The following is an excerpt from my work-in-progress Bible Study booklet on Job:
In
the very first chapter of the book of Job, Satan presents this challenge to
God: “But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will
surely curse you to your face.”
Shortly
thereafter, on another day Satan doubts Job’s faith in God and sets forth a
second challenge to God: “But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh
and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
So,
the book of Job begins with Satan essentially calling Job a “rice Christian.”
The term “rice Christian” came about in the 19th century because
starving and needy people would come to the missionaries for the rice rather
than the Savior. The term has evolved since then to negatively mean anyone who seeks
the benefits of Jesus without desiring the relationship with Him.
Missionaries
in numerous foreign lands have observed the phenomena and are often
disheartened by it. Sadly, wherever there are evangelistic efforts, there are
occasionally impure motives in evidence.
People
sometimes make a profession of faith in Christ while having the true motive of
obtaining rice (thus the term “rice Christians”), soup, blankets, or other aid.
The
tendency of people to misrepresent themselves to gain something is nothing new.
Satan brings the ploy to our attention in Job, perhaps the oldest book of the
Bible. Many missionaries have
encountered this sort of pretense in countries all over the world, as we will
see below by the variety in labels missionaries have given these folks. Even
Jesus spoke directly about people who act one way, but have another hidden
motive.
“Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not
because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had
your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to
eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.”
John
6:26-27
Maybe
in the United States we don’t really consider rice as something for which
we would fake a religious conversion. Think about it, though. I bet each one of
us can draw from our memories instances of people who have ulterior motives.
How
about that person who goes to church to increase the list of his business
contacts? To find "followers" for his social media platforms? To pass out more business
cards?
Or
what about those politicians who suddenly begin regularly attending services
right before an election? Often after the election they are nowhere to be seen.
Then
there are those single young adults and older divorcees who are simply
attending church to hopefully change their relationship status from single to
married.
“Rice
Christians” profess their faith but mostly want something else.
Other
labels given over the centuries for these people include:
Curry-and-rice
Christians - named such by missionaries in lands experiencing great hardship
and poverty.
Famine
Christians – named by missionaries who felt that without a famine the people
would have not even come to hear the message.
Loaf-and-fish
Disciple – some missionaries were extremely careful not to attract this type of
native who only came for a handout.
Are
you a “rice Christian?”
What
form do your prayers typically take? Do you pray mostly like these:
“Father
please give me ___________.”
“Lord,
help me with ______________.”
“Jesus,
I need ____________________.”
“God,
can you please _____________________.”
“Oh
Lord, will you _____________________.”
Now
put yourself in the place of a father or a mother. If your child is always
asking you for STUFF, aren’t you eventually going to wonder how your youngster
really feels about you? Won’t you start
feeling like a giant Gimmee, Gimmee Vending Machine?
Real
faith is not just about getting things we need, even though our Father God is
wondrously generous and gives us way more than we could possibly deserve.
Instead, it’s about a loving relationship and a growing depth of closeness and
communication with Him.
There
is no impure motive associated with it, rice or no rice.
