Among Satan’s most powerful deceptions is fake “good”. I suspect it’s why we do mission trips to Africa instead of San Francisco. The poor think anything’s better than what they have and the rich think they’re good and have need of nothing. But both are deceived (Revelation 3:17). Good is not attaining affluence or material possessions (Mark 10:21, Mark 10:25). Good is right relationships -having a right relationship with God which causes us to have a right relationship with everything else (Mark 12:29-31).
And, a right relationship with God is made possible exclusively through Jesus Christ (Matthew 11:27, 1 John 2:23) . Without Christ, any idea or understanding​ that we have of God is askew which causes us to relate improperly to everything else (family, money, ourselves, etc). So, let us pursue real good which begins with feasting on the life and ministry of Jesus Christ (John 6:53-58). Start here.
Can you expound some more on what you mean by “I suspect that’s why we do mission trips to Africa instead of San Francisco?”
There’s a logic that says wealth is an indication that I’m doing something right. Conversely, if I’m poor, I’ve done something wrong. Thus, we target places like Africa rather San Francisco because we can perceive people as debased in Africa due to their poverty and having greater dignity in San Francisco because of their affluence. And, that misguided logic can lend to misguided work. Rather than a focus on making Christ known, we could potentially focus on improving wages, housing conditions, etc -all important things, but only within the context of a relationship with Christ. Without that, it’s a fake good.
If the point of missions is to make Christ known there may very well be a greater need in San Francisco than in Africa. And to be fair, I used a generalization to make a point -to be wary that what we’re actually pursuing or offering is authentically good (which I argue is a right relationship with God rather than the material things we venerate as good).
Thats insightful Paul…