I've been visiting a church for the last few months. It then came out that this church has a thing...for missions. Nothing wrong with that, except they want to send their members as missionaries to the Middle East. People are pressured to go. Or they are brainwashed to go. There are about 20 people who are signing up to go to Lebanon this summer. To preach the Gospel. Yeah that will go over well. I also get the vibe that if you don't go, then you're not doing your all for God.

I brought up the fact that Lebanon is next to Syria which has ISIS who kills Christians. That met with a really warm reception. They keep urging me to go, to do my part to reach out the unsaved Muslims. I'm like, if I want to be a martyr, that's between me and God, and I'm sure as heck not going to do it because of peer pressure.

Am I right for feeling this way, or am I overblowing the dangers of being an American in the Middle East right now? 

God would have to speak to me himself before I would go there. It is a death wish. 

Time to find a different church. 

Some people feel called to go, and that's great. If not, God wants you to live a quite life, mind your own business, gain the respect of outsiders and not be dependent on anybody. 

Am I right for feeling this way, or am I overblowing the dangers of being an American in the Middle East right now??

You are right for the way you feel. The Middle East is a dangerous place to be.
Are any of the pastors and their family members going? I would be looking for another church that is not so pushy. There are plenty of missionary opportunities right here at home. 

Tell it to hurry up 

I agree with Sue. 

It's an amazing church that wants to do this! That is the great commission, and the very definition of giving your life away for the Kingdom.

I absolutely understand why you don't want to go, and if you aren't being called, then most certainly don't go, but I'm still impressed greatly by the love they are willing to risk their lives to share.

May I ask what church? 

Do they have any expectations of US support if they get in trouble?

I don't care if they foolishly throw their lives away due to their arrogance but no troops or anyone else should be put at risk. 

Would you mind sharing the name of the church? 

On a pm- 

It's an amazing church that wants to do this! That is the great commission, and the very definition of giving your life away for the Kingdom.


And how is this different from the Muslim extremists? 

Are you serious? They are going to preach the word and are willing to put their own lives in danger. They are going over there to help the people displaced by ISIS and other terror groups. They are bringing medicines, water, food, to their refugee camps. Muslim extremists kill people or force them to convert by the sword.

They are exact opposites! I'm bewildered at any similarity you are seeing here???! 

Sorry no church names. I'm still going to it. It's a small out of the way church. And I mean small. 

The preacher has been preaching that this life is nothing, that eternal life should be the goal. That sounds like prepping people for high probability of death.

Granted going to the Middle East is great if you are personally called to do so, but for a church to peer pressure its members to do it, is very wrong.

It is fascinating how some people can be brainwashed through rhetoric. It is not a tool to be underestimated.

Here is my take on the situation. Per Robert McGee, author of "The Search for Significance" - it is a fundamental human need to feel significant. For a pastor or a church, they get that through evangelizing, more so than the typical church member because that's ALL they have to feel significant. Other people have careers, etc. but for the church staff that is their career.

So they are pushing this missions thing to the Middle East because it is taking it to the next level. It is a powerful way of exerting control over other people's lives by getting them to go to a dangerous area "for the sake of God" - you'd definitely feel significant if you can get someone to put his life on the line.

I think that's flawed theology. I posed the question what makes a soul won in the Middle East worth more than a soul won here in the US? That didn't go over very well. I said, if you feel you need to reach out to save the lost, why not go to the inner city ghetto and preach or help the youth? I guess that wasn't glamorous enough. Not enough bragging rights against other churches.

I would feel really really bad if I was captured, and some military unit (i.e. someone's son) came in and got killed trying to save me. 

I'm bewildered at any similarity you are seeing here???

That's how the KU Christian Haters Club works. 

There are many ways to serve others. No one should ever feel pressure by their church to take on a role that doesn't fit their skills or that they do not feel peace of mind about.

Frankly, right now I do not believe we should be sending aid workers or missionaries to places where they stand a high chance of becoming a target for ransom that will further the causes of the terrorists. Not only does it feed their acts with the financial support that ransom brings, it puts innocent rescuers in danger and gives the terrorists more publicity for the fear they want to instill in the rest of the world.

They are many people that need our help and support on this planet. Many of them are right here in our own neighborhoods. You don't have to go somewhere with a target on your back to bring God's world to others. I sure would have trouble supporting a church that made me feel guilty or didn't seem to understand that. 

Yes exactly LOL. It is ultimately a selfish act to put yourself in danger and put others in a compromised situation trying to save you. This kind of thinking is overly simplistic and doesn't take into the account the complexity of many variables and possible outcomes, some of which could be undesirable and anti-productive. 

The preacher has been preaching that this life is nothing, that eternal life should be the goal. That sounds like prepping people for high probability of death.


Sounds like something Jim Jones and David Koresh said to their followers. I am not saying this is a cult or that the preacher is of that caliber, but use discretion when choosing who will lead you. 

I was always under the belief that being a missionary was something you felt called to do spiritually... 

The preacher has been preaching that this life is nothing, that eternal life should be the goal.

Actually, in a way that is true. This life has importance only if we are serving God. However, God uses people in different ways. For example, some people are to be missionaries, some evangelizers, some teachers, some pastors, and some to be the financial sources. Not everyone can do the same task, nor can everyone do all of the tasks.

So, if you don't feel that God is calling you to be a missionary, then don't do it. 

Exactly Jacobson! 

I can't believe you'd consider it, or they'd try to pressure you, with you being so sick!! 

Definitely sounds like a cult. If they ask you to drink some kool-aid, don't do it. 

in the catholic missionary orders I know of, the decision to stay or to go into harms way is left to the discernment of the individual. 

As an example many Jesuits left Syria last year. Sadly, I believe the 2 that remained have been executed 

Actually, in a way that is true. This life has importance only if we are serving God. However, God uses people in different ways. For example, some people are to be missionaries, some evangelizers, some teachers, some pastors, and some to be the financial sources. Not everyone can do the same task, nor can everyone do all of the tasks.

Dang, Jake. You finally said something that (IMO) makes sense.

Digging ditches in neighborhoods that have poor drainage, repairing someone's house that can't afford it, providing a helping hand with food or transportation, working in a thrift store that funds charitable work are all worthy missions that do not need a passport.

Mission work is for the needy, regardless of country. Intentionally putting yourself and others in danger for self agrandizement is contrary to any "Christian" principles that I'm aware of. 

I'm bewildered at any similarity you are seeing here???

That's how the KU Christian Haters Club works.

You sober yet, Soup? 

Yeah, it seems like something may not be quite right there. Wow. I do get so excited about Christians reaching out to the Muslims, because I completely think that it is the right thing to do, and people are hurting so bad over there right now. I pray all of the time that God sends people to help.
And I think about Hagar and Ishmael and how God had compassion and saved them, and that we need to have compassion too, and tell them how to be saved.

But the pressure that you are describing is suspect, for sure. You feel like it is for an individual's glory, or bragging rights, that's a red flag. It's almost like, this one leader has been called to do this and he thinks that all of you should just assume that you are too. He should be asking you to seek the spirit. I'm so sorry. That's a tough one. 

Wip - I read something a few weeks ago, not sure where, that said something like. There can never be any Christian - Muslim understanding until each forgives the other.

I took sometime to think about that, and I think it is absolutely true. I also think it is near impossible. Maybe God will inspire the right person and give them the tools to build that bridge. One can hope 

And I like what you said about significance, too. You are right, the Christian life is not just what you do for the church building you attend, it's what you do at your job, with your kids, out walking your dog, everything. He places us each with a level of influence over situations, no matter how small, (mine is just my family), but we use that for Him.

Being a good employee, and using those opportunities at work to point to Him is valid work for the Kingdom.

And yes, some will be called to put their life on the line and go out and teach to the people who may kill them. But again, he called Jonah to do that, not everyone in Israel at the time.

And if He were calling you, you wouldn't have all of the red alerts blazing in your mind right now. I take those pretty seriously. I've had them in the past, and in hindsight, those uneasy feelings were accurate, and probably saved me from going down some really weird paths. 

AMDG, I just get excited because there are Christians over there right now doing amazing work, and Muslims are becoming Christians. Their testimonies will bless your socks off! They have such passion and love. And they do have forgiveness.

And no, I am not in any way affiliated with the church in question, and no, I have not been called to go over there.

Right now, the organizations I've been hearing of are begging for doctors, mostly. The people displaced by ISIS need medical care, and it is very difficult to come by. 

Dang, Jake. You finally said something that (IMO) makes sense.

Well, you have not yet been able to make me feel the same way. 

I guess that wasn't glamorous enough. Not enough bragging rights against other churches.


Exactly. It's just another form of narcissism. 

I assume you have a calling to be a Martyr...

Is the pastor also taking his wife and children?

How much is each person being charged for this junket? 

Not always, Zapper, sometimes that just happens. Like in the attack on Kenyan Christians this week. They probably never felt a calling to be that, but martyred they were. 

Good question about the price though. Now I'm wondering what is really driving this. 

Understand WIP, maybe I am too cynical. There are many there doing amazing work. I am sure they all have forgiving hearts. Not much, but I will add a decade to tomorrow's rosary for them.

Have a few hours of Easter vigil in my future, will be all prayed out tonight. :-) 

Well, you have not yet been able to make me feel the same way.

I don't mind, Jake. I'll give you credit for this one.

Pax vobiscum. 

There can never be any Christian - Muslim understanding until each forgives the other.

It would be easier to forgive muslims if they'd quit killing people in the name of their idol.