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Why do Americans go on "mission trips" to industrialized Christian countries?
For example, I know people who have gone to Germany, Ireland, and Greece on mission trips. I don’t understand why anyone would go to a country that already has a majority Christian population and/or can/does take care of its own poor/sick/homeless/etc to do "God’s work." Shouldn’t these people be putting more effort into countries in Africa or Asia instead? If they are going to do mission work in an industrialized Christian country, why not just do it in America and help their own country? It seems to me like these people are just looking for an excuse to say they’ve been on a mission trip but are actually more interested in leisurely travel and their own safety.
Because its fun to take a vacation on another cool country instead of actually sacrificing your time to help others.
Because its fun to take a vacation on another cool country instead of actually sacrificing your time to help others.
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Yeah, I’ve seen these people too in Greece. They usually walk around in large groups with colour-coded ties and starched white shirts. I agree that for many of them, it must be convenient to proselytize in a developed country rather than risk the dangers of the third world. Spread the Word in the morning, go for a swim in the afternoon.
But I think these people are also working on the assumption that Orthodox Christianity (or Roman Catholic, in a place like Ireland) is not "real" Christianity. These are the kinds of people you see online referring to Catholics and Christians as two separate groups. I’m not religious, but I think this is a deplorable mindset. It’s one thing to talk openly about your differing beliefs; it’s quite another to actively seek to "steal" members from another Christian church.
Unfortunately, there are people in every country who are dissatisfied with their lot in life and who are drawn by promises of salvation from new groups.
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