The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped – Proverbs 11:24-25
Your church is not white enough!
I recently had a conversation with a person who left our church because our church is not “white” enough for him.
We think generosity is about money and material things. The reality is material generosity can be a smoke screen to what generosity is.
Off to America
After 6 months of marriage, Christine and I went to study in the USA. We arrived in Dallas, Texas on the 3rdJanuary of 1980. We were 22 at the time!
The world was very different then. Everything was analogue and making a phone call back home was a process. Of course there was no internet and we wrote letters home on “aerograms”. For you youngsters, an aerogram was a letter that folded into an envelope. It was of a light paper and because it was light, the cost of sending it was cheaper. It only took about 7 days for it to get from USA to South Africa.
Have I mentioned that R1.00 got you $1.30!
Culture Shock!
We were not prepared for the culture shock when arriving in the USA. Everything from the huge V8 cars, to bread and milk was different. Globalization was in its infancy, and so, there were very few international brands.
We were a little “doey” eyed. MacDonald’s, drive through banks, pick-up trucks with rifles hanging across the back windows. This was a lot to take in for kids from Estcourt and Vryheid.
Carl Nine – the Texan
But nothing could prepare us for Carl Nine. As we recovered from an awesome worship experience at our first chapel, Carl Nine got up to speak. Mr Nine was one of the lecturers. He was Texan! Added to his Texas drawl, was the fact that he had recently obtained new dentures. I thought he was talking in tongues. He was talking “Texan”, which is a dialect of the English language.
Living Small
Yes, we had culture shock!
One of the effects of culture shock is criticism. And with criticism comes an increasingly small world. With other “British Commonwealth” students we enjoyed our “British” superior heritage. “These Americans” all drank coffee in their cars. They called the post, mail, a tap is a faucet, a bonnet a hood, the boot a trunk, petrol gas, and they drove on the wrong side of the road. And in their prayers, they often told God He was “neat”.
Same, same but different
One of the courses I did at Bible College, The Principle of World Missions by John Garlock, had a massive impact on me.
He taught, Culture is not better or worse, it is different.
When we left for the USA people told us that we would not come back to South Africa. We were determined to come back to South Africa. And so, we thought by diminishing American culture we would ensure our return. Our attitude was “stingy” and our world was small, even though we were living in a large country.
It was liberating when we realised that culture was neither better or worse, good or bad, but different. Now Christine and I could embrace American culture and living. We loved our time in the USA, we loved the Americans we met, we loved the many other “foreigners” on campus and our world became larger.
Smaller and smaller
The man who finds our church not white enough is now considering being part of a “house church” movement. I am not sure what that means, but it feels like it may be a gathering of people who are like him. I fear that his may make his world become smaller and smaller, which would be a pity.
Stinginess
Our world is at the risk of increasing stinginess. The gravitational pull for me to only be with people like me is strong. The problem is, my world will become smaller and smaller. I don’t judge our ex-member. Generosity can be a slippery customer, and it is all too easy to feel threatened by a changing world and be pulled into a smaller and smaller world.
Pray for me
Pray for me, I want to be generous, I want my world to get larger and larger. I want to be radically inclusive. I want to see all humans as image bearers of the God who loves me, loves others and whom I love!
I hope you feel the same.
PS Check out my new Vlog
I wish God would hear my prayers. Been unemployed for six months. I have prayed and prayed but things just get worse. Feel like I have done something wrong.
Hi Ciaran, sorry to hear about your work situation. This is not happening because you have done something wrong and in some ways is a punishment. I will join you in prayer and trust that God will make a way for you. Hang in there!
May the God of all cultures bring us together under one umbrella to pray and thank the Almighty no matter what we have or what we look like it is our hearts that matters
Amen!
I like the image used, really colourful and brightened up the end of my not so good day.
I am glad Chris
Very interesting! I agree with you and sad how things are changing. Unfortunately not positively.
Let’s be the one to make the change – thanks Deirdre
Hi Mark
Grace was and is our Church of choice we were married there in 2015. We now live in Wales. We met you at the airport a few years back en route to Dubai. I love your vlogs instagram and messages etc of support and motivation they inspire us. I am extremely homesick but feel at home when I read your mails. Life is tough for an expat especially when all the news you hear from your home Country is negative and your family is still there. I missed out as to why you and Christine are “branching” out so to speak?. Keep up the good work. Love hearing from you.
Take care and God Bless you both
Dave & Shán
Hi Shan – I remember out airport meeting. Hang in there, it takes time to settle in a new country.Our story about branching out can be heard here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysnIdK2uoVg
Our ex congregant is not prepared to accept reality that despite skin tones our blood is Jesus Christ. It is sad but our heavenly father is gracious and shows mercy always despite our flaws. Let’s pray for him and others like him that they dont become alien to our family.
Great and gracious comment, thanks Neerosh
Will be praying for you Mark
Thanks for the revealed truth, we need to be more generous as our Father in Trinity also demonstrated generosity to us
Thanks for the prayer Teressa.
I love your blog. Your experience in America was interesting and the opposite in some ways of mine in Africa. Please pray for my son Donald who just had cancer surgery. Say hello to Christine for me.
Thanks Arlene, will pray and greet Christine
Grace has been home for four years now. Am just so grateful for your wealth of wisdom. And am even more excited by the avenue that God has chosen for your voice via this blog. My favourite scripture has always been Rev 12:11. Nothing is more powerful in changing lives than testimony. Your cander and willingness to share your intimate journey is not just inspiring, its life changing. And i will continue to pray that God will continue to bless that voice to change hearts, change minds and reach the unreachable. This is no doubt a move of God…look forward to the next installment.
Thanks for your insight and comment Shilav
Hi Mark,
I realised something interesting this week, maybe others can resonate, maybe it’s just me…
I am unable to extend generosity or just very bad at it, I must admit it and be transparent about it.
After reflecting on analyzing this I realized that my problem was my inability to accept generosity.
I then realized that my inability to receive generosity has a direct relation to my ability to extend generosity.
If I can’t freely receive something I am unable to freely pass it on which leaves me having to pay the price.
Thought I’d share it with everyone.
Thanks Chris
Great complement to your sermon on Sunday thanks Mark. Being one of the older Grace family I am learning that smaller, stingier thinking can pass down generations without you being aware of it. I hope we do a better job thru embracing Jesus’ inclusive and generous love.
Thanks for the complement Alan. Stinginess is a sneaky little fellow that we have to watch out for.