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True Dough

(20,005 posts)
Sat Jul 13, 2019, 05:03 PM Jul 2019

Why So Many Christians Want to Go On Mission Trips to Help Kids But Don't Want Them Here

Why do we want to go on mission trips to Honduras or El Salvador and help those poor children but we don’t want to let those same children fleeing for their lives come into our country?

Here’s my answer: letting them come in, live near us, become citizens, and share in our resources requires more than a narrow, circumscribed version of acting good. We feel great about ourselves when we send out Samaritan’s Purse boxes. We helped feed hungry kids! But what happens when the hungry kids come to us? What happens when they have no way to support themselves but their parents have chosen to flee here so that they don’t starve or get murdered? A box isn’t going to do it.

Tell me this: Why does that choice they’ve made to come offend us? Because we’re all so committed to following every law? Seeking asylum is legal in our country. We have a history of desperate people escaping to our country. My ancestors did. Did yours?

<snip>

I understand why people get excited about a short-term trip but shudder at the thought of wading in with undocumented people. I promise, if you commit yourself to doing something about this cruelty and abuse, you’ll be forced to face your own limits. I mean both the limits of your power and the limits of your generosity and goodness. What do you want to give up to offer someone else a better life? Is your comfort worth the chance of alleviating someone’s suffering? It may cost you and not work. Up for that?


https://relevantmagazine.com/culture/global-culture/why-so-many-christians-want-to-go-on-mission-trips-to-help-kids-but-dont-want-them-here/
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Why So Many Christians Want to Go On Mission Trips to Help Kids But Don't Want Them Here (Original Post) True Dough Jul 2019 OP
many missionaires want recruits as notches on their bibles, not human beings nt msongs Jul 2019 #1
Just the money spent on the plane ticket could feed a family for a year Major Nikon Jul 2019 #3
I attended a lecture once from a doctor who worked with charity organizations Aristus Jul 2019 #2
Slacktivist and Libby Ann, both at patheos, have discussed this several times bobbieinok Jul 2019 #4
Or don't want to help Americans in need? KatyaR Jul 2019 #5
I have relatives who have done this. Building LuckyLib Jul 2019 #6

Major Nikon

(36,899 posts)
3. Just the money spent on the plane ticket could feed a family for a year
Sat Jul 13, 2019, 05:19 PM
Jul 2019

It’s not about actually helping anyone but themselves.

Aristus

(68,189 posts)
2. I attended a lecture once from a doctor who worked with charity organizations
Sat Jul 13, 2019, 05:17 PM
Jul 2019

to provide medical care in trouble spots around the world. It wasn't Doctors without Borders, but same idea.

He says he frequently works alongside 'Christian' missionaries whose only real concern on the missions is getting a 'kid photo', before they leave; a pic of the smiling white missionary surrounded by happy, grateful, brand-new Christian kids from the local population.

He practically spat in disgust when related how they just do that to have something to hang on their wall and congratulate themselves for their 'good works', or to juice up a CV for a career in evangelical organizations.

bobbieinok

(12,858 posts)
4. Slacktivist and Libby Ann, both at patheos, have discussed this several times
Sat Jul 13, 2019, 06:14 PM
Jul 2019

Slacktivist went from fundamentalist to progressive Christian

Libby Ann went from being homeschooled in fundamentalist church to atheist

KatyaR

(3,525 posts)
5. Or don't want to help Americans in need?
Sat Jul 13, 2019, 06:19 PM
Jul 2019

We have so much need in this country, but they'd rather go somewhere else.

LuckyLib

(6,886 posts)
6. I have relatives who have done this. Building
Sat Jul 13, 2019, 07:59 PM
Jul 2019

latrines in _______, bringing supplies to somewhere in Africa or Central America. It makes them feel pious. Their naïveté made me sick. No effort to read about the countries or the history of American involvement in the region.

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