Originally Posted by Pergamum  I am trying to be optimistic.... but I think I need to go take a Prozac after these posts above....sorry Heidi about your experience.
In the face of feeling these same low and awful feelings about the church at large, I do have a hope of a change.
There does seem to be a calvinistic resurgence in the Western Church, and this is first happening at the mission level (a very high percentage being sent out are Calvinists.
For instance, among Southern Baptists 30% of seminary graduates report themselves to be Calvinisits this past year....woohoo).
Ha, maybe a split off thread could be started about the resurgence of Calvinism in our times. This is occurring big time among Baptists.
We think things are bad, but actually things are shifting and the West is starting to return to true doctrine - at least some portions.... the others just fall so far off the edge that they cease even being taken seriously.
I hope I am not merely being a Pollyanna here.....
If missionaries and foreign pastors would take a purposeful oversight over any short term missions that they support and even stand on not helping out badly planned ones, then they can change the thinking on the home front.
If they can initiate and start and have some sort of oversight into these trips, then they can shape these young people and knock them out of their young ignorance. These young people are merely products of their environments and so many want to do right, if they were given the correct oversight.
If a badly planned or hokey group comes without your invitation and expects to "do ministry" in your church refuse them based on John 3.
If they want to come and have you as a host, then this gives you the power to shape their activities, especially if you are their hosts. Kill their bad methods through kindness, ofer to host themif they are willing to conform to your churchs needs and them use that as an occassion to better inform them about what ministry means in your local context.
If they are sincere in helping you and not merely showing off their supposed Spiritual gifts, I beleive that they would cancel a dance number if this was planned and conform to your expectations as you put them to work in real ministry situations.
I would like to think that tract ministry and such is the best that they can think of to do and they engage in this because they are really trying to be as helpful as possible. If they were counseled and taught even from Stateside before they left, perhaps we could shape their thinking, utilize them more, and minister to them, and allow them to do some small and substantial ministry wherever they go...
So, since short term missions is the missioloigcal fad of our times, instead of shrinking from them, I think we should engage it head on and try to shape the groups of young people coming out. Since this time often is a pivotal time for them, perhaps the words of a foreign pastor or missionary can help slow the influence of the American church.
For instance, Rich, if there was a solid pastor in your SBC church in Japan, then the church could actually advertize for short term mission trips come, under certain criteria that some pre work was done prior and some counseling was done during the trip. Only certain types of youth would be allowed. Then, as 20 SBC youth come into your church for a week or two, you get some free labor and every night these youth could be taught - in a week's time -more truth than they might receive in a year at their home churches back home. Youcould systematially lead them through soteriology and a biblical theology of missions. I.e. your Japanese church could engage in missionary work to our sending countries....and evangelize these youth groups as they come through.
signed,
Pollyana Pergy |