The Peculiar Notion of Missionaries


I have had two missionaries among the generation that preceded mine. I knew one of them who was passionate about his job. 

A generation ago, those in the pews put large amounts of money in the plate to support missionaries. The link talks of a conference in 1900 that attracted a huge number and where the speeches were covered in newspapers across the U.S. It now appears that was the pinacol of the missionary movement. 

For some reason, it was not possible to realize that the period of colonization was a period of forcing people to leave their indigenous religion and adopt another by force. Certainly, that was what happens here on our own soil to native people. Around the world the same thing happened. Once in a while someone says, "God has the power to tell people he is here. Why do we need missionaries?" 

Fortunately, mainline churches are slowly pulling back from funding missionary work. If the goal is to reach the "unchurched," the opportunity is here in this country. I would guess more missionary work here in the U.S. will be unsuccessful, but if it has to be done somewhere why not on the home front.

All this said, there is still a large missionary effort funded here in the U.S. and spent around the world. Apparently, it will require more years for the faithful to realize this is folly.

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