Missions and Money (Revised and Expanded): Affluence as a Missionary Problem...Revisited (Revised)

American Society of Missiology

by Jonathan J. Bonk

American Society of Missiology Series No. 15, In this revised edition, Bonk offers new reflections light of a changed situation now marked by increases in the number of short-term missioners and in the numbers of Asians, Africans, and Latin Americans leaving their homelands to serve as missionaries to other people.

Genres: Christian, Theology, Economics

466 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 1991

Reviews

[Jon Pentecost · Rating 2 out of 5]

Useful as far as raising an often neglected/taboo topic. The beginning chapters laying out the ways that the relative affluence of gospel workers relative to those they are seeking to reach can impede their gospel witness are well worth wrestling with. We far too easily adopt our own standards of 'comfortable' as what is necessary for a reasonable lifestyle. And missionaries as well as other Christians need to recognize the way that might lead them into hypocrisy, or confuse those they are ministering too.

That said, I found the 'biblical response' sections to be sorely lacking. Bonk's engagement with scriptural teaching on wealth and poverty at times felt a bit like he was hiding behind a 'non-academic engagement of the texts'. Some of his applications seemed a bit...oblivious to larger context. His suggested proposal of missionaries thinking of themselves as the 'righteous rich' was intriguing, and I think a helpful paradigm shift. That said, his specific application seemed to ride mainly on exhortations to the abusive wealthy in the OT and NT. So his main application for how to be the righteous rich was: repent. Which makes sense in terms of wealth gained in unjust and abusive ways--but it does not follow from that all the rich must repent of having wealth. Along with this, Bonk seems to implicitly assume that if you are wealthy, you are automatically unable to teach the Bible's view of poverty and sacrificial generosity and the danger of wealth to anyone who is less wealthy than you (would that also be true of marriage? Should we accept biblical teaching on marriage from an unmarried apostle?).

So, while this is useful for a lay of the land, and to provoke the question of what sacrificial living might look like, its response falls into a naive and shallow view of Scriptures warning to the rich--treating them as proof that the rich are sinners and the poor are righteous. The notion of stewardship would seem to be a much more fruitful (and biblical) way forward for the path of the righteous rich missionary.

[HisPresence MyHome · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe every missionary should read this book before going on the field or after they arrive. Bonk address a critical issue of affluence and missions and challenges missionaries to consider how their affluence affects those they are working among. I greatly appreciate his encouragement of thinking about our lives and finances incarnationally. This book has had a profound practical impact on o ur lives and will be one we will continue to revisit and repeat for many years to come.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt like this was an excellent book covering a frequently ignored topic: the relative wealth of Western missionaries in the context in which they're serving. The author appears to be incredibly well-researched and academically sound in his writing and he also wrote with passion and conviction. It's also a very tough topic that he's writing about, as much of the Western world is deeply culturally entrenched in their relation to money and they have a lot to lose when reconsidering what the Bible says about it. That would certainly explain why few others choose to tackle this topic.

The author splits the book into several well-organized sections: the reality of missionary affluence as well as *why* it happens so often and how missionaries defend it; the negative consequences of missionary affluence; what the Bible says about wealthy/poor and considered principles for how to behave in a Christian way with our wealth in relation to those around us. I felt like each section was very well researched and effective in conveying its topic, and that the author mostly wrote well (though with some unfortunate archaicisms a bit too often).

In the end, the book wasn't just research and presentation, but a call to action, specifically a call to "repentance" (a new way of living). And in that, it's a huge challenge, especially to us who are currently missionaries. There were few areas where I could actually disagree with the author and say "that point is wrong"... the truth is, what he says is very well represented and very well defended, and more importantly, very consistent with Biblical teaching and the life of the earliest followers (and churches) of Jesus. I think many many missionaries, and maybe more importantly, all missions organizations, need to read this book and take it deeply to heart and radically reconsider the way they do things. I know for sure that what's written here will give me a lot to think about for a long time. In some ways, his call to action isn't that different to some of what we already do or strive for... but it's so well presented and grounded that it gives me a great concrete foundation on which to practically consider how to live my life in areas that were previously difficult to wrap my mind around. AS I said, a lot of things to think about for a long time to come, and I hope that the material of this book goes a long way in shaping the philosophies and lives of the new missionaries we're currently training

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most Western Christians are rich. Most of the rest of the world is not. What influence, positive or negative, does that have on the message of Christianity, and what should we do about it?

Bonk writes a book so necessary in today's world that it can sometimes be disturbing that it is already over 20 years old. While it is directed at missionaries, it has ramifications that in our global world apply to every serious Christian. What are the benefits of financial security and material wealth, and what are the costs? How do our lifestyles affect our interactions with non-Christians and the poor? What does the manner in which we interact with money and material possessions say to others about our theology and priorities? What are the arguments for Christians, and especially missionaries, to remain in a position of wealth relative to those to whom they wish their message to reach? What does the Bible have to say about all of this? How have Christian missionaries dealt with such topics over the course of history, and what has been the reaction?

I have a limited set of books that I believe every American Christian should read. This one has now been added to the list.

[Kathleen Wells · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was neither a quick read nor an easy read. I think it took me longer than reading books in Spanish! Bonk raises the troubling issue of mission workers in foreign countries, when the mission workers are almost by definition so much richer than the people they go to serve. Unfortunately, as most books of this nature, he doesn't really have a "solution" to this problem. His most recent edition includes several writings by other authors, mainly about wealth in the early church. And the entire book provides a wonderful Bible study on issues of wealth, in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. And much of the book is valid as we consider our own lifestyles, even if we aren't missionaries in foreign countries. To what extent does our wealth hinder our faith?

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was...well, a book that made me think and try and apply my Christian world view to what missions and money. And, my conclusion...Bonk convinces me...is that there is a serious problem with the western model of missions. It's down-right appalling. And, we don't do it the way Christ tells us to...in fact we diverge from His teachings. Bonk gives biblical credence to his points. A necessary book for anyone thinking of any kind of involvement in missions.

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book and should be part of curriculum - as it indicates - in preparing those to serve, teach, or administer in missions. Though I did not read the original, there are places in the revision where the examples and citations make it too easy to pick out what is new and what is old material. A little closer editing may have smoothed out the rough edges between the material.
Wright and Gonzales essays were excellent.

[Dorien · Rating 5 out of 5]

I often find it difficult to finish non-fiction, but this book I just had to finish! A shocking and convicting book for missionaries and people on mission boards etc. I highly recommend this to all christians from first world countries, but especially those who are working in mission in poor countries. I wish I had read this book earlier.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Currently kicking my butt so much I hate to pick it up. Each page is an indictment on Western affluence and the horrible syncretism of a prosperity gospel lived out in front of our poorer brothers and sisters. I hope we get to some solutions soon.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haven't quite finished this, but a very thought provoking book - Chris used it in school and I snagged it from him. Totally challenges the traditional ways that the Christian church has done missions and what messages are really being transmitted to people in poverty.