GlocalNet

I spoke at the Q conference in Portland, Oregon, last week that Gabe Lyons puts on.  9 minutes goes fast - so here are the notes I told you I would give you.  This is probably going to be a book - maybe! 

We live in the 21st century and we get that.  But when it comes to understanding the world and engaging it as well as other faiths we act like it’s the 18th century.  Postmodernism knocked the breath out of the American Church - but Globalization is going to take it to her knees if we don’t wake up.  The reality is, we don’t get globalization in the West beyond the exporting of our economy, western culture, and tourism - and globalization is far more than those three things.  In the West today, we are trying to redefine the church - but sadly apart from the world and apart from the explosion of the Eastern & Southern churches.  That we can find ourselves and reinvigorate the Western church apart from its global paradigm and context is foolishness and more sadly stupidity. 

Religion will continue to grow.  Because of separation of church and state - faith has to sustain itself, not the government.  Because of secularization - the church has been forced to go to its essence and DNA versus models and institutions.  Because of globalization - everyone is everywhere and all religions are all places so everything is spreading everywhere. 

The people I feared most are the ones I’ve come to love and care about and and are the ones who have taught me many things about the world that I didn’t know or understand.  From working with atheist, secularist, and communist Vietnamese - what I was forced to do was to develop my understanding of philosophy.  From working with Muslims, near east and Middle East places - I was forced to develop a deeper yet simpler understanding of theology.  From working with people who hurt around the world, it took my faith more to a kingdom perspective of the gospel.

So, if religion will continue to grow - and none of us are going away - then how do we relate?  We can ignore it - stick our head in the sand until there’s a major blow up.  We can fear - that leads to fighting, terrorism, etc., or we can engage as Christians.  Here’s the good news - God is Sovereign and in control!  If that’s true, and millions of Muslims have come to America - then we should not fear.  Could it be that God has allowed it so we could show the love of Jesus to others?  Is the Holy Spirit alive and active?  Has God called us to tell all people about him?  If these 3 truths are true, then what a fantastic and wonderful opportunity for followers of Jesus.  So, how do we do it?

1.  Learn to speak ONE CONVERSATION.  All things - all places.  We can’t have a public and private conversation anymore.  Everything is public - and this is good - because it brings consistency both to what we say to our tribe and what we say to the other tribe.  That will bring clarity for those who speak with one conversation and nothing but conflict for those who don’t.

2.  We must have a new platform of MULTIFAITH.  Those of us who are conservatives in our faith are not relativist.  If we wait until we all agree we will never connect.  We must connect so we can deal with social issues together.  Multifaith says we don’t agree on everything but we do want a relationship with you.  It’s beyond being politically correct to morally and intellectually honest but still respecting the other.

3.  Let the GLOBAL DEFINE THE LOCAL.  This is what our http://www.globalfaithforum.org and our multi-faith weekend were about.  I have to connect the Middle-East to East-Texas if it is going to make sense.

4.  Never, Never, Never VILLIFY another religion.  It’s just crazy.  That’s like saying “Your mama sucks, but mine will adopt you.” 

5.  Release the FOLLOWERS.  Focus on the hand, heart, then head - not head first.  If we focus only on clerics we never connect the masses.  The greatest value of religious gatekeepers is their willingness to open channels not just for themselves but for others.

6.  Make DISCIPLES.  Let’s be honest - we’ve been lazy about it because our culture is still in a context of Judeo-Christian. We also have to redefine it as hear and obey, which everyone can do when following Jesus, versus learn-grow-go. 

7.  Respect the CULTURE.  Bang on the front door first.  Don’t charge in to other countries and demand they accept you.  You wouldn’t allow someone do that at your home, why would you do it with national gatekeepers? 

8.  Serve not to convert but because converted.

9.  Live out our best and most unique gifts - as Americans that’s our ideology.  With all the talk of American’s lessening influence - there is one thing we have to offer the world that other people don’t - our ideas.  We are a nation of immigrants with many different ideas coming together.  Despite our faults and failures - no nation in the world has ever done what we have done or been born of ideas - generally it’s just race.  Our concepts of freedom of religion and human rights are what the world longs for.  We must live up to the highest ideas of those notions. 

You can Google some of the phrases above and articles will show up - you can also follow me on twitter at bobrobertsjr -