While looking over my previous blog entries, I was searching for a reoccurring theme. I hoped to find that common denominator within every post that would provide me with a topic for this blog audit. As I read, and re-read my entries, however, I came up with nothing. There was not one point to which I was continuously drawn back. Not one. The only reason these blog entries are related at all is because they are about missions, and more specifically Nazarene missions as recorded by the writers of The Other Sheep. Coming to this realization, I struggled with how to compose this recap blog, wondering how I could possibly tie everything together. I reread them again, with the understanding that I was not going to find a commonality, and it was during this read through, that I discovered a progression of thought. My blogs do not have one common theme, they can't. For the more I read about the history of Nazarene missions, the more my concept of cross-cultural missionary activity changed and developed. What began as a very simplistic perception, grew into a multi-faceted, complicated, wonder of sorts as I dove deeper and deeper into the many issues associated with cross-cultural missions.
My first blog entry, A Missional Christmas, was characterized by the simplistic, almost fantasized, view of cross-cultural missions. Discussing the Christmas season as a driving force behind missions, I painted a fairytale of missionary theology. However, it did not take long for my view of missions to suddenly become much less idealistic. Within my very next blog entry, I was caught off guard by the sharp cultural misunderstandings that characterized the speech of these Nazarene missionaries. Quoting one writer, I drew attention to the usage of the word "heathens" to describe people from various cultures. However, what really struck me regarding this language, was that it was not used as a criticism. It was said out of pity, out of a great expectation that God desired to save these people. It was this entry, entitled, Great Expectations and Cultural Misconceptions, that began my journey of attempting to understand all the complexities that surround cross-cultural missions. As much as I wanted to completely criticize their usage of the word heathen, I was struck by their seemingly pure motives. This was not the only time I struggled with a facet of cross-cultural missions that at first glance made me fairly upset, but as I took the time to truly look into it, realized that it was an issue that went much deeper than I could truly understand.
Both my blog regarding denominations, The Necessary Evil of Denominations, and my entry about Emotional Honesty, reveal this conflicted perception I was forming regarding missions. On one hand, I believe that denominations can create pride that only divides people, and on the other, I see them as completely necessary in order to provide organization and can see the wonderful work they are doing, especially in the field of missions. When it comes to the honesty of these missionary reports, I understand the desire to know that what is being written stays as true to the actual events as possible, however, I cannot help but see how important being able to read an account that is strewn with emotion truly is. Within both these entries, I could not truly come to a concrete answer of what I believed to be the best option.
Cross-cultural missions is complicated. It has been a calling I have felt on my heart since I was a little girl, but I am realizing that it is not as straightforward as I would’ve thought. By reading these accounts of Nazarene missionaries, I have learned that what may seem self explanatory at first glance is actually much more complicated. However, I have also learned that through all of these complex issues and topics, what truly matters is that the control is given to God and to God alone. This answer itself is one that is seemingly simple and yet so very complex, and therefore is the only one that can lead any missionary through the various issues found within cross-cultural missions.
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