Introduction
At the end of July, I will be speaking on a panel at the Scripture Union National Conference as part of their elective called:
"DIRTY SECRETS — MORAL CHALLENGES FOR CHRISTIAN MISSION"
This is the blurb for the elective:
"In our mission, how do we deal with issues such as domestic violence, porn and child abuse?
When we think of big problems people grapple with – domestic violence, addictions, drugs and alcohol, mental illness, and sexual struggles including pornography – we tend to think of them as issues that people who don’t yet know Christ struggle with. Our approach to mission can be based around the idea of saints reaching out to sinners. Yet statistics suggest this is far from true. The problems society struggles with are also in our churches.
God is no stranger to using broken people to reach his broken world – the bible is full of examples of liars, drunks, adulterers, murderers and cowards that God used. But as a mission agency we are less comfortable. In an effort to ensure leaders are good examples, we get people to sign up to standards which they may not meet. Sin and struggle too often get pushed under the rug as the dirty secrets we hide to be good enough to work for God.
Do we undermine our mission by not allowing those doing the mission to be open about their struggles as saved sinners? Practically what would it look like for broken people to do mission to a broken world?"
I thought I would approach some of my friends involved in ministry to get their thoughts on these topics. I've got a few questions below, but feel free to just use the first section which you can write your general thoughts or insights. If you don't know what to write feel free to skip on to the next section.
Feel free to be as frank or detailed as you wish. This survey can be completely anonymous if you like (just don't give your name and details at the end).
Thank you for your time and wisdom.
Simon Camilleri