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I’m sitting here with my friend Eddy Leo who is the chief elder at Abba-Love Church in Jakarta.  This is just too good.  I wanted to let you guys read it . . . .

Bob - How should the church in the West respond to the church in the East?

Eddy - I think the Western church must understand that the Eastern church has something we can teach them. God is rising up Eastern churches to be the church that can finish the task but the Eastern church must work together with the Western church because God has given the Eastern church many practical things.  The Eastern church stands to do it first, but then the Western church can formalize it and make research out of it and share the vision and together we can complement each other.

Bob - Do you ever feel that the Western church wants to teach more than it wants to listen? 

Eddy - Some Western churches still think that way, but now some Western churches are beginning to understand God is doing something in the East and they are trying to learn from us. 

Bob - What are the top 2 lessons the West can learn from the Eastern church? 

Eddy - I think the Eastern church is very practical.  They just want to encounter God and then they can learn from the Bible about this experience,  so they become more practical.  In the West we tend to be more theoretical and linear - 1, 2, 3 - step by step.  In the East most of the churches face persecution and problems and it makes them more open to God and hungry for revival and depending on him so their passion is more.

Bob - Eddy, you definitely have a movement on your hands.  What role does theology play in that?

Eddy - Of coarse theology is very important as the foundation of the movement.  So we try to be balanced between the head knowledge and the practical. 

Bob - So Eddy, would you say you don’t have a well developed theology?

Eddy - No.  I am more REFORMED as our foundation BUT we are open to the truth that God brings progressively towards the coming of Jesus.  So we try to learn from other theology as well. 

Bob - I ruffled a few feathers the other day. I too am fairly “reformed” yet made the observation that I don’t know of any church planting movements driven by reformed theology.  Would you say you’re driven by reformed theology?

Eddy - Absolutely! 

Bob - So how is it you are a part of a movement that God is doing and yet it is reformed?

Eddy - It’s very rare for someone to be reformed and see a church planting movement. The reason I do is because reformed theology gives me the foundation for salvation but the Holy Spirit gives me the power for the day to day practice.

Bob - Does this mean you are charismatic Eddy?

Eddy – Yeah, we believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. In the Bible this is for our sanctification, but also for mission to finish the task.

Bob – Wow, so what you are saying is that reformed theology without a strong dose of Holy Spirit charismatic living will never produce a movement?

Eddy - yeah

Bob - Can I speak in tongues now?

Eddy - Why not!

Bob - lkfjgloisrjr;oihjboidrhtoierf

Bob - Thank you

Bob - Would you say all of these people following Jesus under your ministry would think of themselves as “reformed?” Would they even know what that is?

Eddy - Some do, but some practice it without knowing it!  We have a very small portion, 10%, who have a background in theology. 

Bob - Eddy do you realize most of the literature about church planting movements, even the terminology comes from the West but it’s an Eastern and Southern expression.  How does that make you feel when we don’t have any movments in the West, but we’re such experts about it? What does that say to you that you need to say to us?

Eddy - I think the western is too academic.  They start from concept first and then “we want a movement.” They try to go from concept to movement.  Here we do it first, and you write about it next! 

Bob - Eddy, how can you help us reach our Nation?  We are so lost and sliding backwards so fast.  Would you be willing to help us as American Christians?  How would you help us?

Eddy - I think the Eastern church realizes the past Western mission came to us so we could be Christian.  We are thankful for that, but if the Western church did that, then now it’s our time to bless the Western church and together we can do great things.  So we are willing to help whatever we can to inspire, whatever we can do to be a servant to help you.  We don’t have all the answer but maybe we can help inspire them to see God can do great things and there is hope.  I think the Western church must have CONFIDENCE that they have their own model.  You don’t have to be the Eastern church, but you can learn the principles from us.

Bob - Eddy being from Texas - we make the best bar-b-q in the world.  I’ve eaten with you several times in Jakarta this brown bar-b-q like stuff that’s incredible.  What is that stuff?

Eddy - We call it beef abon.  It means shredded.  It’s baked beef actually.  The spices like cinnamon, peppers, ginger, and also brown sugar and onions.

Bob - Eddy what do you like best about Jakarta?

Eddy - What I like is that churches are flourishing in almost every public building.  You can see churches on Sunday in malls, theatres, restaurants, all buildings that can be rented. 

Bob - Eddy - I love you, you wild “REFORMED” charismatic church planting movement machine.

I HOPE ALL OF YOU DUDES THAT WERE “THREATENNED” “DEFENSIVE” “GNASHING YOUR TEETH” OVER A SIMPLE STATEMENT FROM A FELLOW “SOMEWHAT” REFORMED COLLEAGUE WILL BE MORE OPEN TO A LITTLE SELF-REFLECTION SO WE CAN ALL GET A REAL CPM AND NOT TALK ABOUT HOW WE WANT A CPM.  I FOUND YOU A REFORMED GUY DOING THIS STUFF - SHOUT FOR JOY - AND SPEAK IN TONGUES.