GlocalNet

As I speak and write, and at the same time engage in the world, I’m often frustrated that the American church, in particular, doesn’t get the global issues and how it’s affecting what they do at home and around the world.  Even the most “progessive” and “contemporary” and “emergent” expressions of the church in the West today don’t really address this.  It often shows up in my writing and speaking.  There is a sense of arrogance and the coolness factor of being the “IN” crowd and yet how “OUT” we really are to lunch when it comes to the world and how it is impacting us without realizing it.  Postmodern world, etc.—those kinds of words and phrases generally show our ignorance—postmodern west, yes—postmodern world, absolutely not.  HOWEVER, at this conference there are people from so many domains of society, and what we are experiencing in the church is no different from what communication is experiencing (open and closed formats), what business is experiencing (Starfish and the Spider), what education is experiencing (West vs. Rest) and every other domain.  The whole world is in flux, each domain is struggling to find itself—what an incredible opportunity for the church, or a nightmare that will lead to old metrics that no longer measure what really leads to change or old paradigms that were new 30 years ago—still based on a dream of modernity. 

I just came out of my task force in which I learned a tremendous amount.  It dealt with Democracy in the world and America.  Jason Brownlee, sharp young international relations expert from UT, made the most profound statement about America and Democracy “Those places we did less wound up leading to more democratic reforms, and those places we did more wound up with less.”  I begin to insert America for church and Democracy for church planting in my thinking.  The lessons were incredible—some of which I’ve already known—some not.  Democracy (CP) must be contextualized.  Democracy (CP) must not be tied to money, yet incentives.  Democracy (CP) should facilitate the emerging leaders not set up her own tied to America.  Democracy (CP) in each country must have her own heroes.  This stuff is big!  There is much cross-disciplinary learning to be done here, and I’m learning a lot.

Randall Mayne & Craig Fresch—I’m praying for you two men—and Brenda.  Kick cancer hard.  Do what the doctors recommend, yet don’t count on what they say your chances are.  Move ‘em chunky legs.  Learn everything you can through the suffering you’re going through.  Teach us all more about God and what He’s teaching you in this time.  Fear not—you are not alone - God is with you and so are we.