Why So Many Christians Want to Go On Mission Trips to Help Kids But Don't Want Them Here

[True Dough]

Why do we want to go on mission trips to Honduras or El Salvador and help those poor children but we don’t want to let those same children fleeing for their lives come into our country?

Here’s my answer: letting them come in, live near us, become citizens, and share in our resources requires more than a narrow, circumscribed version of acting good. We feel great about ourselves when we send out Samaritan’s Purse boxes. We helped feed hungry kids! But what happens when the hungry kids come to us? What happens when they have no way to support themselves but their parents have chosen to flee here so that they don’t starve or get murdered? A box isn’t going to do it.

Tell me this: Why does that choice they’ve made to come offend us? Because we’re all so committed to following every law? Seeking asylum is legal in our country. We have a history of desperate people escaping to our country. My ancestors did. Did yours?

<snip>

I understand why people get excited about a short-term trip but shudder at the thought of wading in with undocumented people. I promise, if you commit yourself to doing something about this cruelty and abuse, you’ll be forced to face your own limits. I mean both the limits of your power and the limits of your generosity and goodness. What do you want to give up to offer someone else a better life? Is your comfort worth the chance of alleviating someone’s suffering? It may cost you and not work. Up for that?

https://relevantmagazine.com/culture/global-culture/why-so-many-christians-want-to-go-on-mission-trips-to-help-kids-but-dont-want-them-here/

[msongs]

1. many missionaires want recruits as notches on their bibles, not human beings nt

[Major Nikon]

3. Just the money spent on the plane ticket could feed a family for a year

It’s not about actually helping anyone but themselves.

[Aristus]

2. I attended a lecture once from a doctor who worked with charity organizations

to provide medical care in trouble spots around the world. It wasn't Doctors without Borders, but same idea.

He says he frequently works alongside 'Christian' missionaries whose only real concern on the missions is getting a 'kid photo', before they leave; a pic of the smiling white missionary surrounded by happy, grateful, brand-new Christian kids from the local population.

He practically spat in disgust when related how they just do that to have something to hang on their wall and congratulate themselves for their 'good works', or to juice up a CV for a career in evangelical organizations.

[bobbieinok]

4. Slacktivist and Libby Ann, both at patheos, have discussed this several times

Slacktivist went from fundamentalist to progressive Christian

Libby Ann went from being homeschooled in fundamentalist church to atheist

[KatyaR]

5. Or don't want to help Americans in need?

We have so much need in this country, but they'd rather go somewhere else.

[LuckyLib]

6. I have relatives who have done this. Building

latrines in _______, bringing supplies to somewhere in Africa or Central America. It makes them feel pious. Their naïveté made me sick. No effort to read about the countries or the history of American involvement in the region.