It's been rainin' for a few days which makes the farmers happy--the rain plumps up the grass seed but at this stage doesn't knock it off the stalks--and to the great relief of us allergees the rain has settled the pollen. No more scratchy throat and gagging, and much less wheezing and coughing.
Different subject: why is it that so often pioneer missionaries are not nice people? I was asked, along with a few other people, to give a book report at church tomorrow evening on a missionary or great Christian or someone similar.
So I've been reading "But God Hath Chosen" by Margaret Epp, a biography of John and Mary Dyck who were Mennonite missionaries to Colombia in the 1940's and 50's, and who died in a plane crash in the mid-50's.
Mr. Dyck was one of these impulsive, determined, bombastic, passionate souls who went blazing into danger like it was a sparkling swimming pool on a hot day.
I have read lots of missionary biographies and somehow the famous trailblazing missionaries all fit this mold. CT Studd, William Carey, Stan Dale, and so a long list goes on.
What's worse, it seems these men treated their wives like dirt. The wives could be pregnant, sick, lonely, and discouraged, and still the men go off down the river for three months to reach more tribes.
On the one hand I'm impressed with their dedication and what they accomplished. I have to admit the numbers and statistics are impressive. On the other hand I get so annoyed at them, even with the biographers sugar-coating their behavior, that I find it hard to see the things they got right.
I realize it takes a special kind of person to take the Gospel to unreached people. But is it impossible for this kind of person to somehow just be NICE?
Quote of the Day:
"You might as well just love him."
--Jenny, after Ben explained how the football got lodged in the middle of my hanging plant
May I add to that question.
ReplyDeleteIt would seem to me that these trailblazing men would then also marry a sturdy determined woman, with like passions etc. and they would go off into the jungle together or something like that. It would be what a local business magazine would call a "power couple"--together they accomplish significantly more. But no they don't. One case in point, David Livingstone, he left his wife in England, while he went tromping all over Africa. They marry someone who doesn't have their same passion and or someone who is at times weak-willed but often sensitive and quiet, meek and mild and very submissive.
Why don't these trailblazing men marry someone a bit more sturdy?
Very interesting observation. Actually another case to prove your point is Bob Pierce, founder of World Vision. I've known a few of the 'trailblazers' and I wouldn't describe them as 'not nice' but a bit week on the family side of things. Mary H
ReplyDeleteyeah. we discussed william carey in missiology at bmabi... and i got pretty torqued a couple times. it's hard to respect them sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI actually "know" of a modern day missionary that is kinda like you described. I do think that their 1st duty is toward their family and if they don't do that...the rest doesnt amount to much. They can get so carried away saving people (which in itself is the right thing to do) that they forget and neglect their wife and children.
ReplyDeleteI think that point is even Biblical. :)
Since the person you mention specifically, died in the 50's, I'm wondering if part of it is just how many men were then. Sadly, my observation is that some men still confuse submissive with doormat.
ReplyDeleteWess Stafford of Compassion International is an exception to the rule: he's a missions-minded man who is determined to serve his family first. I just finished reading his book, "Too Small to Ignore" and was thoroughly pleased. He was abused as a child while on the mission field with his family in Africa, and has overcome much to help children around the world. Wow!
ReplyDelete