Missionaries should know the gospel, and be trained in the great doctrinal themes of the Bible. They should also be good-hearted people, but the good-heartedness does not supplant the need for craft competence. This is also true of the other areas that surround mission activity. Missionary pilots should be really good pilots. It is not enough that they “love Jesus.” Medical missionaries should be trained, gifted and equipped in the best medical knowledge we have. We shouldn’t be sending naturopaths out to the villages to kill off the natives. Bible translators should have training in linguistics and techniques of translation, and should have mastery of both languages they are working with. And so on. Good intentions won’t fly the plane, won’t heal the infection, and won’t translate Romans. You have to know what you’re doing. Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings (Prov. 22:29). This includes the king of missions. Craft competence matters.
And this does not cease to be true when it comes to economics. One of the greatest blights that the Third World has had to endure is the ongoing, officious, meddlesome and incompetent generosity of the West. International aid, like the locusts mentioned by the prophet Joel, has destroyed millions. But that’s all right, we say to our smug little selves. At least we got some of that guilt salve on our white suburban consciences.
Every missionary who longs for his people to enjoy a better and higher standard of living (as he should) had better not try to get there by simple donation of money, goods, and services. Rather, he should read, and master, The Mystery of Capital by Hernando de Soto. While he is at it, he should also read When Helping Hurts.
These, and other books like them, should not just be read as something to just check off the list. The framework of wisdom here needs to become part of the orthodoxy of mission relief work. If a candidate doesn’t understand this basic framework in his bones, then he shouldn’t be entrusted with any mission relief work whatever. He should be bounced from the program just like a guy who flunked out of flight school — despite the fact that he really does love Jesus.