Toxic Missions: Costs of Colonization

When I hear certain religious words I feel on edge. "Crusade" for instance, why do we still use a word for an event that meant the torture and slaughter of many, many people across Europe like its a good thing? “We’re bringing souls to Christ” sounds like we’re killing them en masse and saying “Here God, I brought you this” Like a cat with a bird in its mouth, sometimes our gifts to God still show our true nature. Then there are the things we don’t use the word for anymore but still practice, like colonization.

The definition online reads as “the action or process of settling among and establishing control over the indigenous people of an area.” Historically Americans that feel called to do missions trips do exactly that. They occupy and change the culture. This is viewed as a good thing to Americans because obviously we’ve got this whole ‘Christian’ thing figured out and everyone who wants to follow Christ should by definition look like us. Right…? Often our American identity and our Christian identity become so linked that we can’t be one without the other. God and country, cross and flag. What happens when we encounter Christians of other nationalities who are passionate for God but couldn’t care less about America? It’s time to let go of nationalism and stop making disciples in our country's image.

I feel like Christian nationalism develops a very serious threat to missions. When I hear people talk about USA being God’s chosen nation etc., or see an USA flag on the stage next to the cross, what I see and hear is: there is no room for another country or culture. It is only God and I, God and America. And I know that is not an intentional voice but it is still a voice that is being said. God’s chosen country isn’t a country at all--it’s a people. His people--all people.

There are only 22 countries in the world that Great Britain did NOT invade or colonize:

Andorra

Belarus

Bolivia

Burundi

Central African Republic

Chad

Congo, Republic of

Guatemala

Ivory Coast

Kyrgyzstan

Liechtenstein

Luxembourg

Mali

Marshall Islands

Monaco

Mongolia

Paraguay

Sao Tome and Principe

Sweden

Tajikistan

Uzbekistan

Vatican City

There are 193 countries in the world and Britain colonized or invaded 171 of them. Almost 90%. Why is this worth talking about in the context of missions?

In a 2003 Article published by the Cambridge University Press, Anna Johnson talks about Christians role in Colonization.

“Christian missionary activity was central to the work of European colonialism, providing British missionaries and their supporters with a sense of justice and moral authority. Throughout the history of imperial expansion, missionary proselytizing offered the British public a model of ‘civilize’ expansionism and colonial community management, transforming imperial projects into moral allegories. Missionary activity was, however, unavoidably implicated in either covert or explicit cultural change. It sought to transform indigenous communities into imperial archetypes of civility and modernity by remodeling the individual, the community, and the state through western, Christian philosophies.”

Christian missionaries have facilitated cultural changes and exploitation in extremely harmful ways for years. This has been done through the guise of missions.

Studying art history and becoming aware of terminology, a term that has often been frequented by Christian missionaries before was "savages". Why? Because these other cultures were not Christian. It hurts. To look back and see that what I'm called to do has absolutely damaged whole nations. I want that to end with me and to be able to fix what my ancestors broke. Or rather, assist in whichever ways I can and are accepted by the community to do so. While I am spiritually aware of different spirits and "vibes" I know that not all African art is "demonic" which is another term that art historians will practically beg people to stop using when referring to African pieces. There is one specific piece from that section when I studied art history that DID have major vibes so this is another conflict I have had. But maybe we should just stop utilizing it as a blanket term.

The good news is that Jesus called us to love our neighbors, not to change them. The transformative power of faith is a personal journey and it can be done without making others in our own image. Jesus loves all people regardless of where they’re at and we can replicate this love by listening, being a safe person, owning our mistakes continually, and having the fruit of the spirit in our lives. The sin of colonization is a stain on missions that we have to grapple with and repent for. Even if we personally do not feel as if we have participated, as Christians we are called to shoulder responsibility and commit to the redeeming work of Jesus’s calling. This includes a mass repentance. This is uncomfortable but it’s a cross we must carry for love.

I think if we see people has human beings with real thoughts, feelings, and issues instead of a project it makes it a lot easier to stop and be there for them. Jesus carried our sins on the cross; sins He never committed. And if we're supposed to be like Jesus then we too must carry the weight of repentance of our blood lines even if it is long gone.

Johnston, A. (2003). The British Empire, colonialism, and missionary activity. In Missionary Writing and Empire, 1800–1860 (Cambridge Studies in Nineteenth-Century Literature and Culture, pp. 13-37). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/CBO9780511550324.002

If you would like to study more into missions, we highly recommend reading the book: Helping without Hurting in Short-Term Missions.

Also, the authors assume that you have read Helping Without Hurting first. Which is also beyond helpful.

There's another super helpful Helping Without Hurting in Church Benevolence, which is also great for those involved in church and church leadership.

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Here's the Podcast version. It's the same theme but it's not transcribed so there are various conversations we have on the blog vs on the podcast.