A snapshot of my learning this week:
God’s call:
Sometimes God calls us to places we don’t want to go. I know he has called me to Southeast Asia, but my heart is in the Middle East, and words cannot even express how much I wish I was going to Morocco- at least to visit my host families and friends there. But God is calling me somewhere else for a different purpose. I can question the call all I want to, but that cannot change the fact that I heard his voice and that there is work for me to do where I am going. I don’t understand his purpose… but if I did, I guess he wouldn’t really be God.
Development vs. Evangelism:
Don’t get me wrong, I am not a huge proponent of street evangelism and any kind of faith sharing must happen in the context of a relationship based on love and respect. But there is definitely value in sharing Jesus. If I didn’t believe that Jesus can change transform the world, why would I believe in him at all? And if I believe that Jesus transforms lives, how could I be selfish enough to keep him to myself?
One of our speakers the other day said that every argument for development breaks down at some point, but if the work you do is based on love for Jesus and a desire to share that with others, it can succeed. How can we do justice work without the guidance of our Just God? And how can we do peace-building without the Prince of Peace? Development by itself tends to produce dependence and cultural imperialism. But if we introduce Jesus and allow him to transform lives, the rest will happen on its own. (Matthew 6:32- Seek first his kingdom and all these things will be added unto you.)
Evangelism is no more culturally imperialistic than promoting western Education or living standards is cultural imperialism. The question is- do we trust God to do his work, or do we think we can do it for him without giving him the glory?
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