tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2000755552695418710.post3928687411364356784..comments2013-03-27T20:43:17.585-04:00Comments on Diamonds and Rust: A Failure to Understand?Alistair Reecehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15929927359428659775noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2000755552695418710.post-38415239740691074062010-03-30T04:11:11.768-04:002010-03-30T04:11:11.768-04:00how did it take me so long to read this? you flatt...how did it take me so long to read this? you flatter, dear friend, but it makes me feel good.<br /><br />I agree with your premise, however, that we "missionaries" act with much arrogance and patronization. It's hard, though, to really understand how to help without creating dependency, to teach without just enforcing what we've been taught. And God knows I don't do it perfectly. (I usually try to avoid the whole problem by keeping my effing opinion to myself...although that leads me into the inverse sin of passivity...) And I have to give credit to my dear friends in Africa for any "real" understanding I have of this stuff...<br /><br />For me, as for many with whom I've worked, the primary goal is not to change the culture, but to BE changed myself, and that by believing the gospel ever more deeply. I DO believe that if the changes in me are attractive, or positively-challenging, or life-bringing, then others will be intrigued and want to know more, and that THAT may in turn change the culture. Maybe. IF others want that kind of change. <br /><br />In Christian-ese we call that "fruit", but i like to point out to my Christian-y friends that we can't "manufacture" fruit, we can only "produce" it from powers outside of us. We shouldn't stifle the fruit, and we can encourage it, give it a healthy place to grow, but I can't MAKE it happen. (And such is the primary obstacle to the gospel - I can't MAKE change happen, I have to give up control for the process to work...) Anyway, I HOPE that if others are attracted or intrigued by my life - even if it's just how such a screwed up, "normal" guy can still find/offer peace, forgiveness, joy, love, etc... - that they'll be free to ask about it. Then it's up to them to decide if it's something they want to explore too.<br /><br />As a way of explanation, I like to call what I (very imperfectly) do "incarnational living" - that is, living as though it were Jesus living here. Not in the over-simplistic WWJD bracelet kind of thing, but actually asking "HOW would Jesus live, if he had MY gifts, MY opportunities, MY frailties, MY context..." And then to hold STRONGLY to the fact that Jesus came to serve those who refused to understand him or appreciate him, to die for the good of his enemies, to offer friendship and love to those who day-by-day rejected him. Am I doing THAT in my culture? Am I practicing these two things, living in the tension? Then I'm living like Jesus would.<br /><br />Anyway Al, your topic was missionary arrogance, and I've seen that a-pleanty. But I know that MY eyes are too fettered to really know what changes are ACTUALLY best for some other culture. So I'm really, um, proud of my humble approach to culture!<br /><br />(if anybody out there wants to chew me out here, or to respond in any capacity, ask Velky Al, and he has my permission to give you my contact info...)PhotogMarkhttp://www.blackgecko.cznoreply@blogger.com