foreign missionaries in over half a century, according to Christian Newswire. These missionaries were lucky. China is one of the more forgiving countries when it comes to illegal missionary activity.
Missionaries in Islamic countries face a greater risk.
The two Baylor alumnae and other members of Now International, who were arrested by the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001, is one example of the persecution undercover missionaries may face. A year later, three missionaries were killed in Yemen by an Islamic militant. The Yemen government eventually executed the convicted murderer, but there still exist countless Islamic radicals who view Christian missionaries as attempting to eradicate Islam and shame the culture.
Christians have been attempting to secretly convert people since The Crusades, but that doesn't make it ethical, especially in the modern world where diplomacy is pivotal in ensuring peace among nations.
Undercover missionaries break laws, above all else. Laws are created to instill order within society and ensure that individuals' beliefs do not put the greater population in danger. One's Christian values and morals, as noble as they may be, do not justify blatant disobedience of a country's laws.
Undoubtedly, missionaries go with a pure purpose, and usually the belief that sharing Christianity overrides all else. From a logical angle, personal beliefs, i.e. a religion, should never be allowed to trump the law. Guerrilla-style evangelism is no exception.
The murkier of issues are ethical in nature. By disobeying local law and disregarding a country's culture, missionaries endanger the lives of those they successfully convert. The Barnabas Fund, a Christian persecution watchdog, recently reported that inflated figures citing the amount of Muslim converts to Christianity have increased danger for converts and Westerners in Islamic countries. Muslims in these countries have used such figures to incite public outrage against the Christian evangelical movement.
For safety purposes, secret missionaries often enter a country under the guise of a profession such as a teacher or medical aid worker and are forced to live by false pretenses. Jesus never lied, according to the Bible. Missionaries who preach Jesus Christ's ultimate message of truth, while simultaneously sidestepping laws and cultural values, send the wrong message.
Before crossing cultural and legal boundaries to harvest unsaved souls, Christian missionaries should evaluate what message they are conveying, and rethink what Jesus truly meant when he said in Matthew 4:19, "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Would He have been so reckless in today's world?
Acts 7:54-60
The Stoning of Stephen
Now, when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth against him. But he, full of the Holy spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together upon him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And he knelt down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
They only are practicing the progressive way our new leader has taught us. Come unto others in the guise of a helper. Make the new converts feel afraid, anxious, perplexed at their state. Make them discontent. Offer them a better way. It’s Obama playbook. Now what’s wrong with that? Only difference is these ‘so called’ stealth Christians aren’t looking to steal their converts’ freedom, wealth and soul.
There’s a few ministers here in the US I wish we would expel: Louis Farrakhan, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Jeremiah Wright...
Yeah, like they’ll give up their big expensive houses “Racist America” gave to them. Laughing all the way to the bank. Booker T. Washington sure had their number over a century ago about these race-hustling charlatans and con-artists.
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)
Jesus or Liz Foreman? What a dilemma!
If she is a non-Christian worried about the safety of Christians, I can appreciate her concern. But where is her outrage at the lack of religious freedom and freedom of conscience in the countries she sites.
> One’s Christian values and morals, as noble as they may be, do not justify blatant disobedience of a country’s laws.
Rubbish. Jesus commands His followers to go into the world and preach the Gospel. That includes to the Heathens.
> From a logical angle, personal beliefs, i.e. a religion, should never be allowed to trump the law.
Nonsense. Man’s law never trumps God’s law. If a believer is courageous enough to preach in such places and under such conditions, then so it must be. He deserves God’s blessing and our prayers.
> The murkier of issues are ethical in nature.
God cares not a whit for “Ethics”. He gives not a double-dam’n. The battle of Good-Versus-Evil is black-and-white: there are no murky grey areas.
> By disobeying local law and disregarding a country’s culture, missionaries endanger the lives of those they successfully convert.
So what? That is a Christian’s calling. It it better to be dam’ned and to live “safe” for this life, or to be saved for all time?
> The Barnabas Fund, a Christian persecution watchdog, recently reported that inflated figures citing the amount of Muslim converts to Christianity have increased danger for converts and Westerners in Islamic countries. Muslims in these countries have used such figures to incite public outrage against the Christian evangelical movement.
So what?
> For safety purposes, secret missionaries often enter a country under the guise of a profession such as a teacher or medical aid worker and are forced to live by false pretenses.
Yup. Sh!t happens, and whatever fools the Devil is good enough for the task at hand.
> Jesus never lied, according to the Bible.
No, he did not. Equally, he did not fully disclose, not even at His trial.
> Missionaries who preach Jesus Christ’s ultimate message of truth, while simultaneously sidestepping laws and cultural values, send the wrong message.
Bullshirt. There is no obligation on a Christian missionary whatsoever to fully disclose. They do not have to wear a flashing sign that says “Look! I’m a Christian Missionary!” and they do not havt to register their interest with the local authorities. Any more than do the effing muslim missionaries.
> Before crossing cultural and legal boundaries to harvest unsaved souls, Christian missionaries should evaluate what message they are conveying, and rethink what Jesus truly meant when he said in Matthew 4:19, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Yup. And as any guy who likes to catch fish will tell you, you cannot catch fish while your line is out of the water.
> Would He have been so reckless in today’s world?
I believe Christ would be even more “reckless”. So many souls to save, so little time...
Jesus said “Go and preach the gospel”. We shouldn’t be concerned about coming back.
Yeah. Good response. This article is crazy. Read it to the brave martyrs who evangelized eastern Europe (before the Crusades, for crying out loud) Vietnam, China, Japan, etc., etc., etc. and watch ‘em collapse in laughter.
Unarmed Christian missionaries have been attacked and killed in every country (except, I'm told, Ireland: interesting exception) by those who wished to silence the Gospel. Surely Liz Foreman knows that Christianity teaches that "we must obey God rather than men," that "An injust law is no law" (Lex iniusta lex nulla), and that the well-being of our fellow men in Eternity is of infinitely more worth that our own comfort, ease and pleasure in this life.
Ms. Foreman should do a little reading in the Lives of the Saints.
Many laws are for public safety. Most laws are for control of the populace.
Christians were called to evangelize from the beginning from Pentecost onward. It's nothing new since the crusaded.
Christian missionaries have always faced persecution and martyrdom.
Faithful Christians have always faced execution.. Persecution is the norm, peaceful interaction is the exception.
This kind of missionary work is cheap. Fascinating. A project the whole family can cooperate on. These kids typically come from warm, close, families, and are delighted when we welcome them into the hearts of our families.
This article, submitted by a friend of mine for publication in a Muslim devotional magazine, offers some guidelines on reaching out to the foreign students in our midst.
I *knew* there was a good reason why I prefer the company of Catholics. Thanks, Mrs Don-o!
I have a mate who is a missionary. He’s been to some very out-of-the-way places, like Mauritius and French Guyana and Sierra Leone. He has met wonderful people and introduced them to Christ.
My Mom, on the other hand, has never left home since we were born. She has a class of 40+ Chinese-speaking converts, new immigrants to our country: they do not yet speak English much (that is part of what Mom teaches them) but they are eager to learn about Christ and the Gospel.
Which approach is the correct one? The answer would be “Yes”. Whatever gets Christ out to the people.
Yup. Sh!t happens, and whatever fools the Devil is good enough for the task at hand.
++
lieing for Christ
> lieing for Christ
Hardly! St Paul was a tentmaker, St Peter a fisherman, St Luke a physician. They all also happened to be Christians.
No lie there.
As with them, so with us when we preach to the Heathen. Telling the Truth does not necessitate Full Disclosure, and it never has.
My son’s one-time girlfriend went to China to teach English and preach the gospel. She was disappointed to learn, upon arrival, that the Chinese students had pre-existing social networks. Networks that did not include her.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.