Courage and Curiosity

On December 31, 2011July 5, 2014 By missionmusingsIn Education, Parables/Allegories1 Comment

My son is now a college student studying Psychology. Today he said to me, “You know Dad, I was a reading an article that said that children ask a lot of questions but that as they move on into adolescence and beyond, they ask far fewer questions. I don’t know. I think I’m different. I really enjoy asking question.”

I couldn’t argue with that.

He continued, “I remember the exact time that I realized that it was great to ask questions. Do you know when that was?” I had no idea. “One day when I was very young, we were waiting in our van in the parking lot and I asked you, ‘Dad, if I stir hot water in a cup, will it heat up or cool down?’ You said, ‘Joel, that is a very interesting and very intelligent question.” Then you went into a story about that question, followed by an attempt to answer the question. I really did not understand much of the answer you gave, but I decided that day that asking questions is really awesome.”

I remember that day now. He was just a little kid… far too young to know about the Laws of Thermodynamics. When he asked the question, I could have said,

A) “Son, you are much too young to understand the answer.”

B) “Son, why would you want to know that?”

C) “Son, I’m tired. Don’t bother me now.”

D) “Look it up yourself.”

E) “I don’t know.”

I suppose I could have could have given him any of those answers. On a bad day, I might have done just that. Happily, I chose a better option that day.

This is what I said, “Joel, that was a very interesting and intelligent question. Let me tell you why. Years ago, I was attending Naval Nuclear Power School. One of the instructors was telling me about the day he was trying to be accepted into the Nuclear Navy as an officer. He went through a couple of interviews and then he had to be interviewed by Admiral Hyman G. Rickover the father of the US nuclear submarine program. So he was guided into an office with a little old man behind a big desk. He stood at attention and Rickover just ignored him while stirring his coffee. After an uncomfortable silence, finally the admiral said, “So, I have been stirring this coffee for awhile now. Has my stirring it heated it up or cooled it down?” The young man had no idea, but started talking about the action of stirring adding thermal energy to the coffee, heating it up. However, the action also increased natural convection and reduced boundary layer effects, which should increase cooling. At the end of his talk about the coffee cup he gave some answer that he hoped was right. That was the only question the admiral asked him… just told him to leave. He never did find out if he got the question right, but he was approved to be a nuclear power officer. So Joel, I am not sure the answer to your question either. But I can tell you this. It is a very interesting and intelligent question.”

Around New Years, people go around with HAPPY New Years, or PROSPEROUS New Years, or BLESSED New Years. I won’t wish you any of those things. I will wish you this:

Have a COURAGEOUS and CURIOUS New Years.

In Christianity, we often squelch questions. Some questions express doubt and doubt is bad, correct? Some questions question God, and we should never question God, isn’t that right? Some questions may express moral weakness, so maybe you should ask less and pray or read your Bible more, right? Some questions are not answerable, and aren’t questions that cannot be answered a waste of time? Some questions challenge the knowledge, wisdom, and authority of experts, and who are you to make such a challenge? <Yes…I am speaking or typing ironically here.>

I don’t believe that at all. Strong faith is faith that is challenged and questioned. God seems to appreciate a good question, and doesn’t appear to mind even a bad question. Questions provide opportunity for growth in a way that acts of piety may not. Questioning the wisdom of experts is needed for change and insight. Even when the experts are correct, the correctness cannot truly be appreciated unless it is first challenged.

Christian missions and the Christian life is not simply memorizing a catechism and following some set procedures. It is growing in relationship with a living God, living with a community of faith, and interacting with a broader society. Questions help us grow in these relationships in a healthy way.

So I wish for you to be curious. I hope that will lead you to ask questions. Be courageous enough to ask the questions that people will try to stop you from asking… those are often the best questions.

And I hope you will show mercy for those with questions. Peter in I Peter 3:15 and 16 gives good advice to give good answers with the right attitude. Squelching questions does not accomplish this.

Leadership & Curiosity (customerthink.com)
Why? (prpjm.wordpress.com)
The Power of Why: How Childlike Curiosity Can Inform and Inspire (psfk.com)
Encouraging Curiosity in Your Child (pagesla.wordpress.com)

Contemporary Issues in Missions

On December 30, 2011 By missionmusingsIn Mission Theology1 Comment

Here is a presentation I did a couple of years ago that looks at a lot of different issues in Christian Missions today. It is part of a 3-hour presentation, so each topic is handled pretty briefly. However, hopefully it still gives some food for thought.

<div style=”width:425px” id=”__ss_10446944″> <strong style=”display:block;margin:12px 0 4px”><a href=”http://www.slideshare.net/bmunson3/contemporary-issues-in-missions-1″ title=”Contemporary issues in missions 1″ target=”_blank”>Contemporary issues in missions 1</a></strong> <div style=”padding:5px 0 12px”> View more <a href=”http://www.slideshare.net/” target=”_blank”>presentations</a> from <a href=”http://www.slideshare.net/bmunson3″ target=”_blank”>Bob Munson</a> </div> </div>

A Walk Down Main Street

On December 29, 2011July 5, 2014 By missionmusingsIn EvangelismLeave a comment

Yesterday we were walking down Session Road, the “Main Street” of Baguio City. There were the normal crowds of walkers, strollers, and peddlers. It is kind of nice to find a bustling downtown when so many downtowns in the US have been destroyed by the automobile, suburban sprawl, and big box stores. Going further we periodically see beggars. Most are old, sitting barefoot or hunched over, head and eyes cast downward with a thin arm out with a disposable plastic cup in hand to receive coins. Others are handing out flyers for different things… commonly to buy a house or condominium, go to a certain restaurant, or to convert one to their religion. It is a lively place to be.

As we were walking down towards Burnham Park we started hearing yelling. At the top of some steps was a man holding up a large Bible. Behind him in a semi-circle were others dressed similarly holding up signs and Bibles. It was classic street preaching/evangelizing. They were wearing red shirts with a verse from the book of Romans on it. There were perhaps 15-20 people idly watching and others, like us, passing by with modest curiosity.

Going around the corner was a woman wearing the same red shirt. She was yelling at a young man leaning against a wall, standing up but still a bit curled up as if (perhaps) he wanted her to go away, but did not have the gumption to walk off. She sounded rather angry as she was saying “YOU GOT TO BE SAVED!! YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE IN JESUS!!”

We continued walking, but it gave me something to think about.

1. Is this method a good thing? I recall being in seminary and being told that one of the distinguishing characteristics of every “Revival Movement” has been open air preaching. I have always wondered about that. First, the great movement in China over the last few decades occurred with little to no open air preaching. The great church growth during the time of Antonine plague (for example) appeared to be triggered by the response of the church to suffering around them. Open air preaching appeared to have little to no connection. Even in cases where open air preaching clearly had a role (such as in the Great Awakening), was the open air component a universal or cultural characteristic? Perhaps it was a cultural characteristic since large public speaking events were popular back then and open air was a logistical necessity. I guess in the end, I am left with ambivalence. Clearly open air preaching can be useful in the right circumstances. But I have to doubt whether it has the magical quality ascribed to it by some who focus on it as engendering “revival.”

2. Is this evangelism? Evangelism is presentation of the good news of Christ in a way that can be understood and appreciated. Now suppose we accept this definition (hypothetically speaking). Then evangelism has an input component (divine revelation) and an output component (understood and appreciated). I believe both sides are important. If we only accept the second part (understood and appreciated) one can be left with an unhealthy pragmatism (whatever gets people to respond the way we want) springs up. Why not simply pay people to convert? I know of both Christians and Muslims doing this… if it works, how could it be wrong? Yet it could be wrong… and ultimately ineffective. On the other hand, one can picture the other extreme where presentation of the gospel is success in itself, regardless of the response. Anything that allows one to carry a message to another is justified. Why not hold someone at gunpoint and give them the message of the Gospel? If the message is given, who cares if it creates a positive response or an angry rejection?

I believe God cares.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not attacking this group. I don’t even know them. I was a bit surprised that the preaching was all in English, especially since all of the team members appeared to be Filipino. But I don’t know if they were a local group or a group that came on a short-term mission. They appeared to be (at least loosely speaking) Protestant. I don’t know if it is a heterodox group, orthodox group, or semi-orthodox group (all three groups are pretty common in the Philippines).

I do know that the group was loud, abrasive, and appeared kind of angry. The God they described sounded pretty unpleasant. (I do know that God has given us a choice between life and death, yet some evangelism methods seem to spend more time on God’s wrath than on His love and mercy.) Were they doing God’s work? I am sure they felt like they were? I don’t know. Were they effectively evangelizing– adorning the Gospel of Christ (as described in the book of Titus) or were they making the Gospel (and God) look ugly. Again I don’t know.

I really really really don’t know. Our group, Bukal Life Care (www.bukallife.org), focuses on psychoemotional care, and other types of ministry that could be described more as social ministry. Some would argue that we are failing to obey God since our normal methodology rarely includes a direct presentation of the gospel. Guilty as charged on that. Yet, because of our helping ministry, it is surprising how often people ask what group we are with, and what we believe. They actually appreciate that we work with a number of Christian groups (not just one) and that we focus on helping people understand God’s love. Very often we end up sharing the Gospel because we are asked to.

Is that better than trying to shove the Gospel down the throats of others? I think so. Those that argue otherwise like to quote verses talking about the power of God’s Word (sharper than any two-edged sword and not returning void). However, power without control can be more destructive than constructive. The power to harm and heal is in the instrument used… but being able to guide such power to heal instead of harm takes wisdom and skill.

I am not sure we all will ever agree. I am a BOTH/AND person in the area of ministry and evangelism, not EITHER/OR. However, I think it is important that we think about what we do and why. Much of the bumper sticker theology we are given for missions and evangelism seems to get people to do without meditation or reflection. “Just Do It” still demands “Do What? And How? And Why?”

Ethnographic Research #2

On December 27, 2011December 27, 2011 By missionmusingsIn Missions Research1 Comment

A method that is common and respected in the Philippines is Rapid Rural Assessment (or appraisal). It is used primarily for community development. It does not actually have to be “rural,” that is just its traditional setting. Additionally, it can be modified to where the researcher is not merely an outside. Rather the “researcher” is a partnership of outsiders and insiders. In this case it can be called a PRA, where the “P” stands for “participatory.” The presentation is definitely focused on the Philippines where the barangay structure is especially conducive to the methodology. However, any place where there is a strong sense of community, RRAs or PRAs can be done. RRA can be done where there is a weak sense of community, but it is more challenging. Another method is ABCD (Asset-Based Community Development) but I will leave that for another time, or for someone else.

<div style=”width:425px” id=”__ss_10665868″> <strong style=”display:block;margin:12px 0 4px”><a href=”http://www.slideshare.net/bmunson3/rapid-rural-assessment-in-the-philippines” title=”Rapid Rural Assessment in the Philippines” target=”_blank”>Rapid Rural Assessment in the Philippines</a></strong> <div style=”padding:5px 0 12px”> View more <a href=”http://www.slideshare.net/” target=”_blank”>presentations</a> from <a href=”http://www.slideshare.net/bmunson3″ target=”_blank”>Bob Munson</a> </div> </div>

Ethnographic Research #1

On December 27, 2011 By missionmusingsIn Missions Research3 Comments

In Missions Research, one can divide research into three broad categories: Literary Research, Quantitative Research, and Qualitative Research. Yes, these could be argued about and they do overlap, but let’s go with it for now. Qualitative Research involves development of new sources and data (unlike literary research) and deals with statements and concepts rather than numbers (unlike quantitative research).

There are different types of qualitative research. Arguably, the “Big 5” are Biography, Phenomenology, Case Study, Ethnography, and Grounded Theory. In my mind, the most valuable research in Missions are Ethnography and Grounded Theory (although popular, I see Case Study as being more useful for teaching than for actual research.

Ethnographic Research involves the description and analysis (qualitatively) of a culture, sub-culture, or micro-culture.

<div style=”width:425px” id=”__ss_10665845″> <strong style=”display:block;margin:12px 0 4px”><a href=”http://www.slideshare.net/bmunson3/ethnographic-research-how-to” title=”Ethnographic research: How To” target=”_blank”>Ethnographic research: How To</a></strong> <div style=”padding:5px 0 12px”> View more <a href=”http://www.slideshare.net/” target=”_blank”>presentations</a> from <a href=”http://www.slideshare.net/bmunson3″ target=”_blank”>Bob Munson</a> </div> </div>

The above describes in simple terms how to do ethnographic research, particularly within the Philippine context (although not limited to the Philippines).

TRYING to Reveal “Outline” of Christ Behind Every Christian

On December 26, 2011May 20, 2023 By missionmusingsIn Missional ChurchesLeave a comment

I have often said that if I had not been raised in a Christian family and raised in a Christian church I would never have become a Christian. Now don’t get me wrong, I would not have become a Buddhist, Hindu, Jew, Muslim, Mormon, or anything else either. I doubt I would become a hard-shelled atheist either, for to be one would entail a religious faith that I doubt I would be willing to commit myself to. I would probably have been an open agnostic. I would doubt whether God exists, doubt whether others really knew for sure, but would hope one day to know for sure.

I probably would not have become a Christian because, from the outside, I see:

-Angry, hypocritical Christians

-Christians more interested in politics than in those who are suffering

-Bigotted and anti-intellectual Christians

-Christians who compartmentalize and rationalize all sorts of foolishness

Because I was raised by godly Christian parents in a church that sought to follow Christ (however inadequately), I could see the good as well as the bad. Behind the layers of church-ishness (focus on attendance and money, decisions that center on member care, seeming interest in church growth simply for the sake of church growth) one could still see the outline of Christ… one who could be a model and guide worth seeking after.

But in Missions, one is commonly reaching out to people who have no positive experience with Christianity. Some have no experience with Christianity. Others have been soured to Christianity. What are some options? I don’t know. Here are a few:

1. Focus on NGOs. (sodality structures, ministry groups). Since churches generally welcome everyone and have a broad ministry range, they tend to have ministry that is somewhat mediocre and people of mixed motives and drive. Groups that are more limited in who are members and are more focused in ministry avoid this problem.

2. Create “un-churches”. This term simply describes all of the different ways people try to form groups that don’t look like churches. Some may be small groups. Some may be stylistically different from traditional churches. Some may see themselves as a “different kind of church” while others may not describe themselves as churches at all.

3. Revamped churches. The church stays essentially the same, but makes it look and feel more faddish or friendly to outsiders.

All of these have their place I suppose, but to me it kind of misses the point. The church is commonly not seen as a safe place to question and grow. Discipleship programs tend to focus more on quantity or exhuberance of traditional piety rather than on qualities of Christlikeness and love. Churches seek to pull people out of the community rather than inject them into the community. Leadership in the church is narrowly focused, usually, based on formal education and certification rather than Christlike qualities and humanity.

It seems to me that it is the character of the Christian that needs to change more than the style of the church. If the character of the Christian allowed people to see the outline of Christ (regardless of how faint that outline might be), the style and structure of the church would not need to be artificially changed. In fact, much of the changes would happen naturally, while other ones would not need to change since they would no longer hinder others from seeing the outline of Christ.

Perhaps I am being naive. But let me tell you this. Our Disaster Response Team is on route to Cagayan de Oro to provide chaplaincy crisis intervention for families of those who died and those who have been relocated due to flooding. They have given up time between Christmas and New Years to do this. Their flight was diverted to Davao due to bad weather. Now they waiting in a van to take the 10 hour drive during the night to Cagayan de Oro, risking foul weather and landslides to do this. This is Christlike behavior. Even though our group is an NGO, it could have been a church or any other type of group. The outline of Christ behind the Christian should not be hard to see regardless.

Also see the following:

Undecided About God

Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon

On December 23, 2011January 18, 2012 By missionmusingsIn Chaplaincy/CPE, Social/Medical Ministry1 Comment

English: Map of Misamis Oriental showing the l... — Image via Wikipedia

“Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon” (Happy Christmas and Prosperous New Year) to everyone.

While statements such as this may be thought trite, it is important.

Our group, Bukal Life Care & Counseling Center (www.bukallife.org) is sending a disaster response chaplaincy team to Cagayan de Oro in Northern part of the island of Mindanao. Storm flooding has resulted in over 1000 deaths, and tens of thousands in temporary shelters, this December.

For people in this part of the Philippines, it is difficult to tell them Maligayang Pasko (Happy Christmas), it is difficult to wish them Manigong Bagong Taon (Prosperous New Year).

Our team is traveling down to Mindanao December 26-30 to help them ventilate, and prepare to look hopefully into the future. Our team is also training local churches to effectively minister in their communities.

But let’s be honest. Tossing out a happy greeting to people during the holidays is easy. But taking time to help people find some measure of joy and hope in a time of emotional and physical devastation is true to the Holiday Season.

As important as it is to “remember the reason for the season,” Christ came to to bring joy and hope to poor sheepherders in the hills, a struggling Samaritan woman, the physically handicapped, the poor, the rejected, and the sorrowing.

We truly celebrate Christmas and bring in the New Year when we bring that same joy and hope to others. I pray you have this joy and hope… but don’t keep it to yourself.

Yep, Another Presentation. Integrated Steps of Learning

On December 20, 2011December 20, 2011 By missionmusingsIn EducationLeave a comment

<div style=”width:425px” id=”__ss_10599274″> <strong style=”display:block;margin:12px 0 4px”><a href=”http://www.slideshare.net/bmunson3/integrative-steps-of-learning” title=”Integrative Steps of Learning” target=”_blank”>Integrative Steps of Learning</a></strong> <div style=”padding:5px 0 12px”> View more <a href=”http://www.slideshare.net/” target=”_blank”>presentations</a> from <a href=”http://www.slideshare.net/bmunson3″ target=”_blank”>Bob Munson</a> </div> </div>

Presentation. Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership (book summary)

On December 17, 2011 By missionmusingsIn Christian Leadership3 Comments

Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership

View more presentations from Bob Munson

MMM — Mission Musings

Month: December 2011

Courage and Curiosity

Top 10 Posts in 2011

Contemporary Issues in Missions

A Walk Down Main Street

Ethnographic Research #2

Ethnographic Research #1

TRYING to Reveal “Outline” of Christ Behind Every Christian

Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon

Yep, Another Presentation. Integrated Steps of Learning

Presentation. Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership (book summary)

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