Why should missionaries treat seemingly small Western markers of comfort as serious threats to fruitful ministry?
Hale warns that globalization tempts missionaries to maintain Western lifestyles abroad. When that drift continues unchecked, missionaries can become separated from the host culture in ways that quietly make ministry unfruitful.
Hale highlights Amy Carmichael as a vivid illustration. An elderly woman appeared near conversion, but during the conversation, she noticed Amy’s gloves and asked about them. Amy could not redirect the woman’s attention back to the gospel. Amy’s response was decisive: she never wore gloves again. She explained, “I never again risked so very much for the sake of so very little” (Hale, On Being a Missionary, 239).
I never again risked so very much for the sake of so very little.
Amy Carmichael
The point is not that gloves are inherently sinful. The point is that missionaries often risk great gospel fruit for tiny comforts. A worker may spend years learning a language and enduring hardship, only to lose credibility because of a symbol that communicates unnecessary distance.
Because small Western comforts can become significant distractions, missionaries should willingly relinquish minor privileges when they obscure gospel clarity and cultural identity.
Disclaimer: Information in my “slip-box” doesn’t necessarily reflect my agreement with the source or all its content. Recording diverse perspectives helps strengthen one’s position beyond the echo chamber of like-minded thinkers. By documenting alternative viewpoints, we engage in the intellectual wrestling match that ultimately deepens our understanding.
I aspire to post one note from my “slip-box” every weekday. If you want to learn more about how to work with knowledge, click this link: What is knowledge management?
Pastor Dan Patrick, raised in Northern Virginia near Washington, D.C., holds both a Bible degree and a Master’s of Divinity. He has ministered across five states from coast to coast, serving in various capacities, including pastoral leadership. Dan’s primary mission is to help people love God’s Word and find their purpose in God’s work.
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