ethics question

As I see it, being honest and truthful does not mean that you have to speak every honest and truthful fact out loud to every person you meet. For example, it might be true that the new baby in the nursery is not the prettiest baby in the world.......so you don't say he is. But you also don't tell the parents you think he's ugly. Ya know, have tact.

But then, in regards to missionaries, there's nothing in the Bible that mandates the title "missionary" on someone's VISA in order for them to work on a foreign field. They should not lie....as in calling themselves an electrician when they are not and have no intention of working as one. But many countries allow teachers, where they do not allow people to start a church. Missionaries are teaching, aren't they? And I know many who go in as teachers, and start schools...the gov't knows thats what they are doing, and thats really what they are doing.

Is that deception to call themselves a teacher instead of writing down "gospel-bringing, soulwinning Missionary"? I don't think it is. I think its using your particular talents to be able to go where God wants you to go, and to be able to spread God's Word.

 

I don't think "less than honest" is ever justifiable, even in the Lord's work. If one is truly going to teach English, and then can share the gospel that is one thing, but to knowingly lie is quite another.

 

The ends don't justify the means. If the means of entering the closed country are dishonest, then God is not glorified. If a missionary doesn't have a skill that will allow them into the country, then I would question whether they are truly called to go to said country.

 

We know a young man who is studying for a particular degree in computer science so he can get a job in China and thereby use that as a base from which he can share the Gospel.

Is he being dishonest?

 

A missionary is not a "teacher" in the understood sense of the word unless he is going to be a teacher in a school, not his own Bible institute or church.

I don't believe God ever honours lying, deception, or half truths.

 

Don't see how Helen - he is getting his degree in computer science, doing that for his job, then doing what we all should do wherever we live - sharing our faith.

 

That's our opinion, too. Paul was a tentmaker...

But where, exactly, is the line? I understand the question in the opening post; I think it is a good one.

 

The OP seemed to imply that a missionary call himself a "teacher" instead of a preacher in order to get past regualtions, knowing that he would not actually be "teaching" in the normal understanding. Perhaps I misread the intention.

We have a tentmaker from the Phillipines who just joined with our team - he has a job as an occupational therapist to pay the bills.

 

Our church is sponsoring a family in China. They are officialy teachers. They just happen to also lead an underground church cell.

I don't think there's any ethical lapses when you identify your vocation (not calling) on a visa to enter a closed country. You have to have a legitimate (according to the target country) reason for entry and residence.

 

I don't see it. You can't enter a closed country unless you have a legitimate reason for being there, ie teaching, technical, consulting, etc. You are obeying their laws because you are entering as whatever your vocation is, as long as you go with full intention of engaging in it. IOW, if you go as a computer salesman, you need to sell computers, as well as share the gospel.

You're not being dishonest, because you are providing the services you advertised. You get the additional bonus of sharing your faith to those who are seeking God.

The only way it would be a problem to me is if the country asked on it's visa application, "I promise to not engage in religious conversions while a resident of XXXXX". I couldn't sign off on that, because that would be dishonest in my eyes.

 

Again, perhaps I misunderstood the OP. If someone knows they are going into a country knowing that the only teaching they will do is in their church or in their Bible institute, that is being deceptive.

 

The OP said:

 

It comes down to the heart of the missionary. If he knows he is using a false label as a "cover" to get in he is wrong.

If he is going in to work at a job, or truly teach, then he well within his rights to claim that.

 

Are you telling these churches that they will be supporting you as well as your mission, or are you telling them that you will be supporting yourself by teaching, and you need the money for evangelism efforts? Will you actually perform the trade you list on your VISA?

By definition, a closed country is resistant to conversion efforts, and won't allow anyone in with the primary reason of evangelism. So, you can either perform the work you've listed as your trade, and be honest, or not, and lie, or don't go.