Cristianizar no puede ser equivalente de occidentalizar.
- Vitalino Simalox (Maya)
(Translation: To Christianize cannot be the same as to Westernize.)
Last Sunday night I attended a benefit concert that was held at a large church to raise support for an AIDS hospice in South Africa - where 40% of the population has been diagnosed with HIV and/or full blown AIDS.
It appeared to be well attended, and hopefully it raised awareness and funds for at least some temporary relief for those in this terrible situation.
POCKETS FULL OF PITY
In the preface of the latest edition of his book "The Next Christendom," Philip Jenkins observes that the last day of the "old world" - or for those of us on western calendars, the end of the twentieth century - was September 10th, 2001.
On September 11th, 2001 - a new world began. A lot has changed since then.
From a positive point of view, the United States of America and most of the "Western" world, has increased its responsible awareness and concern for the "rest" of the world. It is as if the world became a lot smaller almost overnight.
As a result of this awareness - fund-raising and charitable activities have generally increased as everyone tries to participate in "helping the less fortunate."
However, although this is a good "trend" that offers very quick help in relieving the symptoms of suffering - it carries with it some rather unfortunate baggage.
There is a tremendous temptation to throw a few bucks in the plate, wring your hands, and say "Mission Accomplished!"
As I listened to the appeal for funds during the benefit concert - I heard how the hospice had been built and maintained on the generous funds raised previously, and how volunteers had gone on short-term missions to South Africa to build and furnish the facility. Then I heard that the hospice had to close after three months because there was no other source of funds available. The need was truly great.
I heard a voice deep inside - not audible - but profoundly clear. "Money is not the problem."
THE POOR MESSIAH THAT GAVE ALL
Jesus, as a poor Nazarene, was not the kind of Messiah that the Jews had expected - they had expected a powerful King, who would re-establish the oppressed as the ruling power they had once been. Instead, this meek and humble servant showed up and showed mercy upon those that did not deserve it.
Jesus' view of poverty and wealth; giving and receiving were different than the world's view. They still are.
Jesus measured wealth by the content of the heart and not the content of the wallet. He praised the impact of a tiny offering from a poor widow who gave all out of her poverty - and condemned the measured tithe that came from the surplus of the rich.
When Jesus gave, he gave according to need - and not according to wants. He always gave what was best and not necessarily what was expected.
Much of so-called "Christian Charity" that is prevalent today is giving according to the desires of the giver and not according to the needs of the recipient.
The tendency is to try and give to God what should be given to Caesar!
Charitable donations, like mission efforts from the U.S. and West, seem to be more aimed at the Western culturalization of people, than at helping people redeem and restore new life into their own civilizations.
THE POST PENTECOST WORLD
As we celebrate Pentecost - traditionally identified as the beginnings of the community called the Church - the Kingdom of God on earth, it might serve us well to reflect on the way that this community operated as it put the words of Christ into action.
"Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need."
- Acts 2:44-45
Notice that the community did not give according to their possessions - but exchanged their possessions for money or according to the needs of the other. The practice was not to give what they didn't want - but to give according to the others need.
In the same way, when the Apostles began the task of spreading the gospel - they quickly overcame the natural tendency to attach cultural perspectives and priorities to the message of good news. For example, Paul became the Apostle to the nations (or Gentiles) - he spoke to them in their terms and made it very clear that they did not have to convert to Judaism in order to become disciples, or students, of Jesus Christ. See Acts 15:6-21 (The Council in Jerusalem), Acts 17:16-34 (Paul in Athens).
In more modern times - St. Innocent of Alaska, (also called "Equal to the Apostles") who came from Russia to Alaska in the 19th Century - took it upon himself to learn the languages and dialects of the indigenous people and adapted all of the Church's teachings into the language and context of the Aleutians so that they might worship God in their own language, from within their own culture.
This is far different from much of the mission and charity work that is done in the name of Christ today. The Eastern Orthodox Church in America is only just beginning to recover from its ethnic boundaries and designations (i.e. "Russian" Orthodox, "Greek" Orthodox). This seems to be something that is uniquely Western/American - in Greece there are no "Greek" churches. Nor are their "Russian" churches in Russia - they are just Orthodox churches IN Greece or Russia.
"CIVILIZATION" THROUGH COLONIZATION
I'm not an expert in history - but it doesn't take much research to trace back to where many of the economic and social problems of the poverty stricken nations originate.
NO FLAGS IN THE CHURCH
When St. Paul begins his letter to the Corinthians - he calls them the "Church of God in Corinth," which reflects the true identity of the Church. Beyond nationalism, beyond ethnic, cultural, economic and social boundaries - the Church is "all who believe together," regardless of the geographic location.
Jesus said to "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations," (Matt. 28:19) He did not say go and make all disciples of this nation.
BUILD INTO PEOPLE NOT BUILDINGS
The voice said "Money is not the problem."
Perhaps we don't need to give people things like buildings and western-style educations so that they can become like us. Perhaps we ought to focus on trying to help them restore and retain dignity in their own world. Help them to find their own way - instead of trying to force them, albeit by kindness, to ours.
In the meantime, there's no harm in providing a temporary financial solution - but let's not fool ourselves into believing that cash is all it takes.
In the same way, when the Apostles began the task of spreading the gospel - they quickly overcame the natural tendency to attach cultural perspectives and priorities to the message of good news. For example, Paul became the Apostle to the nations (or Gentiles) - he spoke to them in their terms and made it very clear that they did not have to convert to Judaism in order to become disciples, or students, of Jesus Christ. See Acts 15:6-21 (The Council in Jerusalem), Acts 17:16-34 (Paul in Athens).
In more modern times - St. Innocent of Alaska, (also called "Equal to the Apostles") who came from Russia to Alaska in the 19th Century - took it upon himself to learn the languages and dialects of the indigenous people and adapted all of the Church's teachings into the language and context of the Aleutians so that they might worship God in their own language, from within their own culture.
This is far different from much of the mission and charity work that is done in the name of Christ today. The Eastern Orthodox Church in America is only just beginning to recover from its ethnic boundaries and designations (i.e. "Russian" Orthodox, "Greek" Orthodox). This seems to be something that is uniquely Western/American - in Greece there are no "Greek" churches. Nor are their "Russian" churches in Russia - they are just Orthodox churches IN Greece or Russia.
"CIVILIZATION" THROUGH COLONIZATION
I'm not an expert in history - but it doesn't take much research to trace back to where many of the economic and social problems of the poverty stricken nations originate.
- The proud nation of Zulus that were "converted" from "heathen" fisherman, farmers and hunters into "respectable" European-like "Christian men" - who served their masters.
- The Native Americans who were persuaded to barter their lands and sign worthless treaties by the well-educated "Christian" Europeans who wanted to spread their wealth.
- The Mexican people who were suppressed by the rich European "Christians" who brought an end to their "heathen" practices and enslaved them to serve their culture.
NO FLAGS IN THE CHURCH
When St. Paul begins his letter to the Corinthians - he calls them the "Church of God in Corinth," which reflects the true identity of the Church. Beyond nationalism, beyond ethnic, cultural, economic and social boundaries - the Church is "all who believe together," regardless of the geographic location.
Jesus said to "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations," (Matt. 28:19) He did not say go and make all disciples of this nation.
BUILD INTO PEOPLE NOT BUILDINGS
The voice said "Money is not the problem."
Perhaps we don't need to give people things like buildings and western-style educations so that they can become like us. Perhaps we ought to focus on trying to help them restore and retain dignity in their own world. Help them to find their own way - instead of trying to force them, albeit by kindness, to ours.
In the meantime, there's no harm in providing a temporary financial solution - but let's not fool ourselves into believing that cash is all it takes.
2 comments:
Marty, you have a wonderful facility for putting things into the correct perspective!!
Thanks.
Having experienced the "cash and zeal up front but no staying power ministry thing" I think "giving" is often indeed a well intended but subtle quick fix for Western American prosperity guilt and the inner ego desire to pat ourselves on the back for being such good, compassionate people in spite of our relative wealth. Not ALL Christians are called to "hands on ministry" nor to radical financial giving for that matter. It is one thing to respond to a pitiful appeal based on a need and another to respond to a well planned and solidly thought out ministy. If we throw money at something and build a hospital, but there are no committments beyond the startup staff and funding, what good have we done but waste money that could have gone to an established, staffed and working organization.
Good post, Marty.
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