tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19080182.post992324687501079396..comments2024-03-26T17:40:35.508-07:00Comments on notes from dave: Dependence and Missions... A Good Thing?Dave Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16777087329254991970noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19080182.post-39807727642459330922010-04-07T12:32:53.905-07:002010-04-07T12:32:53.905-07:00I think a lot of it comes down to superiority/infe...I think a lot of it comes down to superiority/inferiority. As much as we hate to admit it, American churches have a bit of a superiority complex. We think that because our country is superior economically, our faith and theology is also superior to those in less developed nations.<br /><br />Oftentimes, it is precisely the opposite.<br /><br />That is why we expect that, because we are giving money to the mexican church, the least they can do is send their senior pastor. But we won't let him preach on sunday. And we won't go visit him.<br /><br />But all too often, we are way off. We may have given monetarily, but often, in my experience, it is the supported church that actually uses that money to physically minister to their communities. A church in mexico almost always does much more TRUE ministry than a church in the US. Most mexican churches actually help their neighbors with bills, visit them when they are sick, try to get kids off the street, etc. Most American churches just minister to their members and do outreaches to get more members...in short, American churches seem to run their churches like businesses, and Mexican churches tend to run their churches like churches-on faith and works alone, letting God provide. <br /><br />In the economy of heaven, the mexican church is far superior to the one in america who sends them money.<br /><br />Again, this is all in my experience, and not all churches are like that. My home church frequently lets other pastors preach. A few weeks ago, we had a pastor from Rawanda, whose church we support, come preach. It was amazing.James' Musehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15575769532441311670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19080182.post-88009615589571484672010-03-29T08:58:55.020-07:002010-03-29T08:58:55.020-07:00There you go...get me to thinking...again! Serious...There you go...get me to thinking...again! Seriously, you make some great points. Respect has to go both ways, otherwise its subservience. <br /><br />Thanks for sharing,<br />JimAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16180682162390798665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19080182.post-81325414441738926502010-03-23T20:11:56.351-07:002010-03-23T20:11:56.351-07:00This is great. Dependency from an economic standpo...This is great. Dependency from an economic standpoint is one thing, but dependency on a spiritual level is something far different.<br /><br />-BurtAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com