This past weekend Robin and I had the privilege of being part of the Whitworth University's "Missions in Africa" Symposium. We presented a couple workshops entitled "AIDS & Orphans: Shelter in the Storm". The focus was on supporting children in families in AIDS affected communities. Given the scope of the problem and the numbers of OVC (orphans and vulnerable children), institutional care is not a cost effective response and has never been God's plan for the care of children. As I researched, prepared and then presented the workshop it cemented in my mind that the model of family based care of children in AIDS affected communities that we at Two Tunics are trying to expand is the right approach.
But more about that in a later post perhaps. Today what is on my heart is an even deeper issue that continues to be cemented more and more in my mind and heart. The reason why I am about this work. The reason the church must be about this work. The gospel of Jesus Christ. The whole gospel as Richard Stearns calls it in his book The Hole in Our Gospel.
The Missions in Africa Symposium last Saturday started off appropriately with a time of worship and devotions in the Whitworth University chapel. Terry McGonigal, the Whitworth chaplain (and ex-neighbor of ours in Spokane) presented the message. He started by asking us to describe the gospel in one sentence to the person sitting next to us. A couple excellent examples were offered from the audience on the order of "God so loved us that he sent His Son Jesus to die so that we might have forgiveness of sin and live eternally with God".
Terry then took us to a biblical one sentence summary of the gospel in Isaiah 52:7. Many of you are probably familiar with this verse and especially the opening line "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news". "Good news" is the definition of the Greek word translated as "gospel" in the New Testament. This opening line is a well known and cherished verse to those involved in missions. People involved in missions are being Christs hands and feet, going to spread the good news, and this verse tells us that in God's eyes they are beautiful. But sadly we in missions are often bringing only a part of that good news described in the rest of the verse. Maybe we're not as beautiful as we thought.
Terry pointed out the three essential elements of the gospel described in Isaiah 52:7, summarized in the three Hebrew words "shalom" (peace), yeshua (salvation) and Yaweh malak (God reigns). The salvation part is what Christian missions has historically been faithful to. Yeshua is the Hebrew version of the name Jesus which both mean "God saves". Shalom is a deep and rich Hebrew word that is difficult to translate but is much more than peace in the sense of absence of conflict. It is closer to that full and abundant life that God desires for every person in His creation. Yaweh malak or God reigns is an affirmation of the reality of the Kingdom of God. Gods' Kingdom rule is a present reality and not just a future hope. We, the church are to be about establishing God's kingdom in the world, bringing shalom to the world as well as salvation. This 2/3's of the gospel has often been neglected in missions. It is the "hole in our gospel" as described by Stearns.
We entitled our presentation on AIDS & Orphans "Shelter in the Storm". Isaiah 32 is a prophecy describing God's Kingdom. Verse 1-2 says,"See a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice. Each man will be a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm". The storm in Africa is AIDS. In God's kingdom each man is to be a shelter in the storm. Missions in Africa must be about the whole gospel. How beautiful are your feet?
Showing posts with label Africa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Africa. Show all posts
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Sunday, February 8, 2009
An Atheist Says Africa Needs God
A couple weeks ago I came across an article on the TimesOnline (London Times) by a columnist named Matthew Parris (click on the title of this post to go to the article). The title of his column definitely got my attention; "As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God." Apparently he had been born and spent his boyhood in what is now Malawi and just before Christmas returned for a visit after 45 years.
He states in the article that he is "now a confirmed atheist". But he also says traveling in Malawi refreshed a belief that "confounds" his ideology and "stubbornly refuses to fit" his atheistic worldview. The observation that he can't avoid is that he is "convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa". In contrast to government programs, international aid organizations and secular NGOs which can provide education and training alone, "In Africa Christianity changes people's hearts."
It is important to note that he doesn't say Africa needs Christians or Christian services. He says (as a card carrying atheist) Africa needs God, because only God can change hearts. Wow! He admits he used to try to avoid this truth by applauding the practical good works that churches and missionaries do in Africa. And he would then say "It's a pity ... that salvation is part of the package".
The observation that brought him to this truth, against his ideology, that Africa needs God, was one that was consistent in his boyhood in Africa, later as a young man traveling in Africa and now years later returning to the Africa of his boyhood."The Christians were always different. Far from having cowed or confined its converts, their faith appeared to have liberated and relaxed them. There was a liveliness, a curiosity, an engagement with the world - a directness in their dealings with others - that seemed to be missing in traditional African life. They stood tall. "
As a missionary of Two Tunics working in Africa our work focuses to a large extent on the social needs associated with AIDS - medical treatment, HIV prevention education, support of orphans and vulnerable children. Sometimes I feel a need or have a desire to design our social services in a way that is not necessarily linked to evangelism. I don't want to be appear to be providing our care and support services in order to win converts. I feel at times like I need to justify or even apologize for our Christian evangelism which is counter to much of their African culture. Sometimes I even feel like I am being more true to what it means to really follow Jesus' when I just live the gospel rather than preaching it as well.
I have to thank an atheist for reminding me that what I am doing (bringing hope for the future)is all about changing hearts. That only happens as someone speaks the gospel message of Jesus Christ into the lives of others. Thankfully we have South African partners in our work who have Zulu pastors and staff who are very intentional about speaking the truth that changes hearts into the lives of those we serve. I'm thankful for Abraham, Amos, Joseph, Penny and Edmara among others. What I must do is help these Africans whose hearts have been changed by God to provide Africa with what it really needs.
He states in the article that he is "now a confirmed atheist". But he also says traveling in Malawi refreshed a belief that "confounds" his ideology and "stubbornly refuses to fit" his atheistic worldview. The observation that he can't avoid is that he is "convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa". In contrast to government programs, international aid organizations and secular NGOs which can provide education and training alone, "In Africa Christianity changes people's hearts."
It is important to note that he doesn't say Africa needs Christians or Christian services. He says (as a card carrying atheist) Africa needs God, because only God can change hearts. Wow! He admits he used to try to avoid this truth by applauding the practical good works that churches and missionaries do in Africa. And he would then say "It's a pity ... that salvation is part of the package".
The observation that brought him to this truth, against his ideology, that Africa needs God, was one that was consistent in his boyhood in Africa, later as a young man traveling in Africa and now years later returning to the Africa of his boyhood."The Christians were always different. Far from having cowed or confined its converts, their faith appeared to have liberated and relaxed them. There was a liveliness, a curiosity, an engagement with the world - a directness in their dealings with others - that seemed to be missing in traditional African life. They stood tall. "
As a missionary of Two Tunics working in Africa our work focuses to a large extent on the social needs associated with AIDS - medical treatment, HIV prevention education, support of orphans and vulnerable children. Sometimes I feel a need or have a desire to design our social services in a way that is not necessarily linked to evangelism. I don't want to be appear to be providing our care and support services in order to win converts. I feel at times like I need to justify or even apologize for our Christian evangelism which is counter to much of their African culture. Sometimes I even feel like I am being more true to what it means to really follow Jesus' when I just live the gospel rather than preaching it as well.
I have to thank an atheist for reminding me that what I am doing (bringing hope for the future)is all about changing hearts. That only happens as someone speaks the gospel message of Jesus Christ into the lives of others. Thankfully we have South African partners in our work who have Zulu pastors and staff who are very intentional about speaking the truth that changes hearts into the lives of those we serve. I'm thankful for Abraham, Amos, Joseph, Penny and Edmara among others. What I must do is help these Africans whose hearts have been changed by God to provide Africa with what it really needs.
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