The "gaping need for evangelism"
Brad at The Broken Messenger has this observation about Western Christians and the occupation of Iraq:
Brad has shown me that my own thinking is inadequate on the relationship of world events and world missions. Is anyone else troubled by the concerns Brad has raised?
So far, I have heard little to nothing as to how the church plans to respond to the Iraqi issue. Whether you agree with the war or not at this point is moot, but how we Christians plan to address the huge, gaping need for evangelism and ministry in Iraq, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, etc. is a completely different issue. Sure, we can be politically involved, but are we to detach ourselves from the spiritual issues as well?
It really is an amazing thing to consider if we apply some introspection here. Here we have multiple avenues to spread the Gospel in ways only dreamed about in past decades, and the church today looks at the region with little more than shrugged shoulders in the hopes that our interests and ideologies are satisfied and met over here in the U.S. and in Iraq, while a cornerstone of our faith is ignored. The Gospel of Jesus Christ proclaimed and accepted widely in the Middle East? Now that would truly be revolutionary.
Brad has shown me that my own thinking is inadequate on the relationship of world events and world missions. Is anyone else troubled by the concerns Brad has raised?
posted by Milton Stanley at 6:09 AM
6 Comments:
I think I'm just ashamed that Brad's thoughts weren't at the forefront of my mind, too.
The church is not the issue here -- missionary work in country is heavily frowned upon by local Iraqi government and our military, for reasons that I believe should be obvious. There are a number of missionary organizations working to gain access,a nd they will respond once they can.
In the meantime there is the incredible witness of the many people we have in uniform that call Jesus Lord.
Thanks for your comments, guys.
Milton,
Thank you for the encouragment.
John you said: "The church is not the issue here -- missionary work in country is heavily frowned upon by local Iraqi government and our military, for reasons that I believe should be obvious..."
This is exactly my point, John, and I certainly include myself here when you speak of "church."
It didn't stop men and women from entering the country during Husien's reign and preaching, it shouldn't stop us now.
But if we are called to the world, it does not matter which country is safe or not. The apostles never calculated the possible personal cost to determine those countries that they believed they should or should not go to, and neither should we. If are called, we must go. In the mean time. we should be prepare ourselves to be ready and also aid those who are called themselves.
What's more, the blogosphere also has a great opportunity to make inroads in Iraq as their infastructure is rebuilt and proliferates.
So again, we should be ready to go whether by digital means or in person.
Brad
I think the integration will go with the Music, the seeds in the children, the recognition of holiness, the need for intimacy between the Father and God, the need for respect toward Women as Mothers and Daughters, and open relationship with God as conversation.
One comment on African Missionaries was that they didn't have to use their mouths in terms of saying hey this is what I am, the way they lived sold the rest of the village. Their servant attitude. The Oil of their Joy. More American Media that espouses Identity of Marriage as Fabric of Society rather than encouraging Pornography/rape.
Thanks, anon, for your comments.
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