Indigenous missionary organizations are those that solicit funds to support native evangelists in foreign mission fields. A native missionary, they say, can bear more fruit than his foreign counterpart because he already knows the language and culture of the people he serves. He’s one of them, so they’re likely to accept the gospel message more readily from him than from an outsider.
Sadly, though, some Christians are reluctant to support indigenous missionaries. They’d rather support foreign missionaries. Specifically, they prefer to support people from their own homeland, sent into the mission field by their own denominational organizations. That way, they know “their” missionaries are preaching “the right doctrine.” A question these Christians commonly ask about indigenous missionaries is, “How do I know if they believe the same way I do?”
Apostle Paul’s Response
There’s a difference between faith and the way we express our faith. All Christians are united by our faith in Jesus. There is only “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Eph. 4:5), but there are many ways by which we can express that faith.
The 14th chapter of Romans gives us Paul’s teaching on judgmentalism and Christian liberty. We’re allowed great latitude in how we choose to express our faith, as long as our expression of faith doesn’t become a stumbling block to other Christians. In verse 22, Paul encourages us to follow our consciences in expressing our faith.
“Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.”
It’s clear that in this verse Paul isn’t talking about the “one faith” of Ephesians 4:5. Rather, he’s referring to how we express that faith. We can eat, or abstain from eating, as a way of expressing our faith. We can observe, or decline to observe, holy days for the same reason. “Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind” (Rom. 14:3).
The “one faith” doesn’t consist in the manners by which we express it. We should keep this truth in mind when considering whether to support indigenous workers in the mission field.
The “One Faith” Is All That Matters
“How do I know if they believe the same way I do?” The short answer is, they probably don’t. Most native missionaries don’t know, or don’t care, about the finer points of doctrine which distinguish Baptists from Methodists, or fundamentalists from modernists.
And it doesn’t matter whether they do or not.
What matters is that they believe the simple gospel of Jesus Christ. They believe that Jesus loves us all, and that he died to save us from our sins and reconcile us to God. That’s the only Christian teaching many of them have ever heard, and they believe it fervently enough to dedicate their lives in obedience to it.
That’s all God asks of them. That should be good enough for us as well.
About Michael Tully
Michael Tully and his wife Janis live near Denton, Texas, and are servants of the church of Jesus Christ in that community. They’re the parents of one grown son. Michael led a weekly Bible study with other thoughtful adults for many years, but only recently began sharing his perspectives with the online Christian community. In his blog, It Ain’t for Sissies, he explores the problems and opportunities of bringing the message of Christ to a world that desperately needs it, but doesn’t want to hear it.
Support them
Amen
Often when we encounter those different from us we are curious. This natural tendency should awaken the joy of learning. If we also find a fellow follower of Christ how much we enrich our faith and life! People hear The Word in many ways. Embracing the faithful is the way of our Lord. He always taught this. Let us believe His way. Not “our way”.
Absolutely support them! GOD ALONE is the author AND finisher of our faith.
We support the MUSLIM brotherhood so why not. I say YES!!!!
prepping is a life stile !!!!
prepping is a life stile !!!!
Thank you Michael.
This is the heart of our Indigenous Ministry (HIMAfrica and HIMIndia – Helping Indigenous Ministries in Africa/India). The Simple Gospel that God became MAN in Christ Jesus and died for our sins to reconcile us to God is what we are able to fellowship in. Believe this and have eternal life. Amen. Our next step as a ministry is to then facilitate Bible training for indigenous pastors and leaders. Most of these that I have met in both Africa and India desire the training but do not have access to schools because of distance and/or finances. This is where we come in with our “particular” view of the Faith and teach the Word of God providing teaching materials and a method of discipleship to enhance the spread of the Gospel. We keep it basic and then help those that want to further that training by providing more in-depth Bible teaching seminars. We also will help them to find schools that facilitate distance-learning or provide scholarships, etc.
You are spot on with the message we need to get out to the Western Church. Let’s support our brothers and sisters around the world to facilitate the Gospel message. 1 John 3:16-18
God Bless You!
Jeff Hawkins
http://www.HIMAfrica.com
Dear Beloved
Greetings to you in the name of our Lord Savior Jesus Christ.
My name is Rev.P.Devadanam working as an Evangelist among the Non Christians and rural areas.Good Samaritan Baptist Ministries (GSBM). has started in 1995.We small ministry in India.
We are doing our services independently. So please remember our ministry and to give co-operation and your prayer support for us.
Now we are working in Krishna district Andhrapradash and more then 50 villages. In
these villages we have to Orphans Home,Elderly home, Evangelism and plant churches. In these villages all people
are belonged to very poor.
Thank you,
Rev.P.Devadanam