Have you ever wondered what am I doing? Maybe you are saying to yourself I know what I am doing but I don’t know why. Here in Thailand there are many challenges some similar to the USA others are more unique to Thailand. Years ago missionaries came here for the love of the people and for the love of God. They came with enthusiasm and for the right motives, and they brought with them the American way of doing things.
There is of course nothing wrong with the American way, in fact as an American I can appreciate it and I enjoy it. However we sometimes forget the Gospel way. Paul said that he became all things to all men…yet today we want to mold people to be like us rather than becoming what the people need. The greatest need Thailand and the world has is the Gospel.
Herein lies the issue at hand; how do we induce a people steeped in a pagan religion that does not believe in God to hear us about God? What can we do to reach the masses here. The dominant religion is Thai Buddhism which is a hybrid of other Buddhists teachings. It is ingrained in their culture and we see the influence at every turn. If one leaves the Buddhist belief system they are cut off culturally, and economically creating a hardship for families. So the church here is small. In the Southern provinces, the church is confined to house churches 20-30 or so in each congregation. In the Northern provinces there is a mixture of house churches in Chiang Mai, Chinag Rai etc. and dedicated church buildings depending on who the missionary was from the USA. It is estimated that we have around 100 congregations and we know that in a population of Sixty-seven million souls there are 8 provinces with no church of Christ and less than five thousand Christians.
There has been a good work but it has been slow and now it is hindered by division. American missionaries bring the Gospel and I praise God for that. Some however come spreading lies. Harsh sounding isn’t it? Yet it is true. Some have come from our liberal colleges bringing false doctrine and spreading their lies. Before you stop and think oh this guy is riding a hobby horse I will tell you I left my boots in the USA. What I speak of is the heresies of old cropping up again and splitting the church which is so small we cannot endure it.
Missionaries come to Thailand proposing instrumental music in the worship, and in case there are those who read this asking what is wrong with it, let me say first it destroys fellowship and unity among Brethren which is sin. Secondly it is teaching to worship God in error as it is not as Jesus commanded in “spirit and in truth” therefore it is sin. Then there is the lying about it not being sinful, which is sin. it corrupts the church, ruins fellowship and corrupts souls.
This however is not the only false teaching to come across the waters to Thailand. There has also been introduced the false doctrine of women preachers and women in leadership roles. This is contrary to God’s teaching, which is sin. It contradicts an inspired apostle, which is sin, and it also disrupts the harmony, destroys the unity and destroys souls again massive sin for the fleeting moments we are upon this Earth.
These controversies do not belong in the church, but they are here. They do not belong in Thailand, but they have been brought. America, do not send any more false teachers. Church if you want to do good, stay home. What are we doing? Jesus must be preached. God must be glorified but instead what we see is false doctrine proclaimed and man made doctrine taught and what are we doing? We are dividing the church of our Lord on the subject of Instruments of Music. Where did they come from? They were introduced into the Catholic church and some dare to divide the church because of a teaching of the Catholic church? What a sad commentary when missionaries claim to speak for God when in fact they teach the doctrine of Popes. What are we doing? I am opposing false doctrine and proclaiming Christ, what will you do?
Steve Webb, evangelist
(c) 2016
Unity of the Faith 