GlocalNet

You can have the best product in the world - but if you don’t know how to communicate it or you don’t understand your context - it isn’t going anywhere.  As followers of Jesus we often use language that “insiders” get - and then use that same language to the rest of the world and then are confused why the world doesn’t understand us.  Other times, we use “insider” language that was built for a world that no longer exists so there is a total disconnect on our part at the point of context. 

I’m off the Lusanne Swtizerland for 2 days where I’ll be meeting with a small group of leaders from 4 countries - Jews, Muslims, Christians, business leaders, political leaders - I think I’m the only pastor there.  I was thinking to myself about Billy Graham’s Lusanne meeting in 1973 when he brought together at that time the worlds top Christian leaders to talk about how the faith would spread around the world.  They meet about every 15 years and met less than a year ago in Cape Town, South Africa. 

In this meeting, though not as large, or exclusively Christian - some of what will be addressed is how believers of various faiths connect with each other in such a way that doesn’t put us in conflict with each other.  How do we hold on to what we believe, share it with passion, yet respect the cultures and people around us?  There is a far bigger question than even that - which is how do we in the West realize that we are no longer the only ones defining what following Jesus is - and let the rest of the world speak - and us not always speak for them. 

I believe there are two key issues that challenge our faith and our approach with the rest of the world that if we don’t understand them - we actually hurt our cause instead of helping it.  The first is tribalism.  By tribalism I mean that often our message is crafted more within out tribe (denominations, classifications, styles) and promoting our tribe than it is the gospel.  I’ve discovered that it’s rare that people are uncomfortable with the Gospel or followers of Jesus - they are often uncomfortable with our approaches and our approaches frankly are more for us to remind us of who we are than to introduce them to who Jesus is.  If our primary concern is the introduction of who Jesus is, our tribal responses should remain silent and stay out of the way.  Jesus is the focus not my tribe.  When I think of Christmas and the Incarnation I cannot help but be reminded that Jesus went beyond the 12 tribes of Israel and went straight for all humanity.  This is why he loved Gentiles, drunks, prostitutes, etc., - even when his whole tribe would despise them.  What would a non-tribal approach to faith look like in the 21st century?  I assure you, as someone who believes in the Great Commission, our approaches would change overnight if that were true.  Even how we treat the global church would change overnight from the West because we would respect other tribes within the faith. 

The second issue that gets in the way of people understanding Jesus and hurts our message is “religious conquest.”  As followers of Jesus we have been told to “make disciples of all nations” and we have been told to share the good news, and we have been told toe serve the world and bring reconciliation wherever there is injustice or suffering.  When we start thinking of taking over the world - we move beyond what God has called us to do - and how we treat people, and how our message is perceived changes radically.  I want everyone in the world to get to hear the good news of Jesus.  I have NO GOAL of Christian theocracies around the world.  If anything, if you study of the history of Christianity and the early church and even the ministry of Jesus - it was strong because it was a countercultural movement against the prevailing culture - not one that bent other cultures to it.  You bet, I want my values in government - but in the end, what I’m inviting people to is a relationship with Jesus - not a new world order - God has that one in his hands in the future and he will bring that one about - not me. 

I’m convinced the future of Christianity will not be pioneered or manufactured by religious professionals huddling in corners, isolated from the rest of the world - coming up with global plans - as much as it will be the religious of everyday followers of Jesus - living out their faith in practical ways, naturally talking about Jesus in the everyday interactions they are involved with.  That’s Antioch, that’s Samaria, that’s how it started in Europe, that’s how it historically has spread around the world.  Thus, the greatest thing a person in a faith “vocation” can do is to help people live a genuine faith that serves the whole of humanity - only then can faith go viral, not when it’s controlled or convened - but released and connected with the whole world with every believer.  I think we’re talking movement - not organization here!