Renouncing Passive Christianity

Theology is a good thing, but when theology becomes a hindrance to one’s relationship with God, it is an obstacle, not a path to a relationship.

The classic case of theology being a bane rather than a bridge was of course Job. When hard times hit, an understatement to be sure, Job’s long held theology pointed to himself as the root of the problem. His sin, no doubt unknowing, was the cause of God’s wrath. The simple solution for Job was to acquiesce to theology and repent. But Job did a rare thing, he rejected his theology rather than God. Job, in some ways, went from a defensive to an offensive position; a dangerous and potentially life threatening stance. Not physical death, but a separation of association with fellow theologians, but more so, the fear of being banished from God for not going along with accepted belief. No greater risk can a man take than to turn against time-honored tradition in search of truth.

Some years ago I was asked to speak on “The Purpose of Prayer in Missions.” Prayer, as we all know, is a mystery. Accepted theology about God and how he interacts with mankind doesn’t help. Some established thoughts about God is that He has a wonderful plan for our lives; He has chosen those who will accept Him; He knows our need before we ask Him; not our will but His be done. If one follows these statements to their logical conclusion one could decide that people are mere spectators in a grand cosmic plan. No need to pray, really, as He has determined the outcome and our only real role is a willingness to be a background extra on the stage of a script written before the foundations of the world. Such thinking leads to passive faith and practice.

But there is another side of the God/man relationship. Jacob who wrestles with the angel all night until he receives a blessing; Abraham who takes the knife to sacrifice his son only to be stopped by Jehovah who said, “NOW I see that you believe (didn’t He know before?); the parable of the widow who wore down an unjust judge and Jesus using the analogy for His followers to never cease praying; the admonishment for us to “work out our own salvation.” This mindset is active, engaged in faith and practice.

What if Job is right and conventional theology is the easy road to passivity and resignation? What if God really does care what we think; that we can really change God’s mind on matters; that God really hasn’t chosen those who will be saved and it does make a difference that we take the Good News of Christ to those who have never heard? Is it possible (hang on to your theological hat, the storm is coming) that God, who is omnipotent has limited His omniscience so that man can be a full partner in relationship with the Creator? Having a pro-active faith makes a difference in how we pray and what we pray for.

In the end God will still be God and we must accept His decision (prayer is not getting our way, but pleading our case). Having a positive faith instead of a passive faith means we, His creation, can live each day in active negotiation, interaction, relationship with the One who loves us so much that He denied His own Son’s request, “If it be possible, let this cup (the agony of the cross) to pass over me.” The choice is ours. We can lay down with passive resignation of fatalism or rise up, take the cross that is before us (you didn’t think life would be without struggle did you?) and be engaged in the gift of life that God has given us.

Culture and the Elderly

Ten days ago I had to make one of the toughest decisions of my life.  My dad, who turned 90 years old in May, became ill and had to go to the hospital.  It was not a life threatening illness, but it could have been serious if not attended to.  My father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s a few years back and slowly each day, physically and mentally, reveals his deteriorating condition; every minor infirmity takes an enormous toll. 

It became clear to me that my mom, 86 years old, small and frail, could no longer take care of dad.  After much prayer, consultation with my brothers and mom, we made arrangements to have dad transferred to the Veteran’s Home when the doctor released him from the hospital.  This past week has been one of personal human sadness.  My parents are separated each night for the first time in their nearly 65 years of marriage.  We go to bed wondering if dad feels lonely; there is a deep sense of guilt that perhaps we have abandoned him.

My Indian friends do not understand how we Americans can put their parents in a nursing home.  The extended family is strong in their culture and it’s unimaginable that they would not move their elderly parents into their home or at least make sure they were taken care of in their own home or that of another relative.  But, then again, Indians can’t understand how or why Americans cook their own food, wash their own dishes or clean their own homes.  That’s what the servants do. 

My landlord in Delhi was nearly the same age as my dad when we lived in India.  I watched my old friend slowly decline and though he was not put in a nursing home I can’t say that the family care for my landlord was any more compassionate or more caring than what many American elderly receive.  Mr. J’s extended family attended to him less, on a daily basis, than we do with my dad in a nursing home 40 kilometers away.  Instead of a qualified medical staff looking after the elderly, the task of bathing, cleaning and feeding in the Indian society is relegated to the same person who cleans the house each day.

The issue of the elderly in culture, as with most things, cannot be generalized.  Each family in every culture make decisions based on the relationships children have with their parents.  Some American families do indeed seem to cast off their parents into nursing homes, as do Indian families who seemingly cast off their parents into the hands of hired staff.  I believe those actions by both cultural families are the exception, not the rule.  Be they American, Chinese, Indian or European, most family members do the best they can for their parents when the tough choices of caring for their final days faces them.  It is the bond between children and parents over a lifetime that determines the last days, and one should not judge either the individual or the culture in such matters.

Mom asked dad yesterday if he was saying his prayers.  His answer from a voice that once was strong now barely a whisper, “I try to, but sometimes I fall asleep.”  That’s okay, pop, go ahead and close your eyes.  God’s marvelous grace continues to sustain you and those who love and pray for you each day.

Insider Movements and Secret Disciples

Question: Can one be a disciple and not believe? Can one believe and not be a disciple?

Answer: Yes.

How can that be?

A disciple is one who follows the teaching or philosophy of another. You can call them teacher’s, guru’s or swami’s. I may be a disciple of say, Rick Warren (pastor of Saddleback Church, author of the Purpose Driven Life) because of the worldwide work he does for social justice and world peace, but that doesn’t mean I believe everything that comes out of Warren’s mouth or every project he launches. As a pastor Warren knows God’s Word I will listen to his teaching with confidence, but his instructions will not be the final word on doctrinal or theological issues. Jesus had many disciples, but not many believers. So, yes one can be a disciple and not a believer.

Being a believer doesn’t automatically make a person a disciple. Belief is a trust in the claim but doesn’t always translate into a commitment of following. I would suggest that the vast majority of Christians in the U.S. (and using that term I am saying born-again believers) are, at best, marginal disciples. They may attend church, give a tithe, but again, most of believers in the West are short on even these two basic activities of discipleship. Being a witness for Christ, demonstrating the fruits of the spirit is a greater indicator of being a disciple of Christ; gossip, having an unforgiving and bitterness in your heart toward your brother, dishonesty in business, covetousness, pride won’t keep you from being a believer, but it will be hard to sell your faith if you are riddled with these undiscipleship qualities.

After Jesus was crucified there was a rich man by the name of Joseph of who asked the Romans to let him have the body of Jesus to be buried in his own grave. The Bible calls Joseph a “secret disciple.” How long was a he a secret disciple? One year? Two years? We don’t know, but he was no doubt a believer who had not yet declared openly his faith in Jesus.

In Muslim and Hindu communities, where the family and social structure is deeply constrained, I believe there are thousands of secret believers, who are not yet disciples. Whenever anyone writes me and quotes the scriptures about how God’s Word demands open confession I remind them of the guy from Aremethia, or his friend, Nicodemus who came to Jesus by night (we still don’t if he ever became a believer). Yes, Joseph did come out of the closet, but the day of his declaration of discipleship wasn’t his day of salvation, he was a secret disciple before he was a declared disciple.

When I get notes about how we should be willing to die for the name of Christ or be ostracized from our family for His sake, I automatically discount it from anyone who does not come from inside the social/family structures of Hinduism, Islam or Buddhism.

And, quite frankly, even if you come from a fundamentalist Hindu/Muslim family and declared your faith openly risking life, limb and fortune and believe everyone else should do the same, I would still take you back to Joseph, Naaman, Nicodemous and make the argument that there is no standard universal pattern for discipleship or for believers. Many have indeed have suffered for their faith and I do recognize throughout history of the church the martyrs who paid a high price for discipleship. However, first and foremost for all true believers is belief or trust that Jesus is the Christ of God who gave His life for man’s salvation. How that belief is played out in action is as varied as those who call on His name. It may be in front of a church or at baptism; it may be in a one’s room all alone for years.

It is my contention that if we can give tolerance for discipleship (you who believe but who are not yet perfect), then we surely can allow God to work in the heart of believers who are not yet known. To not allow this grace will surely be an obstacle for many who might truly be interested in the Good News of Christ and His salvation.

Cheering For People In The Race

If you have ever watched the Ironman Triathlon you know it is truly inspirational; a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike race and, to top it off, a 26.2 mile run. The pro’s can do it in a little over 8 hours; the rest of the field has to complete it in 17 hours.

The stories of those who compete are emotionally moving. Cancer survivors, amputees, seniors in their ‘70’s and everyday people who just want to compete, all take up the challenge of a grueling physical and mental test.

While I am stirred by the athlete’s competition, there is another component of the Ironman competition that is also inspirational – those that line the road cheering the competitors on. As the 17,000 participants of the Ironman pass by, it's the cheering crowd who pass out water, clap, and say "whoohoo - yeah, you're doing good, keep going." Even at mid-night and the last person is on the track, there will be someone out there cheering them on.

It’s hard to underestimate cheerleaders (not the pom-pom type on the sidelines of a football game, but those who cheer for those in the game). Anyone who plays sports knows the difference on how one plays the game when the stands are full of yelling fans versus the low feeling of playing a game with no one there to watch. Any team will tell you they would rather play games at home than in someone else’s stadium. Screaming fans in the stands translates into “home field advantage.”

Cheerleading touches every aspect of life. My family is made up of cheerleaders. Whenever someone does something, usually there’s an “Atta boy,” attached to it. It’s not uncommon in our family to give high 5’s to a seven year old who does a good job in a coloring book, a thirteen year old squeaking out notes learning to play the trumpet, or the sixteen year old who aced her calculus exam. But what’s truly amazing to me is how the spirit of cheerleading is prevalent among even the adults, my daughters and son-in-laws. The “way-to-go” and “that’s awesome” are simple phrases that affirm each other and encourage them to keep going in the race of life.

But not all people know how to encourage one another. If they do, it's usually a backhanded comment. Here is what you won’t hear from cheerleaders as they line the highway of an Ironman competition.

Pickup the pace, fat boy, you’re way behind.

I did this race last year and my time was at least an hour ahead of yours.

Who do you think you are to enter this race? You’re no athlete.

Yeah, you’re doing good, but you’ve got a tailwind to help you.

If I had a good bike like yours I’d be racing too.

Sadly, there are too many people along the roadside of life who just can’t cheer for anyone because of jealousy and feelings of insecurity.

The purpose of the blogsite is for missionaries and the issues missionaries face. You’re in the race and I hope you have some good people on the sidelines cheering you on. We need it to continue to run this marathon of service around the world. But the greater question is this: Are you a cheerleader to your family, to your colleagues and people who you interact with on a daily basis? While your race is important, don’t forget to cheer someone else as they pass by.

PS - After writing this blog I received in an email from Colorado:

Dear Dr. Lewis,

I just finished your book (The Journey of a Post Modern Missionary) and I wanted to thank you for the valuable information. I have had many cross-cultural classes in college but, of course, none reflected missions as they were secular school. It made a lot of sense. Thank you.

A cheerleader for the race, someone I’ve never met.

Mental Health and Missions

That evening she was having trouble breathing. The doctor and hospital was several miles away. She died in her living room as her family watched helplessly. Later the autopsy revealed she died of a blood clot. Not yet forty years old, she left a husband and four children.

I thought of that event in Kenya, which took place 25 years ago, while reading an article in the July 2010 issue of Evangelical Missions Quarterly entitled, “Trauma and Traumatic Stress in Cross-Cultural Missions.” The authors did a survey among missionaries in West Africa and Europe and found that 71% of men and 64% of women serving in West Africa; 47% of men and 30% of women in Europe, had experienced trauma on the field (serious illness; car, train or plane accidents; unexpected death of family members; immediate exposure to fighting, civil unrest, or war; burglary; serious threat or harm to family members or close friend, immediate; evacuation). Of that number 20% of men, 16% of women in West Africa; 19% of men, 0% of women in Europe suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSS).

In my time on the field I knew missionaries terrorized by robbers, two friends who accidently ran over and killed kids and people who went through coups and coup attempts. In addition to these stresses in the life of a missionary there is the added pressure of homesickness, loneliness and everyday tension of living in a different culture.

As one who disciples missionaries I spend a great deal of time on the “effective” aspects of cross-cultural ministry. I don’t spend as much time on the “affective” dimension of mental and emotional health, yet, I realize that one of the chief reasons people leave the field is due to the affective tensions on families.

We are often encouraged to pray for missionaries. Without question prayer is the number one thing we can do for our brothers and sisters working overseas. But there are other things the church and sending organizations can do for the emotional and spiritual health of our cross-cultural colleagues.

1. Provide better training for missionaries before they leave for the field. The approval process for missionaries should include good screening on psychological and emotional stability. Even the healthiest of missionaries will crack under the weight of trauma on the field, but a mission organization is derelict in their duties if they ignore personalities that may be most vulnerable to stress environments.

2. Make sure there is a well qualified mental health provider for those on the field. It could be a pastor or someone in the sending organization that is trained to help people in trauma situations.

3. Sending churches and mission organizations should be aware of what their missionaries are facing on the field and help them in coping with stress, whether that be encouraging missionaries to find professional help on the field or making sure that missionaries “take a break,” through vacations or trips outside their countries. By all means one should be careful not to criticize missionaries who seek ways to cope with trauma or stress.

I am not a mental health expert, but in my time as a coach visiting missionaries on the field, invariably the issues of culture fatigue, manifested in everything from family discord to cultural bitterness, become a part of our discussion. The life of missionary is rich and rewarding, but it’s also a career that places people in tough and difficult situations. I am praying for my colleagues today and I hope you are as well.

Whatever You’re Doing In There…Stop It!

Growing up with two brothers, one who designated himself the “eldest” by 5 minutes and the other 4 years younger, we were often a rowdy bunch. From time-to-time my dad or mom would yell at us from the other side of the house, “Whatever you guys are doing in there, stop it!” That sentence assumes guilt before a crime has been committed. Looking back, however, it probably saved us from getting the dreaded belt whipping (yes we grew up in era where “spare the rod and spoil the child” preceded Social Services and Child Protection Laws).

Of the many things that hinder mission work is the inability of people to get along with others on the field. Missionaries haggle over everything from mission policy to disputes on proper theology in the church. Most reasons for missionary discontent, however, can be boiled down to common human problems, personalities.

Spiritual Elitism - The church is filled with people with a superior spiritual mentality. One of the reasons we have so many denominations in the world, 38,000, is that every group believes they have a corner on spiritual truth. Mission groups on the field, from the same organization and same denomination, will always have someone who feels they walk just a little closer to Jesus than their colleagues and make it a point to be the ad hoc Holy Spirit for the rest of the group. My advice is, like Jesus; spend more time with sinners than with the Pharisees. The religious crowd may crucify you, but at least you are doing the work of the Father.

Cliques - Years ago a guy gave me good advice: “If you have to adopt another person’s enemies to be your friend, it’s not worth it.” Cliques are formed by boundaries of relationships. If a person is a part of group “A” of friends, by default they cannot be friends with people in group “B.” People you don’t even know will be against you, your wife and kids for no other reason than their friends don’t like you! Stay out of cliques; don’t adopt other people’s enemies to be “in” with others.

Jealousy - The root of jealousy is the feeling of anger in one’s own inadequacies. A jealous person is one who wishes they were like others, (their success, their family, their looks, their abilities) but since they are not they will do all they can to tear that other person down. A jealous person never comes to grips with the fact that God has made us all different and they cannot be content with how God made them. Jealous people are spiteful people. When around a jealous person minimize what you do and build them up. It won’t solve their jealous tendencies, but at least you won’t feed their insecurities.

Busybodies - I find it fascinating that so many people want to have an opinion on the lives of so many people they don’t even know. Under the guise of “I’m just concerned…” busybodies spend much of their time either gossiping about other people or giving unsolicited counsel to people they feel need their infinite wisdom. My advice to those who work with busybodies is keep an arm’s length away from those people, don’t give them an ear for their concerns and above all, don’t repeat anything you hear from them. “Praying about it,” is a cheap way of being a busybody and trying to be spiritual at the same time.

Tensions on the field in inevitable. There are some people you can get along with; there are others you can’t no matter how hard you try. The Apostle Paul knew that and wrote, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men” (Romans 12:18). Like my folks told us as kids, whatever your are doing that is causing problems on the field…stop it.

What 3.6 Billion People Don’t Care About

In a round-table discussion in a recent missionary meeting the discussion turned to an odd topic. “When was the church established, before or after Pentecost?” I wasn’t there, but I was told the debate became quite heated.

There are approximately 3.6 billion people who live in North Africa, Middle East, South Asia and Asia Pacific. 86% of that population has never met a Christian. They could care less about when the church started. Here are other issues that 3.6 billion people don’t care about:

Which version of the Bible people use. You may like the KJV, NKJV, ASV, NIV, NET, NLT or the other 100 versions, but guess what, 3.6 billion people need to hear any version of God’s Word. They don’t care about which translation is better, closer to the original or which version we deem to be inspired.

When Jesus will return: pre-millennial or post-millennial? Why would 3.6 billion people care about a second coming when they have yet to hear about His first coming 2,000 years ago? And what is “millennial” anyway?

Which church or denomination is doctrinally more sound? I know this will come as a shock to my Baptist, Pentecostal, Church of Christ, Orthodox friends, but 3.6 billion people have no idea, thankfully, about the division of the Body through denominational and doctrinal disagreements. My guess is that some of each group will make it heaven, so before God takes you on to glory, share your faith with the 3.6 billion who have not yet heard His Name.

Who has the authority to preach, teach or baptize? It doesn’t make any difference to 3.6 billion people if the message is presented through one who has or has not been ordained, whether they are literate or illiterate. God is sovereign; He can even use a woman!

I think you get the point. I understand all of these issues, and a thousand more topics Christians argue about, are important to the church. Our theological, and often narrow, “cart” is before the “horse” of 3.6 billion people who are left standing without a witness of Christ’s salvation. 3.6 people could care less about many things the church is obsessed with and I honestly wonder if God cares.

Training Missionary Professionals

Fireman, policeman, teacher, IT worker, missionary, nurse, farmer, carpenter, which do you believe from this list needs occasional updating on their skills and/or knowledge to remain effective? No doubt some professions require at least annual retraining, other professions need upgrading several times a year. Wait a minute; what’s a missionary doing on this list?

I was visiting a colleague recently on the importance of training missionaries. He has the unenviable job of trying to convince cross-cultural workers their need for being taught in the skill of their profession. As we talked about the challenges of his task we identified some obstacles of missionaries, new and old, buying into the idea they need for pre-field, post-field and ongoing training. Some of the obstacles are philosophical; other areas of resistance are practical.

Philosophical/Theological Opposition

Missions is not a profession, it’s a calling.

No matter how you view career missions a person still must learn some basic skills for cross-cultural work. Being called doesn’t mean that God is supernaturally going to make a person better in relating to culture, make them more linguistically equipped or how to communicate the message of Christ culturally relevant to people who are of a different faith worldview. These skills still need to be taught.

Missionaries have the Bible, they don’t need anything else.

While knowing the Scriptures is foundational for every missionary, most missionaries are taught (a) from a mono-cultural and Western perspective and, (b) taught Scripture from a theological/hermeneutical grid. Since Scripture is as much a multi-cultural book as it is God’s Word, missionaries need more training on how to present the Gospel in their context, not just merely how it is interpreted from one’s own cultural context. Context gives meaning. The words one uses, even God’s Word, have little to no effect until it is put into context.

More education doesn’t make one more effective.

I’m not sure if this is “ignorance is bliss” argument or just an anti-education bias. This is like the 1 Timothy 4:8 argument, “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things.” Yes, compared to godliness physical exercise is less important, but exercise does profit a little. Though more education doesn’t insure success, the lack of understanding of culture is, in my opinion, has a greater risk of failure in ministry. The issue is also not how much knowledge but what type of knowledge that is needed for the task at hand. Having a MDiv., with a good working knowledge of Greek is helpful, but how does one utilize that knowledge speaking to illiterate people in the bush of Africa or the polytheistic Hindu in Nepal is the real issue.

Practical Oppositions

Time. It has already been a long process in getting to the field, adding another 2 – 3 months of training is a hardship.

Learning a new computer program is time consuming. A person has three options: Just don’t learn a new program and stay with the outdated system and not fool with the new; install it and play around with it until you figure it out; read the manual, take a class.

As with illustration above, missionaries often just ignore training, believing that what they have learned in ministry and life thus far is sufficient for overseas work. Cultures, like operating systems, are different and changing all the time. Just ignoring this reality will retard missionary effectiveness.

The “learn as you go,” might work but more times than not OJT ends up taking longer to understand culture and how to be effective. Sadly, many people give up on missionary life because frustration sets in when they are on the field and, rather than working through the issues they just go home.

Training, like reading the manual, takes an initial investment in time but the end result is that a missionary will be able to enter culture armed with at least some understanding on what to do and how to do it among the people they have committed themselves to serve.

Money. Raising money for training just delays getting people to the field.

How much is preventive medicine worth? It’s probably a whole lot less than going to the ER.

Career missionaries spend a ton of money for everything from plane tickets to flat-screen tv’s and I don’t begrudge them one bit for money needed to live and survive on the field. But a significant number of those people raising money will come home after their first term on the field and many others will remain on the field not making a significant impact on those who have never heard the Gospel. Money spent on being fully equipped for cross-cultural service is not a waste. I would argue training is an investment for family and God.

I’m glad that to know that if I have to call 911 that the fireman trains every week to fight fires; for the policeman who is upgraded on procedures daily. I’m glad the nurse looking after me in the hospital is not functioning from the classes she learned in nursing school 10 years ago but up-to-date on today’s medical technology. As a profession, career missionaries should be as current in their occupation as any vocation that deals with life, death and eternity.

Training in Transylvania

The first time I visited Romania was 1993 when some of my former students in the U.S. invited me to teach cross-cultural studies. It’s been 11 years since my last visit to this country and my class is much the same…how to present the Gospel in a contextualized relevant way to people of different cultures.

Though the group was not large, those in attendance were focused. They know God is leading them to serve outside of their own country, though some are still working through that process of where and when. One couple will be going to Namibia in a few months; another couple wants to work among Muslims, perhaps in Somalia. Another student has his sights on India.

What was refreshing for me on this trip was to be around people who take their faith seriously. In the church I spoke to on Sunday the place was packed as we worshipped together for over three hours. My students actually wept when they prayed for the persecuted church throughout the world. It’s been a long time since I have been around such heartfelt devotion to Christ. I understand that devotion for Christ comes in many forms and I am not negating the commitment to Christ by those in America, Kenya or other places. It was just really great to observe the Body of believers in this part of the world.

One idea floating from these past ten days is that next year Romanian’s to join me in India for cross-cultural studies. It’s ironic that in 1992 I trained North Americans in India who then came to Romania to serve; 19 years later it’s possible that Romanian’s will go to India for intercultural studies. Perhaps, we will also have students from Ukraine. Maybe someonereading this blog would also like to join us in 2011.

Tough Oil and Missions

The other day I was listening to some “expert” on U.S. energy policy. He said that the days of “easy oil,” was over and the future of drilling will be only to difficult places. Deep offshore drilling, in the Arctic and other places is what he described as “tough oil,” where it is expensive and high risk for the environment.

In a recent Wall Street Journal article entitled “How Missionaries Lost Their Chariots of Fire,” I was reminded again that in today’s world there is no longer any “easy mission” work; only “tough missions” remain. Among 3.6 billion people in this world, 89% of the people have never even met a Christian and the chances of them ever being introduced to Christ are slim to none. Fewer people are signing up for career missions these days; fewer of them are doing tough missions.

“The overwhelming majority of American missionaries today are ‘vacationaries,’" the WSJ article points out. “Joining mission trips of two weeks or less, they serve in locales where Christianity already predominates.

“The purpose, then, of their visit is to battle the ills of poverty and to stretch their own spirituality.” According to studies by Robert J. Priest, a missiologist and director of the doctoral program in intercultural studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 82% of short-term missions today go to countries in the most-Christian third of the world. Only 2% land in the Middle East.

“The work these missionaries do reflects a paradigm shift says David A. Livermore, executive director of the Global Learning Center at Cornerstone University. ‘In a postmodern context it goes against the grain to go in and do hard-core proselytizing. To millenials, it really feels like al Qaeda in Christian wineskins.’ And ‘that's a good shift,’ he adds, because ‘it's caused us to see it's not enough to say Jesus loves you and then jump on a plane and go home.’"

So that’s the reason for short-term, social ministry work among the most Christianized countries of the world; post-modern Christians don’t want to be seen as al Qaeda-type proselytizers? Easy missions, the “feel good” work of feeding programs and orphanages is more palatable and requires less commitment required of tough missions of learning language, contextualizing the message and disicpling people in the faith. In attempt not to offend we are light with no salt.

Like tough oil, tough missions require risk. Our pioneer forefathers knew that, and paid the cost. Tough oil today is more expensive and there are no guarantees of results with every well that is dug. Easy missions is the passing out candy to orphans in Chennai or having a youth meeting in Mexico. Tough missions is living with Muslims in Senegal or among the Hindu’s of Nepal. When I meet those people I realize there are some who continue to ride chariots of fire.

Review of "Radical"

A pastor emailed me and asked if I had read “Radical” by David Platt and, if so, what were my thoughts. At the time I was in Africa but ordered it to read on my return. Here are my thoughts on “Radical.”

From the perspective of an average North American Christian, Platt’s book is indeed radical. I would also say that his challenges to the Church are very much needed. The lure of the American dream and consumerism is powerful and prevalent. Platt does a good job helping the reader see that being a follower of Christ is not about being blessed by what we have, but being blessed to bless others with Good News of the Gospel.

Platt also does a good job in reminding the average reader the great need of the Great Commission. More than 4.5 billion in this world are not followers of our Lord and, in a recent study I came across, among 3.6 billion people 89% have never even met a Christian. My hat is off to anyone who continues to beat the drum for the need to reach the unreached.

The issue of poverty in this world, addressed in this book, is not unlike many that come across my desk each year. Ron Sider’s book, “Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger: Moving from Affluence to Generosity,” is still the standard on this theme, but grateful for Platt’s reminder of our need to remember those in this world who have so little compared to our abundance.

I also am grateful for the many of the examples Platt gives in his book, both personally and those within his congregation who are doing their best to meet the needs of people in their community and the world.

Missiologically Speaking

From a missiological perspective Platt’s book is not radical and, for some readers, could be misleading.

My first concern is that of the examples of people who went on short-term mission trips, either medical clinics or those who served for a period of time serving the poor. Yes, short-term trips are helpful for American’s to out of their own context and be exposed to the context of those in other places of the world. Yes, I understand that many of those who experience those trips abroad have the potential to do even more globally (though I suspect the percentage of that group is small compared to the total of short-termers each year). And, while I am not totally against such experiences, Platt leaves the impression that type of radicalism is how the world will reached for Christ. That impression is missiologically unsustainable. Why?

Platt states, “Disciple making is not about a program or an event but about relationships.” In the next sentence he states, “As we share the gospel, we impart life, and this is the essence of making disciples. Sharing the life of Christ” (96). While I agree with the first sentence I cannot agree with the second; building relationships and sharing is not same.

As I read through this book the thought that kept popping in my mind was, “The radicals that he is talking about are called ‘missionaries!’”

Missionaries are those who, for the most part, gave up the American dream to live overseas.

Missionaries are the ones who, for the most part, are not bound by materialism.

Missionaries are the ones who are building relationships, not merely sharing their faith.

As I write this my daughter and her family have just returned to the states from three years in Senegal. Six months from now they will return to continue to work in a desolate part of Africa where the majority of people are Muslim and poor. They, like many missionaries who must raise their support (unlike the IMB) and, though they have long since given up the American dream, their goal is to have enough finances to live another term on the field.

Relationships, in Senegal, India or Indonesia, are often built over a lifetime. Breaking through the cultural prison of Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam still takes concerted effort in understanding worldview and contextually presenting the Gospel in their context. Radicals (missionaries) understand that, which was not even addressed in Platt’s book.

Biased? I plead guilty as I still believe that the radicals that will indeed impact this world are those who serve continually cross-culturally, be they Americans or from the emerging nations of the world.

For passion, good intentions and a good wake-up for the average nominal Christian sitting in the American pew, I give Radical a solid B (I love the passion, I am afraid of the mispercetions). Missiologically I give this book a D, realizing that the real radicals are those, who have, like the rich young ruler, already sold all he/she has, who has already left father and mother to go and raise support to follow the One who set the example of a radical. Next time you see a missionary who day-in-day-out slogs through the difficulties of living overseas, don’t see them as just another couple who needs a monthly hand-out…appreciate them as true radicals for Christ.

Women's Role In Missions: Crossing Cultural Boundaries with the Gospel

If you have been reading my stuff for any period of time you know that our ministry is discipling non-Western missionaries. The role of Western missionaries remains crucial but the world has changed and it is my contention that nationals should be at the forefront of crossing cultural boundaries that many from the West cannot cross.

The interview in this clip was done by Kathy Bowe who, along with her husband Darryl, are on staff with the Africa Theological Seminary in Kitale, Kenya. The missionary being interviewed is Christine Maina who was in my class last year. I am was very impressed with Christine and her testimony. As a single woman, she and another single lady went to the unreached areas of North Pokot. They have planted 17 churches since 2003. I have had a VERY small part in Christine's ministry, but I count it a privilege to influence her and others in the greatest of all tasks in reaching those who have never heard of the Good News of Christ and His salvation.

Makutano (Kenya) Bible Institute Project Report

Reflections in Kenya #3

I’m not an “either/or” type of guy. I do have my biases and indeed do lean toward what I think is a better way, but there are exceptions to every rule. Therefore, my comments below as it relates to national support, are tempered by a few exceptions.

I do believe in financial funding for special projects and certainly as it relates to on-going education, training and discipleship. However, I shy away from Western funding, and especially ministries, which are built and driven by aiding developing countries. Evangelizing the nations is not the same as feeding the poor, though somehow we have made taking the Great Commission a human rights issue and, like the blue helmeted UN soldiers, we have come to believe that everything done in the Name of Jesus is the Gospel. Why am I so hard on “open-ended” funding from the haves to the have-nots?

DIGNITY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH – I go back to the case study a Kenyan missionary going to Sudan. He launched out on his own with little to no support. He was driven by a call to reach those who have never heard the Gospel. A local church in Kenya decided to help him, but the support was meager, at best. Some American group, which only supports national pastors, heard about the missionary and wanted to take on his full support. The local church backed off supporting him for two reasons. One, if a rich group from the West will do the funding, why should they? Second, The local church can’t meet their own needs, including paying their pastor, so it is easier to back away from supporting a missionary and concentrate on their own church.

While some believe that Western funding is really advancing the Kingdom, I would argue that our generosity is in reality hurting the national church. Giving is a grace and it a universal disciple that plagues all congregations be they from rich nations or the desperately poor (read 2 Corinthians 8). We sap the dignity of the local church when we tell them that we will carry their financial responsibilities.

POOR MISSIOLOGY - I am torn and wrestle with the need for compassion for those who are poor, oppressed, homeless and hungry. I know we are admonished to help with the felt needs of those less fortunate and believe the church does have a role.

It seems to me, nevertheless, that many, certainly not all, of those who are involved in funding nationals, do not wrestle at all with these missiological tensions in at all.

To be brutally honest, many mission programs (be they social work of feeding, orphanages or funding national pastors; be they American churches or national mission organization) are driven more by their programs and their agenda and have little to no understanding of sound missiology. SOME, again, certainly not all, have the same philosophy as the current American political administration that one should always take advantage of a crisis. SOME, not all, see a tsunami, an earthquake, a drought, a civil war as an opportunity to raise funds. Helping the poor is big business, but it is not necessarily Kingdom business.

Do I support national works? Yes. Am I too cautious as it relates to funding national works, probably. But I hold to Marvin Mayers “Prior Question of Trust” (the PQT) as a good guide in such matters - “Is what I am saying or doing building or undermining trust.” Trust is not built by just writing another check. Trust is built, the Kingdom is built, is through biblical missiology.

Reflections in Kenya #2

What is most intriguing about the national church in developing countries is that some of them have an erroneous perception of wealth and missions. Somehow my Kenyan friends think that when a missionary from America commits to living overseas that they just load up a container full of goods and arrive on their field of service. Yes, it’s true, we come from a country that is the wealthy and, it is also true, that most western missionaries do indeed live in nice houses, drive nice vehicles and can surf the Internet even in the most remote places of the earth. It’s also true that compared to their standard of living that maybe we have more than our fair share of wealth. Though I understand the tension between the “haves” and the “have-nots,” there is an underlying principle of biblical missions that I believe is universal. In spite of the disparity of income, all missionaries, western and non-western face: (1) Every potential supporting church or donor says they don’t have money and, (2) Raising support is a part of the process of getting to the field.

SORRY, WE DON’T HAVE ANY MONEY - When I talk to the non-western churches about supporting cross-cultural missionaries they tell me “we are too poor to support missionaries.” Guess what, that’s what the American church says as well. They don’t quite say it that way; their excuse for not being a part of the Great Commission is that the budget is tight and for right now (suggesting one day maybe) they just can’t support missionaries. This with the backdrop of their million dollar capital program, the need to hire an administrative pastor or the need to raise money for their teen-agers to take a 10 day trip to Ecuador. Of course the issue is never about having enough, it’s a matter of priorities. On scale, whether it’s a church in Clovis, New Mexico or a church in Nakuru, Kenya, there is enough money in sending missionaries, it’s just a matter of whether they are truly committed to being a part of world evangelization.

First of all, non-western missionaries must recognize that they are not going cross-culturally with the goal of enhancing their standard of living. Missionaries going to another country should expect to live at the same level or less than their home country. While there are exceptions, most American missionaries don’t live as well in a foreign country as they do in the states and I know many who with far less that their peers back home. A missionary from the Philippines going to Tanzania will live as a Filipino, not as a westerner; same with a Korean’s going to Russia or a Kenyan going to Chad. If one expects becoming a missionary means economic lift in their standard of living they are going into ministry with the wrong expectations and motives.

SUPPORT RAISING IS PART OF THE JOB - I don’t like the system and wish it wasn’t a part of the job, but most missionaries must be willing to raise their own support in getting to the field. This is one area that some non-western missionaries don’t quite get. Raising support has two main purposes. The first is obviously getting enough money raised to support both family and ministry in a different environment. The other reason for raising support is to be a part of the education process for the local church in THEIR role in the Great Commission. The churches of Kenya will never really understand the need of reaching the world for Christ until they meet and partner with someone who has is willing to go to places where the Gospel has not yet gone. The Great Commission is not dependent on a country’s GDP. Every congregation throughout the world shares in this mandate from our Lord.

The pastor who asked me, “What can we expect from our grandfather in the Lord,” would like for me to relieve him of the burden that every missionary I know has had to do deal with, and that is raising support. By the way, it’s a long process. I know North American missionaries who have spent as long as three years trying to raise enough money to get to the field. Of course I think, given the wealth of the American church, that is criminal, but it’s a reality. Because the economy in Kenyan is much less, a national missionary should be able to raise his support, one church at a time, just like everyone else in this world. I pray it won’t take them three years to raise the needed funds but if it does it’s still a part of the process.

No doubt someone reading this may think it makes more economic sense to just raise money for nationals, accelerating the process as well as being better stewards of God’s resources. Though I understand the argument, for me, it is missiologically ignorant (in the sense of being unaware of sound missiology). To that issue I will address next time…to be continued.

Reflections in Kenya

The past two weeks I have been in Kenya. It’s great to be “home,” as my daughters call it (we served here for 14 years, the formative years for our girls). I am teaching missions at the Africa Theological Seminary in Kitale, a city of about 40,000 people in the western part of the country, near the Ugandan border.

In my partnership agreement with ATS, in exchange of my teaching their B.A. students, they allow me to bring in students not formerly enrolled in the school for mission studies. This year we have 15 people from Kenya, Uganda and Sudan attending the class. My mantra is the same; I want to influence people for cross-cultural ministry.

In the past three years I have been coming to Kenya to challenge the church to send out missionaries to areas where there are no churches. Those regions, towns and villages are few as this country as about 85% of the population claim to be Christian. I am very much aware that probably not more that 35 to 45 percent of the population actually attend church on any given Sunday, but there are tons of churches in Kenya and they use to say that Kenya has more western missionaries, per capita, than any other nation in Africa. Yet, there are SOME places in Kenya where there are not many Christians, which would include many towns and villages in the northeast (near Somalia) and on the coast, which is predominately Muslim. My great challenge is that the Kenyan churches send cross-cultural workers to Arabic Sudan, Libya or Djibouti.

Because of my pioneer status, arriving here in 1976 and working in remote areas of Pokot and Turkana districts, some of the young pastors, who were not even born when I first arrived, see me as some sort of a historical figure. They see the churches started (12 while I was here, now over 200), the Makutano Bible Institute still moving forward and, like many who miss the details of history, wonder what role they may have for the future, even more so, what my role will be for their future.

“We are your spiritual grandchildren,” one pastor said to me this past week. “What can we expect from our grandfather in helping us in our ministry?”

“Nothing,” I replied.

I certainly understand the economic disparity between the grandfather and the grandchildren, but the issue of continually underwriting the national church, especially in a country where there are more churches than you can count, seems to me a bit outdated. Dependency has long plagued the church throughout the world in developing countries. I am not opposed to lending a helping hand and throughout my career as a missionary aided worthy projects throughout the world. I will continue to do so. In the process of growth, however, there must be some movement on the part of the offspring. There are two reasons I believe for dependency within the Kenyan church, and many other parts of the world: (1) An unwillingness to pay the price among the national church and, (2) The ignorant missiological approach of the West.

(To be continued)

A Bit Excited

I usually don’t get excited about my trips overseas. Don’t get me wrong, I love what I do and so grateful each time God gives me opportunity to disciple people in how to communicate the Good News of Christ cross-culturally. But excited? It’s hard to get excited about being on a plane 18 hours of a 26-hour trip. I don’t get the giggles when I think about being away from my wife for three weeks, the long hours of alone time after the classes are done for the day. But, as I sit here, two days from going to Kenya and teaching at the Africa Theological Seminary I have to admit, I’m a bit excited. Why?

First, because I just heard that 20 people from outside the seminary will be attending the cross-cultural church planting class, including 5 from Sudan and 3 from Uganda. All of these people are either in cross-cultural missions or want to learn more how they can cross cultural boundaries in presenting the Good News. These 20 people are all a by-product (if that is a proper term) of our 14 years of ministry in Kenya. The churches we planted continue to reproduce other congregations, now over 200. The training school we established 20 years ago, Makutano Baptist Bible Institute, continues to equip pastors, church workers and now missionaries. Yes, it’s exciting to see how God continues to grow that ministry and obviously we feel a sense of humble pride (oxymoron) knowing that we had a part in what He is doing.

I’m excited, secondly, because I get an opportunity to “influence” the national church on equipping and sending missionaries. One glaring failure of my time in Kenya was I didn’t understand the importance of challenging and equipping people to serve the unreached as most church planting in Kenya is mono-cultural. The local churches we established have never really been challenged to be a part of the Great Commission. Most of the students at the seminary I will be teaching at have never even heard about missions or cross-cultural ministries. The church of Kenya has always been on the receiving end of missions, but seldom, if ever, been challenged in sending their own to people different countries in Africa and beyond. I am encouraged; yes even excited, that missions is catching on, slowly but surely. The 5 people from Sudan are a result of one of the graduates from Makutano who went to Sudan and attended my class last year.

I am excited, also, because I will be speaking at the first church we established in Kenya in 1976. After 34 years, Paul Gichuki, one of the first converts in Pokot, not only is still pastor of that great church but also has emerged as the leader of the on-going church planting effort in many parts of Kenya and surrounding countries.

Five years ago we were able to raise $25K to replace the old mud classroom buildings with brick. They need more classrooms, beds, a library and a borehole, which will cost $75K. I’m excited about being able to take over $15,000 to the Makutano Bible Institute. We have a long way to go to reach that goal, but I am very grateful for the churches and individuals who have given to this project and I’m ecstatic that we can help this school as they have a proven track record stewardship and effectiveness in training. (To learn more about MBI project, click here)

Finally, I’m excited that my wife and eldest daughter, Becky, will be along on this trip. Kenya “marked” our family for life. Sandy and I cherish our days in Kenya, the friends and relationships that were formed all those years ago come flooding back the moment we step on African soil. Our girls were formed in Kenya and hold strong identities of being TCK’s. Missions is kind-of-a Lewis family business and we are all apart of the Great Commission task in one-way or another (our other daughter is serving in Senegal, West Africa).

So, as I begin gathering lessons, packing and cutting the lawn one more time before we leave Monday, I’m really getting excited about this trip, though still not thrilled about the flights ahead.

RGL
www.Lewis-Training.com/Training.htm