Are We Missing Something?
Marty Duren has a post at SBC Outpost that got me thinking. I actually almost laughed out loud when I saw the first image and thought it was a joke. But, then I realized that if we say that anything we do is for "missions and minstry," we can get away with it. I wonder, with all our technology, support, staff, and strategy if we aren't seriously missing the point. Well, I've actually thought that for years, but the juxtaposition of these images really brings it home:
Here's the USA Version of a Missions and Ministry Center
And, here's what it looks like in Africa:
Now, I know that is not a fair comparison, and that it would be impossible to have our staff offices and conference rooms in a thatch hut, but the point is, do we really need everything that we purchase for ourselves? Or, could we, as really wealthy Christians in America get by with a lot less? I think the answer is obvious. I, for one, am really getting weary of funding multi-million dollar "missions and ministry buildings" while a large majority of the world's population gets by on less than a dollar a day. At some point, we will be held accountable.
What do you think?
Great comparison.
We simply have to start asking the right questions and dealing with the difficult answers.
Posted by: Marty Duren | May 29, 2006 at 06:17 AM
It's a lot deeper than this, even.
The premise of the local church is that God assembles a body of believers whom He wants there, to serve His purposes. He gifts them individually in certain ways, which determines the course and task of the church. In theory.
Sadly, the vision of the churches rarely comes from that. Folks never learn how to determine and develop ther giftedness, and the church settles into the routine of pleading with people to fill positions that the church "leadership" feels need to be done.
Take that pattern and climb up the ladder with it, denominationally, and .. VOILA'.
I doubt that there are any denominations out there that are much different.
I'm not all doom and gloom. All any of us can do is to do the right thing, where we are, when we're there, all the time, every time. That's what God wants, anyway, since I doubt He invented "organizations".
Posted by: Bob Cleveland | May 29, 2006 at 07:09 AM
Looks like Georgia is trying to keep up with South Carolina. I went to SC's state building (almost identical to that picture) for a meeting once and I was nearly sickened. I have no problem with nice buildings and paying large salaries to large staffs if it is accomplishing something that the local church cannot do. But with our state convention I see very little if anything coming from them that we couldn't do better as a church - and save MILLIIONS!!!
Not all state associations may be that way, but I suspect this applies to most.
Posted by: Jamie Wootten | May 29, 2006 at 08:40 AM
A picture paints a thousand words! I love your comparison, and pretty much shows missions as it really is! As a missionary this has been a concern for a long time. It seems everything churches do these days gets labelled "evangelism and missions" no matter what it is being done. I recently did a post taken from a fellow M in Mexico who also expresses this same frustration and can be read at http://guymuse.blogspot.com/2006/05/missions-any-and-everything-done-in.html
Posted by: GuyMuse | May 29, 2006 at 09:24 AM
Alan, it's funny... last night I was thinking about how I should make a video of random suburban Atlanta neighborhoods, and then find out how many people lived in that neighborhood, and how many in each home. Then cut to Invisible Children footage and pictures of shanty towns. And then ask if that's good stewardship.
This'll do too.
Posted by: Joe Kennedy | May 29, 2006 at 01:14 PM
Unbelievable! I mentioned on Marty's site that we also waste too much $ by having the SBC Convention every year. Why? We could easily do it bi-yearly or via teleconference. It is just a vacation for many pastors. I was booking my room and got a $54 room at the suburban inn but there are rooms for over $350! Why? I think God would not approve.
Posted by: Kevin Bussey | May 30, 2006 at 08:20 AM
*Snort!* I don't think Gateway will ever be accused of putting their own facilities ahead of missions!
Posted by: Beth DeVore | June 05, 2006 at 06:19 PM
You're right, Beth! I should have just posted a picture of our trailers on here instead of the thatch hut. It might have proven my point even more!
Posted by: Alan Cross | June 06, 2006 at 08:05 PM