When I was a Protestant, our church supported many missionaries. Some were in Africa. While we were sending money to them, we were also sending automatic contributions to our denomination’s Headquarters. Some of that money was sent on to The World Council of Churches. It was, and is, supported by tens of millions of other Protestants.
The World Council of Churches contributed to the Southwest Africa People’s Organization. It was soon discovered that SWAPO was not the charitable, caring group it was portrayed to be. It was trying to install Communist governments in Southwest Africa. They were destabilizing the area by destroying Christian hospitals, schools, churches, and orphanages in a vicious guerrilla war.
Most Protestants who knew this were not bothered enough about Jesus’ advice “A house divided cannot stand.” to stop giving money to the “charity”. Today, SWAPO is gone. Most of the Protestant groups who indirectly supported it are shrinking.
Many see the hidden reasons for Protestant missions.
First, many Protestant leaders encourage missionaries for a selfish reason. They have found that “the mission fields” get rid of competitors for their own soft jobs and lush rewards. That’s why many proclaim with such enthusiasm: “We need to send more people to ‘the mission fields’!”
Other reasons for Protestant missions comes from clever tyrants. “Me and my government want our people divided among hundreds of competing denominations! If they are unified as Catholics, they have pesky priests and Bishops telling me to look out for people’s welfare. That makes it hard for me and my supporters to get all the money we want!”
Venal leaders have more evil reasons for Protestant missions. “Our country has too many poor people. If we sterilize the poor and abort their babies, we can get rid of them! Protestant missionaries will help me do that! It’s bad enough that The Catholic Church is Pro-Life! It’s worse when it makes continual, costly demands for schools, medicine, and running water! Weaken The Catholic Church! Send in more Protestant missions!”
A painful question: Can God’s wrath help but fall on those who refuse to see how hurtful many missions must be?
