World Wide Christianity?

IS CHRISTIANITY WORLD WIDE

OR IS IT ONLY LOCAL?

Are we as followers of Jesus supposed to process His words through the prism of where we live and what we know, or is His ministry and calling universal and unalterably applicable to the entire world? This is not some philosophical question. The answer to this question changes the meaning of discipleship and takes what generally is considered Christianity and stretches it to the expansiveness of the entire world. It alters the definition of accountability, compassion, generosity, responsibility, and the overarching gospel commission. If, in fact, every follower of Jesus, regardless of the parochial nature of his life and specific ministry, is called to the four corners of the world then the core meaning of Christianity must be dramatically enlarged in theory and in practice.

There were times when it was impossible to minister to people across long distances, but today it is well within our reach even though we ourselves cannot go. Over the years since television poor people from all over the world have been used to raise funds for unscrupulous ministries that make wicked men and women wealthy. But even though that should repulse us, the poor people pictured in those videos are real and are in need of real gospel ministry. There are billions of people around the world who are silently sounding the Macedonian call.

There is a rule of thumb as it concerns the ministry of the Word and Biblical truth. If it cannot be preached in Washington D.C. as well as in Darfur then it is not absolute truth. If what you preach can only mean something in America, then it is false and a man made concoction. So if you preach prosperity to prosperous Americans, but you could never preach that to a woman in Darfur with a dying child at her breast, then it is a lie. You see, the Word should be relevant in the palace as well as in the street. The prince and the pauper should hear the same message of truth.

So if our locale influences the Word then it ceases to be the Word. But in today’s western culture everything must bow to our way of life, our way of thinking, and our way of doing things. And in that context we have taken the Word of God and rounded off the rough edges and shined it up and made it presentable to a fallen culture. Careful we have been not to eliminate some of the more familiar words that catch our doctrinal eyes, but what is believed and preached is no longer God’s Word. That is if God’s Word is universal and we are part of the universal church and not just an outpost with our own by-laws and mores. If the entire Bride of Christ is under the authority of “One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all,“ then we must walk under that calling and with our eyes opened to the entire world.

So if this faith is comprehensive and without geographical boundaries then it presents all sorts of conflictions when we compare it to what is purported to be Christianity here. Just a token missionary effort cannot absolve us from this colossal responsibility. Just some short term mission projects cannot provide fig leaves for the nakedness of our embarrassing faith. Living our entire lives for ourselves with a minor evangelical exception is a pitiful excuse for so great a faith. Look out upon the fields and see what God has called us to. Not just the neighborhood in which we live, as important as that is in God’s eyes, but look to the horizons and imagine a sea of humanity adrift in darkness and in need of the nail scarred hands of redemption. That, my friends, is what calls us from within and without.

But look what we have done as we scurry to raise funds for our magnificent ecclesiastical edifices filled with cold air, warm air, and the most modern sound systems. And see millions upon millions of professing believers sit and take it all in, returning to their narcissistic lives, only to revisit that same redundant blessing experience the next week. The church cannot even keep marriages together much less reach the world. Our youth are spiritually lethargic and supremely interested in the same things as are their parents - what benefits them most - education, success, money, sex, entertainment, and a generally pleasant life filled with all kinds of hedonistic toys. Wow, did I just say that?

But can we enjoy such an existence while millions perish? When so many have no food or water, can we enjoy a life of abundance and waste and still claim to be followers of the Redeemer? That is some spiritual deception, unless God showers material blessings of some and withholds them for others. Or more accurately, God’s will has been for believers to be consumed with the welfare of others and live very modest lives in order to share whatever material “blessings” are placed under their care. But that concept has long since been discarded and made way for a new and much more comfortable lifestyle that can hold onto this world with one hand and with the other hand pass out a few scraps which elicit no sacrifice and do not deny ourselves anything.

The question remains. Are the followers of Jesus called to a world wide vision, or are we supposed to be preoccupied, entangled, and generally formed by our immediate surroundings? Can we live in a constricted view of the faith and still legitimately claim to be followers of Jesus and His redemptive vision? I suggest that for far too long the western church has acquiesced to the culture and even formed our ecclesiastical structure accordingly. And there is a wide variance of excitement and commitment between building programs here and missions afar. You see, we see and appreciate and make use of the tangible here, but we receive no accommodations when we give to help the needy which live beyond our borders. We are much more responsive to that which meets our needs than anything we cannot see or enjoy the benefits thereof.

But if we are to admit to a universal calling which places great and glorious responsibilities on us all, then we are going to have to begin a routine of sacrifice which most would consider somewhat extraordinary. But what should we consider extravagant or extreme when it comes to sacrificing for our Lord? And even if we should begin afresh today, would there not be a great many back payments? We have lived such easy and careless spiritual lives that only generate concern with temporal issues. It is time we see the faith for what it is and not for what we have made it.

Jesus calls us to a far greater mission than that which is in driving distance. In fact His ministry covers ground that is out of this world. But let me finally couch it in practical terms. When we know that millions suffer around the world, and are literally dying because of starvation, thirst, and exposure, should that enter into all financial decisions we make here? And when some of those are brothers and sisters in Christ, should that be a concern as well? Those question are never asked in the context of American Christianity. A few food pantries a few special offerings and a few week long mission trips seem to provide a conscience salve. Now if our faith is only local, then those questions are immaterial. But if our faith cannot be restricted to geographical and cultural boundaries, then we must reexamine how we live and how we express our faith through how we show our concern and care for those around the world. This a vital analysis of the Christian faith when it lives in a hedonistic culture. Are we careful not to allow our culture to be the measuring stick as to how we live? Are we compelled by the Spirit to assess everything we do according to God’s Word and in the light of what most benefits the church world wide and the great commission?

Is our faith inexorably and immovably connected to the world, or can we live completely within our cultural dictates and remain subjugated to what is true in our own parochial setting? Let me illustrate:

There was almost 5 billion dollars spent on the 2012 election. There will be almost 500 billion dollars spent on "Christmas" in 2012. In one year almost 9 million people, half of which are children, will die of starvation around the world.

Now that is just one example of what is happening across the globe while our circumstances seem so out of touch. So as believers and followers of Jesus and His way, can we ignore those facts or be resigned to how things are, or must we process that kind of reality and adjust our lives accordingly? Does what is happening in other parts of the world impact our lives and our response to Christ, or are we granted some kind of geographical dispensation because we live and experience a much different set of circumstances? I contend that is untrue and unbiblical.

Phil.4: 15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.

II Cor.11: 8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.

These verses clearly reveal a common giving pattern wherein churches were concerned over the ministry of the gospel that was completely out of their own location. But James goes further.

Jam.2: 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

Jesus had a heart for the poor, and even while the early church was coming to grips with salvation by faith alone and the inclusion of Gentile sinners in the gospel, they often mentioned the poor. But perhaps the greatest teaching on unconditional generosity and humanitarian passion is the parable of the Good Samaritan. Not only was that man in great need of help, but he had been passed over by the “orthodox” folk of his day. And in a stunning and shocking way to both disarm and alarm His listeners, Jesus makes the central figure a Samaritan. The Samaritans were considered mongrels and a mixed breed of Jews and Gentiles and they were generally avoided and looked down upon. But here is this Samaritan showing the compassion that Jesus calls us to.

Are we called to meet needs of people we do not even know? Are we called to be inconvenienced in meeting needs? Are we called to be aware of needs around the world and to go to some lengths to help? And are we called to sacrifice and lead lives of modesty in order to free up funds for the needy and the spread of the gospel? Many churches have mission conferences and they call for pledges for missions during the next year. Sometimes they even set giving goals. But what does that tell you? That speaks loudly to the fact that American believers do not normally give as they should, and that they respond to methods and fund raising techniques more than they do the leading of the Spirit year round.

The church which lives in America must lift up her eyes and revolutionize her thinking. If we actually believe there is an eternity and that sinners spend eternity in either one of two places, and if we really believe we have been given eternal life already, then how should that impact they way we think and subsequently live? And if others do not have that life, should that dramatically impact the way we live and think?

If the answer is no then go ahead, resume general swim.