K.P. Yohannan wrote in "Revolution in World Missions" that 'A Bowl of Rice is No Substitute for the Holy Spirit.'
The reason for K.P.'s assertion is that he has seen too many "missionaries" become so concerned about social and physical problems that they often become misguided in their work. One of the "lies" he believes the enemy has used to confuse the Church is that we cannot preach the Gospel to a man with an empty stomach.
K.P. goes on to say that 'A man's stomach has nothing to do with his heart's condition of being a rebel against the holy God...For all people, the only way to become a child of God and inherit His kingdom is to repent from sin and humble ourselves before the Lord.
Another "lie" is that people will not listen to the Gospel unless we offer them something else first. "Substituting a bowl of rice for the Holy Spirit and the Word of God will never save a soul and will rarely change the attitude of a man's heart." He goes on to talk about humanitarian efforts to educate, feed, and improve the health conditions of the world and yet many "died more educated, better governed and healthier - but they died without Christ and are bound for hell."
The point in all of this is: "Feeding programs can save a man dying from hunger. Medical aid can prolong life and fight disease. Housing projects can make this temporary life more comfortable - but only the Gospel of Jesus Christ can save a soul from a life of sin and an eternity in hell!"
"We must learn from the past mistakes of missions and not repeat them. Just before China was taken over by the communists, one communist officer made a revealing statement to a missionary, John Meadows: 'You missionaries have been in China for over a hundred years, but you have not won China to your cause...But we communists have been in China less than 10 years, and there is not a Chinese who does not know...has not heard the name of Stalin...or something of communism...we have filled China with our doctrine. Now let me tell you why you have failed and we have succeeded...You have tried to win the attention of masses by building churches, missions, mission hospitals, schools and what not. But we communists have printed our message and spread our literature all over China. Someday we will drive you missionaries out of our country, and we will do it by the means of the printed page.'"
He was right! May we learn the lessons that history teaches us. The Gospel message - printed and spoken - is the only way to lead people out of their sin and see the Kingdom of God advanced in our world.
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