GOP tries remove own Muslim TX leader + They condemn John Chau, but defend missions

[C C]

TX Republicans Want to Remove Vice-Chairman Because He’s Muslim
https://www.worldreligionnews.com/religi...hes-muslim

EXCERPT: There have been concerted efforts to remove Dr. Shahid Shafi, a Tarrant County, Texas GOP leader, because he’s Muslim. Dr. Shafi presently holds the vice-chairman post and is not the only one to be targeted for removal. A few Republicans have gunned for three more of their fellow Republicans to be removed. The list includes Darl Easton, the leader of Tarrant County Republicans, Lisa Grimaldi Abdulkareem, a chairwoman of a GOP precinct and the vice-chairwoman of Tarrant County Republican Recruitment Division. She is married to an American Muslim. The last is Kelly Canon, the chairwoman of another GOP precinct and who is believed by a few Republicans to have Democratic undertones. The latter view is expressed in a series of emails exchanged between a few Republican members....

MORE: https://www.worldreligionnews.com/religi...hes-muslim

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Some Christians condemn dead missionary John Chau, but defend missions
https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2018...-missions/

EXCERPT: As I pointed out yesterday, there are scores of Christians who have little or no appreciation for self-styled missionary John Allen Chau. In a new article, the New York Times quotes a few of them. [...] Though Chau hadn’t planned on dying, it sure seems like he wanted to capture some of that sweet glory with his own hazardous excursion to North Sentinel Island. He knew he’d be a Christian rock star if he succeeded in bringing the islanders to Jesus [...]

I asked my friend Benjamin Corey, a progressive Christian and former Patheos blogger, what he makes of the Chau debacle. Ben specialized in missiology (the study of missions) at Fuller Theological Seminary, and went on to get his master’s in Intercultural Studies and Theology at Gordon-Conwell. He’s the author of Unafraid: Moving Beyond Fear-Based Faith. His take:

The death of Chau epitomizes the rogue and arrogant mindset that many of us who still remain in Christianity are trying to correct. [...] Inconsiderate and reckless actions such as his tarnish the efforts many others have made, and are making. [...] Chau [...] represents an over-zealous kid who probably read stories of missionaries from generations past and decided he wanted to emulate all the wrong people. [...] He was foolish, he represents a horrific lack of education or even accountability to minds older and wiser than his, and he could have killed the very people he claimed to care about.]

[...] Ben allows that some missionaries/evangelists may make their services conditional on proselytizing; or that they provide a heavy dose of religion alongside the meals and the medication. But he adds that he hasn’t personally come across such people.

With the professional missionaries I know and respect, and have visited on location, the topic of “pay to play” always comes up. And when we hear of other individuals or religious groups making humanitarian services conditional on evangelization or religious participation, it is outrageous and offensive even to us. [...]

That still left me with questions, especially about Matthew 28:19-20, in which the resurrected Jesus says: Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

How does that verse square with Ben’s opinion that it’s outrageous for missionaries to trade their services for a chance to preach to their subjects and lure them to Christ? Isn’t it settled Christian doctrine that merely doing good isn’t enough, as the pivotal figure of Christendom demands that His followers spread the faith — insisting that they convert and baptize people inhabiting even the farthest corners of the Earth? Ben doesn’t quite buy it.

I wouldn’t say that Jesus commanded his followers to spread Christendom, because that didn’t exist and he was a Jew; and I wouldn’t feel entirely confident he was referring to the entire world. In the Greek, he uses the word ethnos, which can mean an entire people group, an entire nation, or a region. It could easily be true that he was referring to all the people groups in the region of the time.

However, what Jesus told his followers to do was to go spread his ideas — and I don’t think any of us object to that. You and I are actively spreading our ideas right now; we’re just doing it in an ethical way where people are free to engage or free to walk away, and where no harm comes to them for not wanting to even listen.

When I critique the practice of “pay to play,” what I mean is the practice of, for example, telling a remote tribe “I’ll keep flying here with vaccinations if you build me a church and come listen to me preach each week.” That’s repulsive. However, I don’t have any issue with people spreading their ideas — we all do it, and some of us make a living off it. The key is how we spread ideas, and how that process impacts others.

I don’t think his explanation will necessarily convince or mollify the regulars at Friendly Atheist, but give my friend props for doing his very best to get his point across to a deeply skeptical audience. And if you engage Ben in the comments, to which I’ve invited him to contribute, let’s try and keep the discussion civil. Thanks!

MORE (details): https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2018...-missions/

[Syne]

The GOP, just like the Democrat party, has the right to decide who they allow among their ranks. It's called the freedom of association. Political parties are not government bodies or public accommodations and are not subject to any kind of discrimination law.

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Of course there's nothing wrong with missionaries in general, although what Jesus told his contemporary disciples to do doesn't necessarily apply to all Christians. But yes, personal aggrandizement or using aid as a cudgel is not what the Bible teaches.