OTR 2 Decision Making
My first class at Moody Graduate School was Theology of Missions. I wrote a paper in that class titled “Decision Making For Missions Involvement: A Biblical, Rational Process For Considering Family Issues.” I wrote that paper almost four years ago. In this episode I read and discuss the paper. This is the intro to the paper.
On June 13, 1793 William Carey packed up his family and sailed to India as a missionary to the heathens of that land. In his lifetime in India, he was incredibly productive in many areas, from botany to Bible translation. And today he is known as the “Father of Modern Missions (George, xvii).” But in the process of this great and eternally significant work, his first wife, Dorothy, went insane. This raises the question should Carey have “passed the baton” onto someone else and taken his wife home to England?
Carey’s situation illustrates a conflict that many missionaries must resolve. From a biblical perspective, there is an undeniable responsibility to one’s family (1 Tim 5:8). And in particular, there is what should be an unbreakable bond in marriage (Gen 2:24). But we are also supposed to put God first in our lives (Luke 14:26). And in fact our purpose for living is to bring glory to God. “All of us are saved for a reason: so that we might glorify God for His mercy (Sjogren, 15).”This conflict can be very difficult to resolve. One may feel as if he must choose between God and his family. This article provides an integrated hermeneutic of the verses referenced above and provides a framework for decision-making regarding missions involvement. The goal is to provide a biblical, wisdom based, and guilt free process for resolving the God Family Conflict (GFC). In particular, the decisions to “go” and to “go home” are discussed.
Music
- Just Like Peter by Breath of Fresh Air
- Family by Jonathan Roberts
December 27th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
[…] Here’s the paper I talk about in the latest podcast. […]