In a remote village, a young missionary in his missionary zeal went
to preach. In the village street, he spoke of the life of Jesus, His
works, His Compasssion with great enthusiasm. He noticed the villagers
nodding knowingly among themselves at his words. He did not understand their
expression and asked them about it. They said "We know this man you speak
about very well. He lives up in the mountains. Great person!"
They pointed to the mountains.
The young missionary was surprised. On making further enquiries he
found out that the villagers were speaking of an old doctor who had
been living in the mountains. The doctor, a Christian, had been a
kind hearted person who left his successful career in the city many
years ago to live with the poor. He had been serving the poor,
healing the sick and spreading love, all the while never speaking of
Jesus. He did not need to, his deeds spoke for him and those whom he
came in touch with, were touched by his witness, he witnessed the
Nazarene by his life - he truly did. His life reminded people of Christ.
"Christ-like" as in "Christian".
The young missionary learnt his greatest lesson in evangelization
that day.
Jesus had compassion for the lowly. The typical Missionary of today
has compassion too, but it has strings attached!
Jesus spread unconditional love, the typical Missionary will love,
but there are conditions!
Jesus walked with tax collectors and the prostitues, today's
missionary will walk with the lowly too, but just so that the photos
taken are sent to US and elsewhere, along with the contact address
and 1-800 numbers so that rich donors may loosen their purse strings!
Jesus instituted the Holy Qurbana and asked his followers to "do
this in remembrance of me". None of today's missionaries bring
people to participate in the Holy Liturgy(well you see, it is a long
and painful process, teaching about the Church, her teachings,
baptizing in the faith,confessing, then bringing them to accept the
Holy Qurbana, while it is much easier to say -- "You are saved" and
blame the church for all the problems.)
The Bible was made for the church, by the church. Today's missionary
holds the Bible high, but the church is not in his agenda.
Jesus argued his points in the temples, debating with the Teachers
and the Learned of the Law. Today's missionaries will seek out the
poorest of the poor, and reach there with food and medicine in one
hand, the bible in the other. Hungry and naked, ignorant of the
agenda of the missionary, the poor man will accept the bible, but is
that true conversion? Has a soul been truly won over? Or is it
called opportunism?
So -- are you for the Missionary or are you for Christ?
Regards,
Mathew Samuel,
Albany, NY
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/9330
to preach. In the village street, he spoke of the life of Jesus, His
works, His Compasssion with great enthusiasm. He noticed the villagers
nodding knowingly among themselves at his words. He did not understand their
expression and asked them about it. They said "We know this man you speak
about very well. He lives up in the mountains. Great person!"
They pointed to the mountains.
The young missionary was surprised. On making further enquiries he
found out that the villagers were speaking of an old doctor who had
been living in the mountains. The doctor, a Christian, had been a
kind hearted person who left his successful career in the city many
years ago to live with the poor. He had been serving the poor,
healing the sick and spreading love, all the while never speaking of
Jesus. He did not need to, his deeds spoke for him and those whom he
came in touch with, were touched by his witness, he witnessed the
Nazarene by his life - he truly did. His life reminded people of Christ.
"Christ-like" as in "Christian".
The young missionary learnt his greatest lesson in evangelization
that day.
Jesus had compassion for the lowly. The typical Missionary of today
has compassion too, but it has strings attached!
Jesus spread unconditional love, the typical Missionary will love,
but there are conditions!
Jesus walked with tax collectors and the prostitues, today's
missionary will walk with the lowly too, but just so that the photos
taken are sent to US and elsewhere, along with the contact address
and 1-800 numbers so that rich donors may loosen their purse strings!
Jesus instituted the Holy Qurbana and asked his followers to "do
this in remembrance of me". None of today's missionaries bring
people to participate in the Holy Liturgy(well you see, it is a long
and painful process, teaching about the Church, her teachings,
baptizing in the faith,confessing, then bringing them to accept the
Holy Qurbana, while it is much easier to say -- "You are saved" and
blame the church for all the problems.)
The Bible was made for the church, by the church. Today's missionary
holds the Bible high, but the church is not in his agenda.
Jesus argued his points in the temples, debating with the Teachers
and the Learned of the Law. Today's missionaries will seek out the
poorest of the poor, and reach there with food and medicine in one
hand, the bible in the other. Hungry and naked, ignorant of the
agenda of the missionary, the poor man will accept the bible, but is
that true conversion? Has a soul been truly won over? Or is it
called opportunism?
So -- are you for the Missionary or are you for Christ?
Regards,
Mathew Samuel,
Albany, NY
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/9330
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