Mission trips: What we’re doing wrong and how to get it right

As a Christian, I’ve done my fair share of short-term mission work…local community projects, hurricane relief in New Orleans, half a year spent in Thailand. And I never once questioned whether I should go.

But now I’m also a student of International Human Rights. And as I research and read and consider the needs that exist in the world and the ways that have proven effective for addressing those needs, I’m not convinced the Church’s current model of short-term missions is the best way to solve the issues.

Love, for the day is near

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not covet,’ and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in one rule: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.” {Romans 13:8-11}

Up to this point in Romans, Paul has been making the case to the Jews that the Gentiles are accepted into the Christian faith, into covenant living. The Jews are upset because they, the chosen people, have been obeying the Law for their entire lives – the Law code given to Moses, the Law code that had been the basis of their salvation. The Law was everything, and they were good at obeying it. But now, in the post-Messianic times, this Law code was no longer the way to God. Because Jesus came, lived a perfectly sinless life, and died that we might be saved, the Law code was rendered useless.

A challenge for a new week

I have been convicted recently of not living out the words written at the top of this blog.

Of not being a breath of fresh air.

Of not leaving others better for having interacted with me.

Of having a less than stellar attitude.

O death, where is your sting?

Risen Christ, conquerer of death, atoning Lamb,

It was finished in your final breath heaved from the cross, the sky darkening and the earth shaking as grace poured out from your broken body. And today, Easter, you step out from that grave, holes in your hands and a scar on your side, proclaming victory over death. Declaring your defeat of the one who held your people captive.

You live, and we are redeemed.