A summary of my reflections on this day, which was devoted in part to issues that separate and divide us. But first a note: this day was far better for me than the previous day – perhaps as good as yesterday was frustrating. I had several key meetings, I was 99% awake and functioning, and the plenaries were very good. (as you can see from the length of this posting.)
Morning Bible Study
I got in late to the morning Bible Study because of a meeting with a guy who does the marketing for the new Operation World. Sounds like they have some incredible stuff coming down the pipe. I’ll write more about that later, but I’m really looking forward to their global screencast in November.
When I got to my seat, Ruth Padilla DeBorst was just starting to speak. She was an incredible speaker. The Scripture of the day was Ephesians 2. Virtually every sentence she said was loaded with content. I scribbled as fast I could because again today I didn’t bring my laptop. Here’s some of my notes.
- Eph 2. – how the cosmic reign of God is made visible right here.
- In the time this was being written, cultures were being pressed together in Roman cities. Official story: pax, peace, security. Taxes high but paid for the peace and we were secure. Unrest swiftly suppressed. Unquestioning obedience to the emperor who enforced harmony in a multicultural society. (Any parallels to modern cases are purely coincidental—said very much tongue in cheek).
- Paul had strong words to say for the Gentiles and their background. Jewish believers might have been tempted to sit back proudly. They might think, be like us. We determine who’s in and who’s out. We tolerate a bit of “color” but in the end if you want to be part of the church you have to be like us. Paul cuts that off at the knees. We are all one in death and sin.
- We have all been brought from dust to glory—even tiny minorities. They are not forgotten cogs in the machines. They are beautiful, God’s masterpiece, works of art.
- Good works are a mark of discipleship, their lack is also a telltale sign.
- Yet salvation is not of good works.
- Discipline of remembering is the antidote to blinding pride.
- Jesus is our peace. Pax Romana was fragile. Enforced by crosses, nails held together by taxation. Angels announced a different kind of peace. He brought peace not by economic and military might but by giving himself away to the poor and marginalized.
- Side thought: why do we focus on “our rights” and “our responsibilities” rather than our responsibilities to each other?
- Jesus made peace by focusing on justice. Put down self-righteous Peter and praised despised tax collector. Spoke to women, brought men to account. Made peace through his death. In resurrection sent his disciples to the ends of the earth. Empowered by spirit to speak in Gentile languages.
- Paul in prison for bringing people into the church when Jews wanted to keep the “ins” in and the “outs” out.
- Paul preached mutual submission to all. Acknowledged leadership of women and Gentiles.
- Jesus’ teaching of peace was grounded in peace being, peace making. God created order from chaos. In Jesus, reconciliation was created in the midst of sin. In the church, community is made out of separation.
- No longer strangers, aliens but fellow citizens in the Kingdom.
- Citizenship in Rome depends on a number of factors including family line, money, etc. Citizenship in Israel depended on family line. Kingdom citizenship is not money, power, etc. It is a gift.
- If others are tempted to place our trust in nations, temples or churches, we must proclaim Christ is the peace—the cornerstone—without which it all falls apart.
- God lives where we allow God to put his imprint, tearing down walls and bringing about reconciliation.
- Do we envision ourselves as living stones fit together? Most powerful witness is reconciled relationships. Are others struck by our loving, just relationships?
- Fruits, agents of Pax Christi. Incarnate God’s plan for the cosmos. We are God’s dwelling place.
After-Tea Plenaries.
Pranitha Timothy – International Justice Mission
- People struggle to believe God is good in the midst of suffering.
- 27 million slaves in the world. Most in India.
- 10 to 15 million children in slavery in India alone.
- Grew up in a village where poor had only one role: to toil in salve labor. Trapped in rice fields.
- Hidden camera video of people enslaved in unrepayable debt carrying hundreds of pounds, faced with beatings, torture, rape. Hideous video. Weeping.
- Here is a pic of a 3rd generation slave. No hope of dreams for his future. Slave master plans to keep him forever. They interviewed the slave master on hidden camera. He was jovial about the slave’s condition. “This is how I operate a business. They will never repay the debt. We will never let them leave.” Casual, laughing. Repellent to me. But the slave was freed (I didn’t catch how). And he had the courage to testify against his master, and the slave master was sentenced to 5 years in jail. Applause. I’m thinking, only 5 years? But it’s a start.
- Sale of human beings is the largest black market in the world today. (Did I get that right? And I’d like to check that stat. But it’s probably true. If so still horrible.)
- God is just… 97 million slaves need your response… seek justice, defend the oppressed, rescue the orphan…
Brenda McNeil
- Sen. Kennedy came to South Africa and spoke against apartheid. One evening a white politician spoke up and told the US delegation to go back to America and fix the problems in their own back yard. Raised the issue of credibility: the ability to speak out on this was compromised by a lack of credibility.
- Credibility even if you’re telling the truth – if credibility is down, ability to speak is harmed.
- Young people look to the church, hard pressed to find answers. Not looking at what we say—but at what we do. Look at Ephesians. Neither slave nor free.
- How do we as the Body of Christ regain our credibility?
- We must take seriously how we deal with issues today.
- Billy Graham in an interview with David Frost said racial and ethnic hostility was the foremost challenge today. This hostility threatens modern society.
- World is looking for gospel modeled by us.
- Side thought: Gospel is good news. How do we model it? Not finding good news but announcing it. Show who God is by grappling with the issues.
Shadia Qubti – Palestinian
- No room for us! This broke my heart.
- 10% of us are Christian.
- We are a minority among a minority struggling in a world calling for our exclusion.
- Grew up in a Baptist church in Palestine.
- responsible as a Christian to reconcile with enemies. Without this Jesus death on the cross is incomplete. (Not sure I caught the right words but I got the gist of her meaning.)
- Jesus gave me power to reconcile. I dedicate myself to pursue reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians. In Jesus there is room for all of us. In jesus we become living stones.
She was standing right next to Daniel Sered, an Israeli Messianic Jew.
- Mother not proud of me being Christian. Father would be outraged if he knew I was here next to a Palestinian. I was a good Jewish boy. In university I met a girl who introduced me to Jesus. For first time being Jewish made sense. Felt burdened to share this with Jewish people. I serve with Jews for Jesus. Want to see the Gospel go back to the Jews.
- Israel unreached, hostile to the Gospel.
- When Israeli Jews and Palestinian Christians can say “I love you in Jesus name,” the world will see the power of the Good News.
- Only hope for peace in Israel is Jesus.
- Pray for the peace of Israel and her people.
Anotine R from Rwanda
- The wounded healer
- We are all wounded. Different situations. Some of us are healed. Some with bandaged wounds. Some bleeding.
- I come from a broken nation that is healing. I grew up bitter and angry but Jesus Chrsit made a difference in my life.
- Center of gravity of Christianity in south. Countries where Gospel growing fastest also have worst atrocities.
- What has gone wrong with evangelization and discipleship?
- 1994, Rwanda 90% Christian (62% Catholic). Model of successful evangelization. Then atrocities. 1 million deaths in 100 days.
- What has gone wrong: 4 areas
- Lack of contextualization. Missionaries found 3 groups when they arrived – Hutu, Tutsi, Tua. Massive social problems. Preachers never addressed those issues.
- Form of presentation. We are experiential. Missionaries gave memorization of Scriptures that did not touch daily life. When problems came, people fell back on traditional religion. Conflict, relied on family teachings.
- With themselves. Preached love but did not model it.
- Church & politics. Catholic Church worked hand-in-hand with government and failed to maintain critical distance, and so could not credibly critique.
- God brought reconciliation. Thought many would turn away from Christianity after the atrocities, but Christianity has instead grown to 95%. Churches in Rwanda have discovered the message of reconciliation:
- Rediscovered sin & alienation. Sin was the dividing factor.
- Power of preaching Christ & him crucified.
- new perspective on own identity in Christ.
- on the mission of the church – reconciliation
- social relationships – one nation under God
- power of unity – credibility from unity – John 17
- Examine our evangelization. Identify woundedness in our nation. Bring reconciling power of the Gospel. We think when we become Christian our wounds are automatically gone. Its not automatically true. We need to bring healing.
Salvation Army leader. I didn’t catch her name.
- Started with the story of church leaders in a park, yelling Scriptures at the top of their lungs. Only 3 old men in the park, drinking on a park bench. They asked her, “Ma’am, why are the yelling at us? We know we’re sinners!”
- Conflict sometimes evident, other times hidden.
- Works with Justice mission in the UN
- one day news of a girl’s plight had come in. The girl had been on the way to get water when she was raped. After the attack she went crying for help back to where she came from. On the way she was surrounded, accused of adultery. They dug a pit up to her shoulders, and then stoned her to death in it.
- How can we help this world of violence to drop the stones
- Invited UN people to Salvation Army events.
- As people dropped hostility, bridges were built and dialgoue began
- We are creation people, created anew. When God separates light from darkness, where should we be? In the separation, bringing light to darkness.
- In another minute or so I’m told they are going to turn the microphone off because I’ve talked too long. But let’s pray. Lord, turn each of our microphones off. Give us ears to hear. Let me be invitational. When light and darkness are divided by walls, no one sees each other. Help us to tear down the walls.
We had the first Missing Peoples dialogue today. There were probably, I don’t know, maybe 50 people in the room? Lots of partnerships represented. Excellent meeting I thought. Met many people that previously I had only known via email.
Night time plenary on the Middle East
Sam Yeznaghar, Iran.
- Iran is a closed land with open hearts.
- 10s of thousands of Iranians turning to Christ.
- 1974, 500 MBBs. More Iranians have come to Christ in last 30 years than in last 1,300 years.
- Whole families coming to Christ.
- People coming to Christ in prison.
- Committed to evangelizing whole region.
- Published cautions against turning to Christ
- Many becoming full time evangelists.
Imad Dabour, North Africa
- No church for past 8 centureis.
- Algeria—thousands, perhaps 40,000
- Tunisia—100s, maybe a thousand
- Chad – serious persecution. Salvation+Persecution is what you get when you come to Jesus.
Salim, Palestine
- Understanding work of Christ to choose no retaliation.
- Shy away from the cup of hate.
- Stand up for justice, be a voice for justice.
- Palestinian child who lost his father, killed by a soldier. An Israeli shared with the child about when he lost his own family in the Holocaust. The child learned forgiveness at the foot of the cross. When a Bedouin saw the Israeli & Palestinian embrace, he was amazed and asked how that could happen.
Raja El Achi – Lebanon Children
- An impassioned plea for the children of Lebanon who endure fear, unrest, ridicule
- Children dream to leave as they grow up
- Parents are concerned for their children’s future
- Churches are concerned when families leave to seek better life elsewhere
- Agencies concerned for # of unreached children
- We have freedom to worship – why not reach children
Clari Chayess, Egypt
- Jesus took action to heal the sick, feed the hungry
- Told Peter to take care of my sheep
- Our role is tot ake care of the sheep
- I was hungry, and you fed me
- Help the families and the youth through love
Second half on brokenness and disease
A heart wrenching, heart breaking video about a girl who had been caught in human trafficking and enslaved in a brothel for 4 and a half years.
Moving testimonies from Cristo Greyling and Princess _________, both of whom are HIV positive. Cristo’s girlfriend married him anyway and thanks to access to medications they have two HIV-negative children. If I understood it right, Cristo contracted HIV through a blood transfusion and Princess from her parents. Both run ministries to help HIV-positive people.
This was an interesting day where we really delved deep into the walls that divide us and the nature of Christ as a reconciler who tears those walls apart. Incredibly moving testimonies and rich teaching. Take the time to listen to some of the videos when they become available.
Thanks for praying for the videos. There were some… issues… with our internet connectivity. These have begun to be dealt with, as I understand it. I think the videos are now being posted.
{ 0 comments… add one now }
{ 1 trackback }