A missionary friend emailed this to me.  Somehow American churches have gotten it wrong (not all of them but a great many)  It's not only those in Africa but other nations with poorer populations like, China and India.  My friend just recently got back from India.  He ministred in meetings everyday for a week.  The people were so hungry for the word of God.  This letter just makes me think about priorites



Fall 2003

Dear Marc,

Until you've lived outside the U.S. for awhile, you don't fully realize how upside down everything is. I caught a glimpse of it on short-
term trips, but I realize it fully now.

In America, things that are not at all important, are made to seem like they are very important. This is not just in the worldly culture
surrounding the Christian, it is in the Christian culture. Other things that are very important are made to seem like they are insignificant.

Okay, you are probably wanting examples right now. Entertainment for example. Americans are entertained to death by sports and
movies and TV and you name it. It is amazing how much of our society is consumed with entertainment. Entertainers make the
most money of anybody in our culture for a good reason. We are HUGE entertainment consumers. That huge endeavor adds very,
very little to anyone's life. In the final analysis, it has almost NO long-term value even in a temporal society. The rest of the world
sees America as basically a frivolous, entertainment society.

On the other hand, relationships and the time it takes to build them well, are completely ignored by almost everyone in American
society. We are in such a hurry to do all the unimportant things, that we don't have time for the one thing that will go into eternity
with us: other people.

Do you realize how hard it is to minister to people in America? You spend 90% of your time just trying to get people's attention.
Then the remaining 10% you try to minister to them. But do it quickly because they are checking their watch the whole time
and thinking of the other 10 things they have to do today.

In Africa, it is completely the opposite. People can't afford entertainment, they are trying to survive and put food on their
table, if they even own a table. But Africa is a relational society. They understand taking time to get to know each other. In Africa,
ministry is such a rewarding experience. You just show up and people are eager to listen.

Tonight I taught for the second week in a very poor church in a nearby squatter's camp. The whole church showed up. They
constantly want to know if I can possibly come more often and teach them the Bible. This is on the outskirts of the capital city
of Namibia, but it is like traveling around the world and depositing yourself into a tribal setting. These people are Kavango.

One of the couples who I gave a ride home after it was over, told me this: "We have been waiting and praying for years for someone
to come to teach us God's Word. The last two weeks have taught me so much, you are such a blessing to us to come all the way
from America to teach us about God." Marc, you can probably guess how many times I have heard someone in America say
something like that to me. That's right. NEVER. It happens every week over here.

When I would return from short-term missions trips, I would always commit to myself, that I was going to make fundamental lifestyle
changes. And then I found that it is almost impossible to lead a lifestyle that is swimming against the current of everything else in
your culture, your Christian culture. Rest is so important. It is a biblical standard. But Americans have absolutely no understanding
of rest. Africans understand rest.

And so I finally decided to move to a place where life is already right side up: where important things are still important and
unimportant things are unaffordable. And where you don't have to be a Public Relations expert to draw a crowd of eager learners
who will appreciate the gifts that God has given you to bless others.

Your brother in Christ...

Of course this hit home with me...Countess, when I have a little more time to think through this I will respond to this beautiful thought you started my day with!  In the meantime, thank you so much! 

DeeBunker....you sound pretty normal to me...our society and advertising encourages up to consume and spend, spend, spend if we want to feel good about ourselves. That being said simplifying and stepping off the beaten paths are hard choices. Stick too it!

If it's too good to be true..it is...we've all learned that the hard way through MLM's and that uphill battle you talk about....it will be worth every difficult step! You will feel so good simplifying your life. We are in the process of trying to lead a more simplified life too! Taking small steps along the way makes it easier. For us it's having a strong moral, social and environmental conscience is what drives our will to change.

Good Luck with your choice to simplify!

 

DeeB,  I agree with your priest.   Sometimes we can get caught up in the cares of the world and seeking the "finer things" that we fail to realize that our treasures are the people we love and share our lives with.  -  God loves People!

I totally agree.  It is a gradual process for me to simplify. 

I love jewelry.  I have promised myself that if I buy a new piece of jewelry, I have to donate an older piece to the thrift shop.  I have found a local vendor that sells beautiful jewelry, and I would much rather support a local person than a huge corporation.

But for me, getting rid of the "wants" is the most important thing in simplyfing.  How many times do you read about someone "who has it all" and still wants more?  I think it is because they are lacking the spiritual necessities in life that are so important.

Michelle

Yes, and the reason some people are working more is so that they can afford the "toys".  And by working more, they have less time to enjoy the "toys" let alone people. 

It is so sad that most Americans don't see the giant hamster wheel that they are on.  I for one am trying to jump off the hamster wheel so I can enjoy my life more. 

The thing you said about calling people -- I see more and more people with their cell phones, but I don't think that people are communicating more to each other.  I, too, have lost track of family members.  I am guilty of that for sure -- but they haven't tried to contact me either.  I guess I should be the one to make the first step.

Michelle

Do you realize how hard it is to minister to people in America? You spend 90% of your time just trying to get people's attention.
Then the remaining 10% you try to minister to them. But do it quickly because they are checking their watch the whole time
and thinking of the other 10 things they have to do today.

Unfortunately, church has become an afterthought today.  It is more important to get the kids to soccer practice, football games than it is to get them to Sunday school.
I witnessed this first hand as a Sunday school teacher.

Michelle

My question now would be:

What can we do to start to make things "right side" up?

Michelle