TMC - Highlight #4 - Global Jesus Movements
Soooo, if we understand that it’s a Jesus movement, not a church planting movement - the cpm comes out of the Jm - the next question is what is left? And I’m convinced it will be the emergence of global movements. For the most part, movements have been tribal and national. As I stated at the first part of the chapter, the Chinese are emulating this in their “Back to Jerusalem” movement. The linking factors in these movements will be two things - first is the centrality of Jesus and second the flatness of the connection points. Gateway global cities, airports, global entertainment sites, are all places where churches are emerging today. A global cpm is the natural progression from where we have come. It’s the natural response of an emerging global church. It’s necessary to engage society at all levels. It’s possible because of an emerging third culture which is global. It’s also possible because of technology and all forms of connectedness.
I believe they will also come from the East and South. I believe those of us in the West will join movements versus starting them. Not that we are “incapable” but because God cares for the whole world and for the Gospel to span it they are going to have to be driving it like never before. That means that we can join, resource, and participate and even lead in some ways- but they need to be point if it’s going to be really global.
Blog Categories
Search Glocalnet
Support
Partners
Comments
May 8, 2008 at 06:22 AM
I think it will come from the south and east because in the west we believe if we throw enough money at it we can make it happen. As you look at movements, money almost becomes a hindrance. God can use our money but He does not need it to make things happen.
-----
May 8, 2008 at 07:07 AM
Mr. Akins is right. Money can be a hinderance. The greatest thing that the West has to offer the Jesus Movement is heart. That's a lot harder to give than money, time, ability or anything else. It is much more than prayer, however. For some of us the necessity is to participate financially, because that is where our heart is. The movement may not need money to succeed, but we NEED give it for genuine participation.
Bob, I think that the movement is tribal, national and global. An ascending movement. Now, what connects us. Some large denominations have insisted that the glue that binds them is missions and evangelism. That is good, as far as the "doing" stuff. However, what must bind us together, in global movements, is the first word in your name for it. The binding is Jesus. When we are less concerned about fellowship related to our interpretation of what Jesus did, and more concerned with getting together around who Jesus was/is, the glue will hold, the binding will be.
Two Christians walking together or millions, dare I say billions, worshiping together...that's a movement.
Now, does that mean that we will all be hanging out singing and preaching all the time. Not if God has anything to do with it! We will be so into Jesus that we will be acting like Him in everything we are and do. And, the doing will certainly include the development of worshiping congregations whose reason for being is misson.
May 8, 2008 at 08:21 AM
I can't remember exactly where in the book it is, but something that blew me away is that here in the West, we've got the money, the "structures", the "models", the organization, the conferences (the biggest church planting conference in the universe just wrapped up), and yet we're not seeing movements. In the East, they have little resources, poor organization, no conferences... yet movements are happening. They're simply loving God, loving people, are passionate and obedient to Jesus, and disciples are being made.
Maybe some of our problem here in the West is our over-reliance on our own inventions instead of relying on God--if we read enough books, through enough money at it, and go to enough conferences, it'll happen. Well, it's not... God loves putting our "wisdom" to shame and using what we think is foolish.
May 8, 2008 at 10:32 AM
May I throw in a referral here? Dr. Timothy Tennent, Professor of World Missions and Indian Studies at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary - and adjunct faculty at the Luther W. New, Jr. Theological College of Dehra Dun, India - has just published a tremendous book called "Theology in the Context of World Christianity" (Dec 2007: Zondervan). In the book, Tennent offers a significant and often-missing look at the blend of theology and missiology, specifically addressing each major component of theology from a particular global perspective. For example, in pneumatology, he looks at the impact of Latin American Pentecostalism. Tennent's work seems to nicely complement Bob's, and I highly recommend the book. (I told my theology prof the other night that I've never thanked a prof for including a particular text before this...and that the first chapter alone is worth the price of the book!)
May 8, 2008 at 04:37 PM
So, for the most part - what we see is money can really mess things up if we aren't careful. Good to know in the NT that money wasn't the deciding factor at all - Thanks for the book recommendation Randy.
Leave a Reply