March 20, 2014
World View
One of my college classes requires interviewing missionaries
and asking about the “world view” of the country where they are serving. One
missionary said, “It is the United States that has an interesting world view;
they think they rule over everything.” He laughed, “Americans even think they
can change the weather!” I chuckled at the global warming reference. The
missionary continued with other examples of American innovations such as
creating air conditioning because they’re too hot and central heating because
they’re too cold. Other cultures live within their environment, but people in
America are always trying to control their environment. I suppose we do have to
give Americans credit for taking the Genesis account literally. “Then God said,
“Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish
of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth,
and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” (Gen 1:26 NIV)
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1 comment:
Gail;
-----Thank you for tying that missionary’s accusations to the right hitching post. I speculate what gets into missionaries’ heads and creates these bad attitudes towards the USA might be a deeply subconscious and perpetual effort to make us feel so guilty that we turn loose of some of our money for their use. However gloriously these funds might be used, creating subtle misimpressions to get them is not right.
-----For a short period, our minds were freed from the mental task masters who required ideological homage be paid to the ideas of the ruling classes. We were allowed and encouraged to pay homage to the ideas and beliefs of our individual circumstances and family backgrounds. Most of us, coming from stock which knew the Lord, knew the Lord’s ways. The Bible is full of praise and honor for hard work and diligence and knowledge and persevering unto overcoming. Casting our minds towards a God who glories in the works of His hands, we would respect the works of ours. And giving our hearts to a God who desires the joy and pleasure and well being of His own, we would diligently seek the betterment of every condition we could effect for our own. Is this not an element of godliness? Is it ungodly to want your children warm in the winter and not sweat-drenched in the summer? Was it wicked to create devices which would not only provide comfort, but would also provide thousands upon thousands of families sustenance for their survival through the industry of making, distributing, and maintaining comfort devices? Or would the missionary think it more godly to squat around in a loin cloth beating the sun-scorched, dusty ground with a stick until some “tasty” bug scares out?
-----I think we did very well as Americans. Our generosity has poured forth over the rest of the earth. Oh, for sure we have not given away the whole cupboard. That would be foolish, Mr. Missionary, because the cupboard is there for the most part to feed and nourish the ones responsible for keeping it stocked. Otherwise, we’re all outside beating the ground with a stick again.
-----America’s decline is not happening because of her comfort and wealth. It is happening because she is being led into bad ideas, foolish propositions, and deceitful self-abasement. She is being made to feel guilty about the fruits of her genius and hard work, to loathe the God who provided her genius and work ethic, and to scorn any remembrance of her actual goodness and generosity. Like termites, these subtle little propositions will certainly deplete the flooring under our feet. This missionary needs a punch line more faithful to whom we were and yet struggle to be. Most people I meet still thank God for the comforts of our lives, as do I.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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