God often uses missions to expand our theological paradigms (pre-set notions on how we think things work). This can often scare us because we are afraid that a slight change could shake our faith or jeopardize our confidence of how we approach God and His Word. A couple suggestions to help you navigate this:
1) Be open to allowing God to broaden your theological horizons and paradigms.
2) Always look to scripture.
3) Protect the unity of the body.
4) Major on the majors and minor on the minors.
Defend the Majors - the gospel & the Deity of Christ.
Be flexible on the Minor (especially in a missionary context)
•Gender roles - can a female missionary (seminary trained) mentor house church pastors in China (the persecuted church)?
•Miracles/dreams - are Persians (Iranians) seeing visions of Christ and experiencing miraculous physical healings
•Poverty and persecution
•The spiritual (angelic and demonic) - how is it manifested?
•The spiritual gifts - how are they applied?
•The church (baptism & communion) - what does it look like? Is God stretching a paradigm for you?
Thought: spend time reading the book of Acts. Look for parallels to what you have been witnessing this week to the NT church in Acts.
Could God be working in similar ways
Wednesday, May 22, 2019
Tuesday, May 21, 2019
Day 7 - Other Faiths
[Transitioning to Northern Uganda where there is a higher Muslim influence as well as ]
"Too many evangelicals try to understand other religions (and even Christianity in other cultures) on the basis of quick formulas." This is not a bad start, but too academic to be directly applicable.
1) Take time to learn about your host's religious experience as an individual. Don't be afraid to ask questions.
2) Expect the unexpected. You may be surprised, as Peter was with Cornelius, to find God has already begun to reveal himself.
3) Be bold when you sense the Spirit opening doors. (Note: Look to the lead of your interpreter or local missionary when uncertain) Bold, contextual evangelism: bold because many seem ready to sling a hammer yet petrified of sharing their faith and contextual because those who have a desire for evangelism often utilize methods popular at home but which don't communicate in a different culture.
The greatest tool in sharing your faith across a culture is to know your own faith. Know the major tenets of what Christians believe. Be able to explain your faith. Know how to help people cross the line into faith (those helping us will be able to help us better see this if we are teachable).
Pray boldly. Pray for boldness (Ephesians 6:19-20).
"Too many evangelicals try to understand other religions (and even Christianity in other cultures) on the basis of quick formulas." This is not a bad start, but too academic to be directly applicable.
1) Take time to learn about your host's religious experience as an individual. Don't be afraid to ask questions.
2) Expect the unexpected. You may be surprised, as Peter was with Cornelius, to find God has already begun to reveal himself.
3) Be bold when you sense the Spirit opening doors. (Note: Look to the lead of your interpreter or local missionary when uncertain) Bold, contextual evangelism: bold because many seem ready to sling a hammer yet petrified of sharing their faith and contextual because those who have a desire for evangelism often utilize methods popular at home but which don't communicate in a different culture.
The greatest tool in sharing your faith across a culture is to know your own faith. Know the major tenets of what Christians believe. Be able to explain your faith. Know how to help people cross the line into faith (those helping us will be able to help us better see this if we are teachable).
Pray boldly. Pray for boldness (Ephesians 6:19-20).
Monday, May 20, 2019
Day 6 - Hitting the Wall
Why might I feel like i am ready to go home?
Does this mean that my faith is weak?
Not necessarily. While we are prone to struggle because of lack of faith, sin in our lives, or spiritual warfare, we also struggle with our humanness. We are finite ("human") and capable of fatigue. When coupled with culture shock and the list above, we should not be surprised that a missions trip would push us to the end of self.
End of self:
Physically - weeks of preparation, 22 hour flight, clearing the calendar on the home front, hit the ground running and not stopping, a new environment (bed) = Physical depletion (days 1 & 2)
Emotionally - culture shock, poverty, and paradigms that are being redefined = Emotional depletion (days 3 & 4)
Spiritually - serving consistently, having our hearts expanded as we greater understand the vastness of spiritual needs, working outside my natural spiritual comfort zone, learning much in a little time, realizing my insufficiency to meet or impact the needs around me = Spiritual tiredness (days 5 & 6)
It is after we have depleted our physical, emotional, and spiritual reservoirs that we come to end of self. Peter's response is insightful, "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. It is at the end of ourselves that we come to our greatest dependency on Christ. This is not a place where we would intentionally go (suffering and fasting can also bring us to the end of self), yet it is a place where Christ can be most clearly seen through and in us. It is Christ in us that must carry us when physical, emotional, and spiritual run dry. (Is 40:31) It is during these times of dependency that our capacity for knowing Christ expands. These are unique times that are to be embraced as they come, not necessarily sought after (fasting the exception). Cling to prayer and go to the source during these times
Does this mean that my faith is weak?
Not necessarily. While we are prone to struggle because of lack of faith, sin in our lives, or spiritual warfare, we also struggle with our humanness. We are finite ("human") and capable of fatigue. When coupled with culture shock and the list above, we should not be surprised that a missions trip would push us to the end of self.
End of self:
Physically - weeks of preparation, 22 hour flight, clearing the calendar on the home front, hit the ground running and not stopping, a new environment (bed) = Physical depletion (days 1 & 2)
Emotionally - culture shock, poverty, and paradigms that are being redefined = Emotional depletion (days 3 & 4)
Spiritually - serving consistently, having our hearts expanded as we greater understand the vastness of spiritual needs, working outside my natural spiritual comfort zone, learning much in a little time, realizing my insufficiency to meet or impact the needs around me = Spiritual tiredness (days 5 & 6)
It is after we have depleted our physical, emotional, and spiritual reservoirs that we come to end of self. Peter's response is insightful, "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. It is at the end of ourselves that we come to our greatest dependency on Christ. This is not a place where we would intentionally go (suffering and fasting can also bring us to the end of self), yet it is a place where Christ can be most clearly seen through and in us. It is Christ in us that must carry us when physical, emotional, and spiritual run dry. (Is 40:31) It is during these times of dependency that our capacity for knowing Christ expands. These are unique times that are to be embraced as they come, not necessarily sought after (fasting the exception). Cling to prayer and go to the source during these times
Sunday, May 19, 2019
Day 5 - Poverty
How do I feel about what I am seeing?
How does this impact my view of sin, the world, and God?
How does what I'm seeing color (change) my view of my life, my culture, my church ...?
Short-term missions often serve as a wakeup call to the injustices in the world around us: the hazy awareness from the evening news transformed into grizzly reality.
Our "bedrock" convictions should rest on three Biblical truths: 1) Jesus died on a cross 2) Judgment will come beyond judgment on earth 3) God wants me to be involved in the solution (Ezek 22:25, 27,30)
Three responses:
1) Some are able to separate their missions experience from the rest of their life. They did their thing for missions and the world. Now they can resume the pursuit of the American dream without much guilt - "served my time; checked that box."
2) Other returnees from short-term missions have a very different reaction. They are incensed and burn with righteousness and anger at all that is wrong with our country, the West, or what they now perceive to be the "blind spots" of the western church (materialism, comfort, timidity, or perceived lack of faith). When these individuals see how naive they were before their missions experience and how difficult it is to reprogram attitudes (both their own and others), they become depressed and cynical (especially of the church and their fellow believers).
3) A more healthy response is found in those that process their experience and incorporate what they have learned about God and his world into their lives and bring awareness to those around them. This response is coupled w/ a love that refuses to judge fellow believers and instead extends compassion to the individual.
The goal: (1) Cultivate a compassionate, Christ like heart (2) Develop an understanding of what the Bible says about injustice. God stands against injustice (Ps 146:5-10; Ps 11:5,7, Zech 4:6, Amos 5:24) (3) Be willing to take action God wants us to share his heart for the lost and oppressed. The exposure we have to the disenfranchised during our trip stimulates an awakening or a deepening of our compassion (this reflects Christ's heart). To ignore this awakening is to waste opportunities for our selves as well as for those around us who may be stirred by our experience.
How will you respond to poverty?
What action can you take?
How does this impact my view of sin, the world, and God?
How does what I'm seeing color (change) my view of my life, my culture, my church ...?
Short-term missions often serve as a wakeup call to the injustices in the world around us: the hazy awareness from the evening news transformed into grizzly reality.
Our "bedrock" convictions should rest on three Biblical truths: 1) Jesus died on a cross 2) Judgment will come beyond judgment on earth 3) God wants me to be involved in the solution (Ezek 22:25, 27,30)
Three responses:
1) Some are able to separate their missions experience from the rest of their life. They did their thing for missions and the world. Now they can resume the pursuit of the American dream without much guilt - "served my time; checked that box."
2) Other returnees from short-term missions have a very different reaction. They are incensed and burn with righteousness and anger at all that is wrong with our country, the West, or what they now perceive to be the "blind spots" of the western church (materialism, comfort, timidity, or perceived lack of faith). When these individuals see how naive they were before their missions experience and how difficult it is to reprogram attitudes (both their own and others), they become depressed and cynical (especially of the church and their fellow believers).
3) A more healthy response is found in those that process their experience and incorporate what they have learned about God and his world into their lives and bring awareness to those around them. This response is coupled w/ a love that refuses to judge fellow believers and instead extends compassion to the individual.
The goal: (1) Cultivate a compassionate, Christ like heart (2) Develop an understanding of what the Bible says about injustice. God stands against injustice (Ps 146:5-10; Ps 11:5,7, Zech 4:6, Amos 5:24) (3) Be willing to take action God wants us to share his heart for the lost and oppressed. The exposure we have to the disenfranchised during our trip stimulates an awakening or a deepening of our compassion (this reflects Christ's heart). To ignore this awakening is to waste opportunities for our selves as well as for those around us who may be stirred by our experience.
How will you respond to poverty?
What action can you take?
Saturday, May 18, 2019
Day 4 - Sincerity of the Gospel
Why are people responding to the gospel here (in a missions setting) but not in other places?
Is this a sincere response to the gospel?
God is always moving in areas of the world, but there are two common denominators for "hotbeds" of Christian growth and God's supernatural work. These are areas where there is poverty & persecution.
Those that are experiencing poverty do not wrestle with material distraction and place little if any hope in this present life. Because of this they are much more responsive to the eternal and find their hope in Christ. The joy that these individuals find in Christ is hard to replicate in settings that do not know want. Those that do not place hope in this life are more prone to find hope in the next.
Since the inception of Christianity (new testament times), persecution has always been a hallmark of spiritual vitality and growth of the church. Those that are willing to suffer (and in some cases die) for their faith in Christ are powerful witnesses to His work in their lives. Their joy found in Christ in the midst of suffering and persecution is hard to contain and is attractive to a lost and dying world.
Just as a smart fisherman goes where the fish are biting to catch the most fish. Those that want to work in the fields harvesting should seek to go where persecution and poverty are prevalent.
Thought: God also calls missionaries to works of sowing - some never see the fruit of their labor (Jim Elliot) while others do after a season (Adoniram Judson and Hudson Taylor).
Friday, May 17, 2019
Day 3 - Culture Shock
What am I seeing? What do I feel? How will I respond?
Crossing cultures is fun for the adventurous; for linear thinkers with a high need for control (like me) it can be tough.
Definition: culture shock is the realization of how inadequately your world fits with their world (94). "If you truly cross a culture, you will feel culture shock."
Emotional responses could include - confusion, frustration, embarrassment and even repulsion. We rarely see culture shock coming and often struggle to identify it when it arrives.
Note: Culture shock is not an indicator of spiritual maturity. The variable that makes culture shock positive or negative is how we respond.
2 responses:
red lining: attempting to withdraw and isolate ourselves from the culture. Those that respond to culture shock by withdrawing, decide, based on their negative emotions, that the culture is bad, Acts 11:1-3.
green lining: experiencing culture shock and using it as an opportunity to continue to build trust or to learn more about the culture. To greenline is to take the feelings of discord and use it as a learning moment. Acts 10 see people through God's eyes, state your emotions, God reassures, Peter moved forward, opened his eyes and observed, asked questions, and didn't isolate himself.
Thursday, May 16, 2019
Day 2 - Comfort Zone
This is way outside my comfort zone! What am I doing here?
1) God called, provided, and afforded the opportunity to go on mission (others were not able to go do to health, prior commitments, and fear of the unknown).
2) You are taking part in the great commission (making disciples) and putting feet to your faith.
3) You are taking a risk.
Risk Management:
1) Jesus rewards Godly risk (Mt. 6:25-33).
2) There are no guarantees.
3) All of life involves risk.
4) when you do need to risk, risk on things that are worth it.
5) manage risk by training yourself to do three things: be alert, be knowledgeable, and be wise.
6) when something bad happens - be calm and compliant.
7) don't make the focus of your trip eliminating or managing risk.
How should I respond to fear? Pray and jump in.
How should I respond to the unexpected? Be flexible, have fun, and don't flip out.
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Day 1 - Short Term Missions
Why short term missions blesses the church.
The short-term missions trip has increased in popularity in recent times due to:
1) Accessibility (air travel).
2) A desire for faith to go beyond the academic; we want to experience God.
For example - A top selling book of the 1970's was Knowing God while a top selling book of the 1990's was Experiencing God.
3) The mission field is a setting where we lose "control." The loss of "control" turns our focus and dependency toward God.
4) Good theology - we reflect God. God has a “missions mindset.”
Theologians call this the missio dei. "From the first pages of the Bible to the very last, we see God consistently state his concern for the world" (p. 28) Gen. 22:18, Matt. 28:19-20, Mk 11:17, Rom 10:13-14, Rev 7:9
Take some time to process "What are my expectations of this trip?"
Benefits of a short-term mission.
1) Changes your understanding of scripture (new eyes) - we all have cultural and personal blind spots to the Bible.
- Worship: Revelation 5:9- every tribe and tongue.
- Joy: Mark 10:28
- Gifts: Jeremiah 29:13 (Matt 7:7) other context (visions, dreams, healing).
- Your own testimony (Acts 1:8).
2) Creates a deeper perspective of the church (new eyes).
- God is always working the question is where? (2 Chronicles 16:9; Matthew 9:36-38, Matthew 16:18)
- Look for persecution and poverty! Matthew 5 - The poor - kingdom of heaven/The persecuted - kingdom of heaven
- Different needs of regions: eternal security & evangelism (western church) vs. doctrine & teaching - every region needs all four but sometimes they require a different diet to become more balanced.
3) Challenges your faith (new eyes)
- Faith - Hebrews 11:6 (hurdles: $, leaving family, time off)
- Strengthens understanding - Isaiah 40:31 - Physical, spiritual, emotionally
- Example: 1 Timothy 4:12-13
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