CHARIS SHALOM

I’ve heard it said once, actually I read it, that it appears that nations that are predominately Christian such as the USA seem to be richer than countries who do not have say a church on every corner. What is your thought on that statement?

Debbie,

On that same site, you can read these stats:

• 66 countries have GDP per capita less than $1,000.

• There are 51 Muslim majority countries, of which 23 have GDP per capita less than $1,000 (710,000,000 individuals). This includes oil revenues. None of the Muslim countries are identified as Developed by the World Bank.

• There are four Hindu majority countries, of which three (India-$459, Nepal-$239, Guyana-$936) have GDP per capita less than $1,000 (1,100,000,000 individuals). None of the Hindu countries are identified as Developed.

• There are 169 Christian majority countries, of which 33 have GDP per capita less than $1,000 and 129 exceed $999. 32 Christian majority countries are identified as Developed by the World Bank.

So, what you had read has been shown statistically. What I think about it is this. God blesses with purpose. He blesses so that those who are blessed demonstrate His love and bless others. How can we do that? By representing Christ in areas where He is underrepresented, taking all our blessings (spiritual and material) with us around the world and advancing His Kingdom!

As to the American Career Missionary force, I understand that more people from other countries are entering the missionary force than ever before. Also, this wonderful concept of native missionaries seems to be catching on and would seem to make the american missionary’s work more minimal, though definitely not obsolete or unneccesary. It’s pretty interesting. I’ve been reading a book by KP Yohannon (founder of Gospel for Asia) called Revolutionizing World Missions and he talks about not only native missions but also the differences in America and other countries financially and noting that giving should be one of the American church’s greatest gifts. We all have individual spiritual gifts, but this gift of financial blessings has touched almost everyone in the American church, even the ones who don’t recognize it. We should feel so blessed to be able to pass that on to others and further God’s great kingdom! He is so good!