1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Still an invitation?

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Salty, Jul 25, 2023.

  1. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
    Administrator

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2003
    Messages:
    38,982
    Likes Received:
    2,615
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Dear Annie: I have a family problem for which I would appreciate your opinion. My wife and I are Americans living in a small village in Italy, in an area popular with tourists. Recently, I contacted my sister and her husband from the States and expressed our interest in having them visit us and stay at our house, since we haven’t seen them for many years. We’re all retired, they easily have the means to make the trip, and our house has plenty of room for visitors.
    Her reply caught me unprepared. She said that they were expected by their church to do a mission outside the U.S. and, based on my invitation, they were requesting Italy as an assignment.
    I am areligious, as is my wife. My sister and husband belong to one of those American evangelical religions that cropped up in the U.S. in the 19th century. By contrast, the culture of our village and the surrounding towns is, of course, primarily Catholic, even though most of our neighbors seem to be secular.

    My problem is this: We are known in the area as the only Americans living here. Were my sister and her husband to go door to door, or set up a display at a local piazza, our neighbors would know we’re the source of the strangers hassling them with unwelcome proselytizing. I can assure you they wouldn’t appreciate it, and neither would we.

    I’m at a loss of what to do. My sister and I aren’t on terrific terms, due both to our differences in lifestyle as well as typical family friction from long ago. I’m certain she would be offended if I were to suggest she not proselytize during her visit, but I’m equally certain our neighbors would be offended by her doing so, and the repercussions of that would last long after she and her husband returned to her hometown.

    I can see three options: 1) ask her to not proselytize on her visit; 2) do nothing, let things run their course and deal with the repercussions; or 3) withdraw the invitation.

    None of those three options is particularly appealing. I’m writing to you to see if you could suggest a fourth. -- A Fourth Answer

    Dear Fourth: Tell your sister that you invited her and her husband for a family visit and not a church mission. You should let her know of your concern with being the only American couple living where you do and that her proselytizing might be offensive to your Catholic neighbors and would tarnish your reputation. Let her know that you really want to see her but only as a family visit. If she declines, so be it.

    So if your sister informed you that you would only be welcome as a family visit -
    what would be your answer?
     
  2. Alan Gross

    Alan Gross Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2018
    Messages:
    5,632
    Likes Received:
    461
    Faith:
    Baptist
    If I was smart enough, I hope I would say, "excuse me for assuming that our using your residence as the base for our foreign mission work would be inconsequential to you and your husband. I understand better now that I was mistaken. I'm sorry and will plan to do any further evangelizing in some other way. I was too caught up in the opportunity for the type service for the Lord we had been suggested to do that I wasn't thinking clearly and considering your interests and your clear reason for inviting us. To see me! How glorious! I look forward to seeing you, too, even more now, sister! I love you."

    I see Annie's reply as solid advise that needs to be weighed heavily.

     
  3. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    Messages:
    19,514
    Likes Received:
    1,817
    Faith:
    Baptist
    If you go to another country to visit loved ones, the purpose of your trip would be entirely different from a "mission," usually called a "missions trip" in my circles. When a believer visits family, then family should be the focus of the trip.

    On the other hand, when a believer goes on a missions trip:
    1. They should be working with a church-planting missionary or a national pastor, because the church is God's plan for this age.
    2. Their focus should be on being a blessing to the national believers and evangelizing the lost.
     
Loading...