Missions Textbook 44
Ethics

We Never Saw It Coming: An Introduction to Christian Missions (textbook)

Different cultures have different worldviews, which result in different ethics, which encompass different definitions of the right and wrong of gray areas (drinking, dancing, bribes (tips?), marriage!). Although there are no gray areas with God, since He sets the standard for right and wrong, He doesn’t always give us black and white rules to follows in every situation. For instance, what are the differences between extortion, a bribe, a tip, and taxes? The missionary must determine the answers to these questions before landing on a foreign shore.

Extortion demands something that the extortionist has no right to receive. This destroys justice in a society. The Bible forbids believers from initiating extortion. Demanding a bribe is extortion. Malachi 3:5; Luke 3:14. From a biblical perspective, extortion is always wrong.

A bribe, however, is a bit trickier. A bribe is defined as giving a person something that the receiver does not necessarily have the right to demand or receive. Even if the receiver does not “ask” for a bribe, he is still demanding it if he withholds services owed to the person who does not give him a bribe. Are there some cultures that incorporate “bribes” directly into their economy, which means, everybody accepts bribery in that culture because everybody needs it as part of the economy? Does the Bible forbid giving a bribe? Chapter and verse? Do not give a cultural answer for this question. Give a biblical answer. Exodus 23:8 forbids taking a bribe, but not giving one. Acts 24:26 gives an example of an unsaved person hoping to receive a bribe, but taking a bribe is very similar to extortion.

One argument against giving a bribe is that you are supporting the system by participating in it. A counter argument is that giving bribes are part of the economy, and you might have to leave the country because you won’t survive the regulations that are necessary to stay in the country. Some of the nationals may view you as having an entitlement attitude, when everybody else has to give bribes to survive in that culture. It will be hard even to make friends in that situation. Should you offer a bribe for some reason? Why or why not? How do the national believers handle this issue? How should you respond to another missionary who disagrees with you on this issue? How will you be treated by the other missionaries for your viewpoint?

A tip is given to a person after services have been rendered, usually in the hopes that the receiver will continue to give good service the next time, and the receiver hopes the good tipper will return in the future. Does the Bible forbid giving tips? What’s the difference between a tip and a bribe? Could it be that they are the same thing using different words to soften the issue and make it sound more acceptable?

Taxes are money given to a government for government services. Luke 20:22 (“Is it lawful to pay taxes?”). Romans 13:6-7 (Apparently, believers should pay taxes.) Does God allow the believer to find any way possible to get out of paying taxes? How will your decision affect others when they discover your views? Should you cheat on your taxes in a foreign country? Some countries have tax treaties with other countries. If a citizen of one country moves to another country for an extended period of time, the person may not have to pay taxes in the country he moved to. It’s worth checking out. Be careful, however. Not paying owed taxes in a foreign country can become jail time, not just a heavy fine. Do your homework.

On these issues of ethics, the missionary first needs to think through each issue for himself and decide what his own conscience tells him. Then determine the mission agency’s policy on these issues. Here are some related issues that need to be discussed before arriving on the field.

Some cultures view cheating on tests as dishonest, whereas a culture that places honor and family over rules will see it as a cultural sin if a person does NOT help his fellow student cheat on a test when he needs the help.

Some cultures have national laws that treat the poor less favorably than the wealthy and women as of less worth than men. Do you think it is acceptable to teach a woman to read in a culture that forbids it? Is that against Romans 13?

If another person violated your country’s laws, would you report them to the authorities? Maybe? What determines yes or no? Will you turn in illegal aliens or help them adjust to their new culture?

If you live in a country not your own, would you go to the authorities about someone who carried out an illegal action in that country? Would you help nationals break their own laws to keep them out of trouble?

How would you respond if you are approached by your own overseas national security agency and asked for help in gathering information to help protect your own people? Does Hebrews 11:13-16 contribute to the discussion? What does your conscience say?

How will you respond if a gay couple asks you to perform their wedding? If they are not believers, does it matter who they marry? Why? Would you ever recommend divorce in certain situations? Which ones and why?

How will you respond if you discover that your mission agency’s policies disagree with your conscience? How far will you take this?

The overriding principles are clear: Obey the government – Rom. 13; 1 Peter 2:16-17; Obey God – Acts 4:19-20; Show Compassion – Matt. 9:13; James 1:27; “Know” your own conscience and the mission agency’s policy.

Recommended Reading:

Free to Disagree by Wecks to get a handle of the different approaches to gray areas.

A Case for Bribery: Giving Versus Taking by Gregory Nichols.

https://emqonline.com/node/568

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1744-1714.2012.01134.x/full

https://emqonline.com/node/571

We Never Saw It Coming: An Introduction to Christian Missions (textbook)

SHOP

Privacy Policy