letters to billy, wrong motivaion #1

April 2, 2008

Dear Billy,

Sorry for the delay.  The last few days have been crazy busy.  We have had several visitors this past week from the states.  We had a whole lot of fun, but not much time to write.  However, I have been thinking a lot about it.  In fact, I had an experience that creates an interesting setting for your question about missionary motivation. 

Early into our first dinner together, over a big stack of pupusas, I was asked the question, “How did God call you into missions?”   It’s a question that always scares me more than a little.   Over the years, I have grown more skeptical of this inquiry because of the possible expectations of the listener.  Do people desire to hear a mystical answer, something Pauline that involves bright lights and audible voices?  Some might prefer to hear an analytical response about spiritual gifts and past experiences.  Both answers are valid and most of us end up with some kind of combination, but either way, I feel that my response may sometimes disappoint them.  It’s probably not going to be what they are looking for.  I am sure that I will not be able to put it all in a nice neat package that they can take home with them and apply to somebody else’s life.

Why does a person become a missionary?  What is the proper motivation for making this kind of radical life decision?  Messy questions can make for messy answers.

First, let’s deal with the negative side.  There are certain reasons for becoming a missionary that are certainly inadequate and maybe even downright dangerous.  No one should become a missionary just because they are floundering in their current way of life or profession.  The struggles of modern and post-modern life can sometimes cause someone to consider the ramifications of their life and its apparent emptiness.  This can be a positive experience that God uses in our spiritual formation. Difficulties can force all of us to evaluate our priorities and our investment of time and resources, but packing our bags and heading to Africa will not solve our issues.  

I remember someone telling me, “Wherever you go, there you are”.  Whatever character issue problems a person is encountering will only be magnified on the mission field.  It’s a lot like a clay pot that has yet to be put in the kiln.  It may look okay to the naked eye, but the real test comes when the necessary heat is applied.  That miniscule seemingly insignificant crack will explode into a serious crisis and the results could de disastrous.  In essence, no one should begin missionary life running away from something else.  We all need to deal with our issues as soon as we recognize that they are issues.   There are sufficient complications on the field without bringing a whole bunch of unsettled baggage.

There was a guy that I met several years ago here in Honduras.  He had experienced a great deal of trouble in the states.  His business was not doing well, his marriage was rocky and his two teenage girls were just hitting the really difficult years.  In his local church, where he was a leader, a visiting missionary shared the need for administrative personnel in his super-successful ministry.  This frustrated guy thought that this was the solution to his problems.  He thought that he had heard from God.  He decided to close his business and move to Honduras.  The extra time together with his wife away from his in-laws would improve their marriage and the move would miraculously rescue his teenagers by separating them from their dangerous friends.  You can only imagine the results.  After about a year of constant struggles, this well-intentioned brother and his shell-shocked family disappeared and we have never heard from them again.  I can only imagine that they are somewhere out there disillusioned, trying to figure out what went wrong.  I feel sorry for them.  They wanted to serve God on the mission field, but their twisted motives proved to be a recipe for disaster.  Somewhere along the way they should have received very loving and caring counsel.  Someone should have stopped them.

I’ll try and write tomorrow.  th