This morning I received an email with a challenge from Linda Harvey Kelley, a long-time missionary friend.As I thought about the critical question posed and the response needed, I realized it was really one that reflected worldview.
The question came from a book Linda was reading.Let me share it with you.
"Tamar Myers was born and raised in the Belgian Congo (now just the Congo). Her parents were missionaries to a tribe which, at that time, were known as headhunters and used human skulls for drinking cups. Hers was the first white family ever to peacefully coexist with the tribe." p. 309
This MK says on p. 197 "...it was still greed. That's what really ran the world, wasn't it? Greed for money, greed for power, greed for the most converts. Hitler, Rockefeller, missionaries ~ the one thing they all had in common was numbers. The more countries you conquered, the larger your bank account, the more souls you saved, the greater your reward in heaven. More, more, more. That's all anybody really wanted."
Then Linda threw out this challenge: “I would like to hear your response, if you are willing to respond to her words, published just this year. Thanks.”
Since this question about “what really ran the world” and the suggested answer of “greed” is such an important and provocative one, I decided to share my response with anyone who cared to listen.
So here goes…
“Linda - an interesting thought.I think the real question here is not 'numbers' but 'motive' and the defining attitude not always 'greed' but sometimes 'passion'.
Passion can drive one just as much as greed, and when the motive is noble, honest, humane, and divinely inspired, it cannot be greed because it is not centered on self.”
But then my mind carried me further to the more pressing issue at hand.The issue for me was no longer an opinion someone had, but the fact that the opinion was so contrary to what it should have been.So I wrote:
“Sadly, it appears that Tamar Myer never had parents or other missionaries who modeled that infectious element called passion or some circumstance in life has clouded her perception and caused her to see everything through the lens of self.
What a challenge to all of us with passion and kids!”
Statistics everywhere point to an increasing number of children and young adults intentionally leaving the faith of their family at home.Reasons given vary widely, but clearly authenticity is at the heart of the debate.
I believe that authentic relationships with Jesus Christ promote passionate, selfless living. But what makes the critical difference on how our children embrace Jesus Christ is when our authentic faith is coupled with a genuine passion for them… as well as helping them see a bigger world in need of Jesus.
May God help us work with passion to win our own children and all the rest who don’t have any authentic Christians in their lives.
RENEWANATION is committed to offering every child a Christian worldview.
