Missionary Support 2 – Indigenous Missionaries
Last week I pointed to and commented on Mary’s post on missionary support. She has come out with a second post on this topic, looking at supporting indigenous missionaries rather than investing so much into sending Western missionaries. This has raised some excellent questions, again with great dialogue in the comment section. I really want to weigh in on this one. Before I begin, I want to say that I am in agreement with Mary that there is a great need for more indigenous leadership within the global missional movement. We do need to rethink who and how we send people from the West into non-Western missions contexts. That being said, there is much more to the issue that must be explored.
First, K.P. Yohannan’s book “Revolution In World Missions” is a well known example of strongly calling for indigenous missionaries (supported by the West) and fewer Western missionaries being sent, cited by Mary and some commenters. It has some very good truths in it. However, I am not convinced that Yohannan’s organization has always accomplished this task appropriately. This doesn’t undermine the merits of the principles of the book, but it does demonstrate that application is far more challenging.
Further, there is the concern of producing ethnocentric faith communities. Ironically, the response to this issue within Western Christianity (that is, as we realize our own ethnocentric Christian expressions) is to push for indigenously lead faith communities abroad. While this intention is good, it can unintentionally produce different cultural versions of the very problem it seeks to overcome- that is, churches that are too narrowly defined by their singular culture. After all, Scripture clearly shows us that God’s Church is a diverse one. To that end, cross-cultural missions offers that benefit, both for the sending and receiving cultures.
Neither can we deny that we have sown the seeds of colonialism throughout the world, where deep roots have taken hold. We consistently find ourselves in cultures that, despite our best attempts to change things, still buy into these lies. Most recently our team was in Uganda where many still embrace the mythology that Western Christianity (including broader Western culture) is the ideal to pursue (and look to their own culture as “inferior”). The reality is that we will have to play a role to undo much of this damage (albeit a supporting role), even as they play a role in undoing the same damage here in our contexts.
Connected to the previous point is the need for Western Christians and churches to have their eyes opened to the global reality they live in. They need to see the complexity of God’s people and Creation, recognizing how the simplest of our choices in our local context can have devastating or positive impact half the planet away. Our own Christian worldview is too narrow, therefore cross-cultural relationships are crucial.
Despite the many mistakes and failures of Western Christianity, we must humbly acknowledge our strengths as well. We have a rich history of religious practice and freedom (though often fraught with problems), which means we have a great deal to offer other cultures. I want to be careful not to suggest we have more to offer, but to recognize that, especially given our massive wealth and freedom (often enjoyed at the expense of the very people we are sending missionaries to), we do have a great deal of repsonsibility. Where much is given, much is required. Our methods and stance need to change drastically, but indigenous missions is not a sufficient model on its own without addressing these and other specifics.
Finally, while not underestimating the importance and power of financial resources in the context of world missions, nor wanting to understate the embarrassment of our excessive wealth in the West, we must recognize that money is but one aspect to this issue. I fully affirm the need for better stewardship and greater generosity, all of which (in my opinion) demands that we live simpler lives as Christians, counter-culturally I might add.
However, God is our provider and His calling to us may not always be the most financially efficient approach. This is not as excuse for irresponsibility or excess, but through the fear of God and sensitivity to His Spirit, we must recognize that the financial merits of our models are not enough to really inform the change that needs to take place.
Again, check out Mary’s blog and join the discussion. Also, let me know what you think here.
