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When Jesus prayed “that they all be one” (John 17) we interpret that one-ness in all manner of ways that fail to match our lived reality. But if we understanding it to mean an inseparable family bonded in/by the blood of Jesus (via faith in/allegiance to Him) our reality matches perfectly: warts and all. The challenge then remains: how to align.
We do not like to talk about it, but we cannot keep our head in the sand. The energy required for church and missions in the West to flourish is depleting, but there is good news: it is thriving elsewhere! This post reflects on these hard facts and concludes that Western Christians still have much to contribute alongside the global Church.
When it comes to effective outreach ministry, context is crucial. The gospel seed sprouts best in well prepared soil. As formerly Christianised nations became more secular, individualistic, and drift from traditional moralities there is an urgent need for us to adapt well to the changed tide, but rarely are we doing it well.
Evangelicals are coming under increasing public scrutiny. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Increasing exposure can create healthy accountability. But we’re also being judged by the moral standards of liberal secularism. These are atmospheric changes we need to account for as we fix our eyes on our ultimate destination.
More than a few social commentators reckon that we are seeing the dissolution of the neo-liberal globalisation project in the wake of the global pandemic, increasing inflation and a Russia-Ukraine war. Opinions are fracturing and hostilities rising, but it should not be so for those us in-Christ – and this is an opportunity for missions.
Our English-language concepts of love can be woefully inadequate, but we need strong concepts of ‘merciful loving kindness’ to lead us into effective Kindgom witness. God’s mission is always accomplished through loving sacrifice and there is no better time to remember that than through the Lenten season.
We live in an era of missions when, if we don’t consistently and persistently shift our expectations to match reality, we will suffer great harm. The triumphalism of yesteryear will not carry us forward. In humility we must surrender our grand plans and yield to the new and wonderfully fruitful thing God is doing in our day.
What English speakers call the ‘dragon’ is a mythical creature that exists in cultures throughout the world. It is representative of that which humans cannot control – circumstances, powerful people, governments, etc. God is the only one who can ‘tame the taniwha’, but we can terminate its influence by lives lived faithfully in-Christ.
The COVID-19 endemic is giving rise to much speculation about the end of the world as we know it. Among some Christ-followers there is stiff resistance to government and other authorities, but in this instance there is little theological basis for it. The good news is that God is still at work behind the scenes and we’re not at the end of the story, yet.
In light of the great uncertainty around us, we can easily be tempted to try and take control of that which appears to be within our control. We must rest in the fact that God is in control and, for those who are in Christ, that will always work out for our good. Rather than fatalism, we need to hold on in faith and focus on meeting the needs of those most negatively affected.
As COVID-19 restrictions persist for good reason, it is understandable that our patience wears thin and we start to push the boundaries. But by doing so we can put others at risk of harm. Rock solid leaders cannot afford to think only in terms of the needs of their own. We must work to keep the collective good in mind, always acting with love for all.
Meekness is a grossly under-rated quality in our day and age, yet Jesus insisted that the meek will inherit the earth. In this month’s post, I reflect on the need for meek leadership in a world that is dominated by agressive activistic visionary leadership that imposes a leader’s will on others to achieve goals.
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