aribell
formerly nicola.kirwan
I happen to be friends with a lot of Christians who want to be missionaries and Bible translators in other countries, all of whom are white. And without fail, I have had the same conversation with all of them about the same issue: Western Imperialism.
They all express concern about their ability to be a good missionary because they are afraid of imposing Western culture on the different peoples to whom they will be bringing the Gospel. I try to encourage them and tell them that I think they're making it too complicated. But I think that they are conscious of being white and the fact that they have been raised to believe that their way is culturally superior.
I can't help them with that personal dilemma, but it always leads me to ask whether black churches are involved enough in global missions. People who are minorities themselves don't learn to be culturally imperialistic and therefore should be better able to understand the difference between what is culturally contextual and what is essential to the Gospel. Moreover, given the history of Western colonialism, black missionaries can better relate as brothers and sisters instead of as former colonizers in some places.
Basically, given that seminaries all over are trying to figure out how to address this "problem" b/w white missionaries and indigenous peoples, I say more black churches should step in to do this work. (Of course black churches already do missions, but it's a question of degree.)
What do you think? Agree? Disagree? And is the "black church" in general outward focused enough to take up this call?
They all express concern about their ability to be a good missionary because they are afraid of imposing Western culture on the different peoples to whom they will be bringing the Gospel. I try to encourage them and tell them that I think they're making it too complicated. But I think that they are conscious of being white and the fact that they have been raised to believe that their way is culturally superior.
I can't help them with that personal dilemma, but it always leads me to ask whether black churches are involved enough in global missions. People who are minorities themselves don't learn to be culturally imperialistic and therefore should be better able to understand the difference between what is culturally contextual and what is essential to the Gospel. Moreover, given the history of Western colonialism, black missionaries can better relate as brothers and sisters instead of as former colonizers in some places.
Basically, given that seminaries all over are trying to figure out how to address this "problem" b/w white missionaries and indigenous peoples, I say more black churches should step in to do this work. (Of course black churches already do missions, but it's a question of degree.)
What do you think? Agree? Disagree? And is the "black church" in general outward focused enough to take up this call?