Simon Says is a great classic game from my childhood. One person is Simon and then the other players have to listen to whatever he says to do to ensure that they stay in the game. They must do everything they are told, but of course only if "Simon Says".
This fun game reminds me of what happens on the mission field some times. Well- intentioned missionaries are the Simons. They come to the field to lead and help the nationals to get the work done. Before long, the people learn the rules. They see that they need to follow the commands of the leader, and no matter what happens they cannot stay 'in' unless they follow what Simon says. Even if they think it is right, unless Simon the missionary tells them to do it, they will not move.
The sad thing is that many times the African missionary does not even know he is playing the game. He does not know that his money, style of teaching and preaching, and misunderstanding of intercultural servanthood have started this game of Simon says. The people have learned by small unspoken things - by things the missionary might not even perceive. They know in time how the game is played. Those that want to stay close to the missionary learn to listen for what Simon says. This then means many times in African societies that all the missionary gains is yes men and lackeys, not the strong men with the ability to lead. The kind of men he really needs. (I am not saying it is wrong to tell people what to do or have strong leadership, but this is not the same as Simon says. The sad thing is many people including missionaries do not see their Simon Says tendencies until after the missionary leaves the field. At these times their ministry falls apart, but most often this is blamed on poor national leadership. The truth is that most often it's
because the game is over, and no one knows how to play without Simon.
The reality of this mentality has really affected the way that we try to lead and help people here. How does someone lead and serve at the same time? How does someone give directions while letting people learn to listen to the Holy Spirit?
In a culture where everyone has been told to listen to the 'white guy' because that is what must be done, how does a missionary teach people to look to Jesus and not a guy that many people think has all the knowledge, money, and answers?
These questions have been hard to ask, and have been even harder to answer! As a believer in the Bible, I know God says that once a person is born again, the Holy Spirit will live in them. That Spirit is their guide and teacher. Also they have individual soul liberty and God can guide them and teach from His Word! The key then is to allow them to learn how to hear the voice of God, not just the voice of the missionary. If all they learn to do is listen to the missionary's voice, they will never listen to God when the missionary is gone.
With this said, what does this all practically mean? In one word -- PATIENCE! This is the hardest thing that I have to do. As an American, I am programed to program. I am trained to push, advance, and perform! I have been told that I must force everything to happen in an instant. In our microwave culture, if it is not hot and ready in 15 minutes it is not worth the hassle. This idea has bled over into our missions works. The missionary wants results!
He feels the press to have converts, baptisms, and men that will surrender to the call to preach! But, what he has forgotten is that at times it takes time to grow the Banyan Tree. When it grows,though, it will never fall. As he waits for the growth, he gets frustrated and angry. Soon he cuts down the Banyan Tree, and plants the Police Tree. (This is a local name for a tree here that grows very fast, but has very shallow roots and is very, very thin). This tree grows in no time, but its shallow roots and small trunk means that it will easily fall when the rainy season comes.
I hate to be patient just like every other person in the world that has been programmed to go, go, go, but I have learned that I must not become Simon.
This said, I was reminded of this fact again this last week. On Friday a young man named Nat called me to his house. He told me that he is very interested about becoming a pastor. He told me that he was so serious he even broke up with his long standing girl friend, because she said she would not be a pastor's wife. He told me that he did not know God's will, and wanted me to pray for him.
The moment I heard this, two forces began to work in me! Simon the missionary and the other guy that has learned Patience. Simon was yelling, "Just tell him that God wants him to preach. He is a good guy! He can really do it! He feels this way because he is called!" The temptation comes to try to stand up and tell him what God wants! To stand up and say, "Simon says, go preach!"
Pushing the voice of Simon down, and sitting on my dreams and goals, I tell the young man how to know God's will. I tell him that I will be praying, but that he has to learn what God wants him to do with his life. I tell him that the Holy Spirit is his guard, and that if he will really seek the Lord, He will tell him what He wants him to do. I tell him it is a very good thing to want to be in the ministry and God will not hide His will from him in regards to this matter.
As we talk more about what a pastor must be out of the first book of Timothy, and discuss things, Nat says that he would love to help us more and tells us that he loves to attend Bible studies. He also tells me that he is even thinking about dropping out of community college to study the Bible. (Nat has about two months left to finish before he graduates). Here comes Simon again, "Yeah, tell him to drop out, he can start helping you with all the work! Soul-winning! He needs to start having classes with..." Simon continues the incessant muttering in my ear.
Andrew and I encourage him to finish what he started. He made a promise to finish school and even if he is called to preach it will serve him well to learn to finish what he starts.
Overall, after about two hours of talking, Andrew and I left Nat. He has a lot to pray about, and we have a lot to pray about as well. Our waiting and patience begins. Now we have to wait iand pray, trusting God to guide him, instead of the missionary. Now, we have to allow the Lord to call him and give him 'full proof' of his ministry. The truth is that the will of God will never be thwarted, but man's will will not stand for long.
This fun game reminds me of what happens on the mission field some times. Well- intentioned missionaries are the Simons. They come to the field to lead and help the nationals to get the work done. Before long, the people learn the rules. They see that they need to follow the commands of the leader, and no matter what happens they cannot stay 'in' unless they follow what Simon says. Even if they think it is right, unless Simon the missionary tells them to do it, they will not move.
The sad thing is that many times the African missionary does not even know he is playing the game. He does not know that his money, style of teaching and preaching, and misunderstanding of intercultural servanthood have started this game of Simon says. The people have learned by small unspoken things - by things the missionary might not even perceive. They know in time how the game is played. Those that want to stay close to the missionary learn to listen for what Simon says. This then means many times in African societies that all the missionary gains is yes men and lackeys, not the strong men with the ability to lead. The kind of men he really needs. (I am not saying it is wrong to tell people what to do or have strong leadership, but this is not the same as Simon says. The sad thing is many people including missionaries do not see their Simon Says tendencies until after the missionary leaves the field. At these times their ministry falls apart, but most often this is blamed on poor national leadership. The truth is that most often it's
because the game is over, and no one knows how to play without Simon.
The reality of this mentality has really affected the way that we try to lead and help people here. How does someone lead and serve at the same time? How does someone give directions while letting people learn to listen to the Holy Spirit?
In a culture where everyone has been told to listen to the 'white guy' because that is what must be done, how does a missionary teach people to look to Jesus and not a guy that many people think has all the knowledge, money, and answers?
These questions have been hard to ask, and have been even harder to answer! As a believer in the Bible, I know God says that once a person is born again, the Holy Spirit will live in them. That Spirit is their guide and teacher. Also they have individual soul liberty and God can guide them and teach from His Word! The key then is to allow them to learn how to hear the voice of God, not just the voice of the missionary. If all they learn to do is listen to the missionary's voice, they will never listen to God when the missionary is gone.
With this said, what does this all practically mean? In one word -- PATIENCE! This is the hardest thing that I have to do. As an American, I am programed to program. I am trained to push, advance, and perform! I have been told that I must force everything to happen in an instant. In our microwave culture, if it is not hot and ready in 15 minutes it is not worth the hassle. This idea has bled over into our missions works. The missionary wants results!
He feels the press to have converts, baptisms, and men that will surrender to the call to preach! But, what he has forgotten is that at times it takes time to grow the Banyan Tree. When it grows,though, it will never fall. As he waits for the growth, he gets frustrated and angry. Soon he cuts down the Banyan Tree, and plants the Police Tree. (This is a local name for a tree here that grows very fast, but has very shallow roots and is very, very thin). This tree grows in no time, but its shallow roots and small trunk means that it will easily fall when the rainy season comes.
I hate to be patient just like every other person in the world that has been programmed to go, go, go, but I have learned that I must not become Simon.
This said, I was reminded of this fact again this last week. On Friday a young man named Nat called me to his house. He told me that he is very interested about becoming a pastor. He told me that he was so serious he even broke up with his long standing girl friend, because she said she would not be a pastor's wife. He told me that he did not know God's will, and wanted me to pray for him.
The moment I heard this, two forces began to work in me! Simon the missionary and the other guy that has learned Patience. Simon was yelling, "Just tell him that God wants him to preach. He is a good guy! He can really do it! He feels this way because he is called!" The temptation comes to try to stand up and tell him what God wants! To stand up and say, "Simon says, go preach!"
Pushing the voice of Simon down, and sitting on my dreams and goals, I tell the young man how to know God's will. I tell him that I will be praying, but that he has to learn what God wants him to do with his life. I tell him that the Holy Spirit is his guard, and that if he will really seek the Lord, He will tell him what He wants him to do. I tell him it is a very good thing to want to be in the ministry and God will not hide His will from him in regards to this matter.
As we talk more about what a pastor must be out of the first book of Timothy, and discuss things, Nat says that he would love to help us more and tells us that he loves to attend Bible studies. He also tells me that he is even thinking about dropping out of community college to study the Bible. (Nat has about two months left to finish before he graduates). Here comes Simon again, "Yeah, tell him to drop out, he can start helping you with all the work! Soul-winning! He needs to start having classes with..." Simon continues the incessant muttering in my ear.
Andrew and I encourage him to finish what he started. He made a promise to finish school and even if he is called to preach it will serve him well to learn to finish what he starts.
Overall, after about two hours of talking, Andrew and I left Nat. He has a lot to pray about, and we have a lot to pray about as well. Our waiting and patience begins. Now we have to wait iand pray, trusting God to guide him, instead of the missionary. Now, we have to allow the Lord to call him and give him 'full proof' of his ministry. The truth is that the will of God will never be thwarted, but man's will will not stand for long.
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