Focus: Refugees

~An article for the World Horizons USA~

Imagine, for just a moment, that your home and earthly possessions have been destroyed, your life has been threatened, and the safety of your family has been put at chronic risk as a result of ongoing gang activity and military conflict.

For millions of men, women, and children around the world, this is no product of the imagination. It is reality. In fact, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency in a 2019 report, more than thirty people are violently displaced every minute. In the time it will take for you to read this article, as many as 150 people will lose the security of their homes.

The refugee crisis is perhaps the definitive international emergency of our time. It begs for our action and attention. Research published by the United Nations this year evinced the reality that almost 71 million people have been forcibly displaced worldwide. Of these 71 million individuals, about 30 million of them are refugees and 3.5 million are asylum-seekers.

A study conducted by World Vision found that a significant number of these refugees and asylum-seekers originate in the Middle East (Syria and Afghanistan top the list annually, and the ongoing civil war in Yemen has recently vaulted the nation into this category as well), Central and Eastern Africa (Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo routinely make the top ten), and South and Central America (notably from Venezuela due to governmental corruption and collapse, and from Colombia as a result of perpetual gang and drug-related activity). This is clearly a deep and systemic issue which afflicts nations and people groups all around the globe, leaving entire communities with no choice but to escape their present circumstances.

How do we respond to the tragedy unfolding before our very eyes? In light of the millions of innocents compelled to flee their homes and lands, how can we tangibly demonstrate the love of Christ to those who have suffered complete devastation and total loss?

The Scriptural ordinance is explicit and incontrovertible. Leviticus 19:34 instructs the people of God to “treat the foreigner as native-born, lov[ing] him as you love yourself”. Proverbs 31:8-9 mandates the execution of justice on behalf of the oppressed, directing us to “open [our] mouth[s] for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute… Judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy”. Malachi 3:1 warns austerely that “the messenger will bear witness against those who thrust aside the alien”.

We can fulfill our moral obligation and Biblical responsibility to loving refugees as we love ourselves in numerous ways. Some of these ways are obvious: financial donations to and volunteer work with charitable organizations which exist to facilitate resettlement in the United States go a long way towards promoting the well-being of those in search of stability and peace. Many institutions which serve to assist refugees and asylees in obtaining legal documents, connecting to aid programs, learning language and English comprehension, and sharing their stories in public forums are doing valuable work to ensure that refugees and asylees adjust, flourish, and thrive in this foreign country.

But perhaps the single most potent and efficacious step we can take is to open our hearts to total empathy: making ourselves present and available to our refugee neighbors, understanding them and listening to their testimonies, weeping with them in their sorrows, rejoicing with them in their successes and accomplishments, and praying with and for them as they grieve, recover, and rebuild their lives.

A few years ago, while on assignment with a small team in Cairo, Egypt, I had the pleasure of spending a considerable amount of time with refugee men, women, and children from Syria, Sudan, Somalia, and Afghanistan. One afternoon, we invited several of the younger children to engage in an art project with us. We offered each child a small swath of canvas, and asked them to paint an answer to the query “who is your neighbor?”. Their responses were breathtaking and sobering. Many of their images depicted gruesome scenes of terror and brutality. One of the artworks haunts me still today: it portrayed a mother weeping as her child bleeds to death in her arms; a single fighter jet soars by overhead, strafing the flaming rooftops which surround the two figures. The child who delicately and deliberately crafted this image was only six years old. I thanked her for her contribution, left the room to find solitude, and wept.

I could discuss and delineate the legitimate merits of open border policy, and make a cogent case that governments have absolutely no rightful role in regulating or restricting the free flow of human migration. I could argue for the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the dissolution of detention camps; I could appeal to the writ of habeas corpus as a recourse to secure the immediate release and compensation of those who have been so incarcerated. I could contend that drastic reforms and restructuring of the U.S. immigration system are in order. I could assert that refugees and asylees are legally extended the same constitutional privileges as any citizen of the United States of America.

Instead, on this World Refugee Day, I will merely reflect upon the fact that all people are created equal and are thus intrinsically endowed with and afforded fundamental rights without regard to their race, ethnicity, nation of origin, present location, or intended destination. I will reflect upon the fashion in which the dignity, worth, and idiosyncratic nature embodied by each and every refugee enriches and strengthens our collective culture. I will reflect upon the importance of practicing, above all else, the politics, philosophy, and theology of compassion.

Today, let us take time to meditate upon the documented plight of Christ the refugee: a child who narrowly eluded death at the hands of King Herod by crossing into Egypt (Matthew 2), and the holy Incarnation who took on the foreign flesh of man. Let us remember that our Savior loves and longs for refugees and asylees with every ounce of the fierce passion with which He loves and longs for us. Let us close our mouths and open our ears to the accounts of strong, precious people who have endured unimaginable chaos and destruction. And let us commit, with our resources and with our hearts, to doing all that we can to show our displaced brothers and sisters that they are loved, valued, and welcome among us, accepted as our very own.

Photos courtesy of National Geographic, SBS, The New Republic, and Independent.ie respectively

The Times They Are a-Changin’

~An article for World Horizons USA ~

Change is hard.

It is often good. But it is difficult nonetheless.

We all know this. In fact, it is arguably one of the greatest maxims of our time. Change is simultaneously rewarding and yet challenging, refreshing and yet exhausting, desired and yet dreaded. Sometimes, change can lead to the overwhelming realization that, to quote Bob Dylan, “the present now will later be past; the order is rapidly fading”. Change is inevitably accompanied by the dissolution of familiar systems and structures, and thus necessitates dedicated and gritty work towards the process of progress.

World Horizons USA has been undergoing a lot of change in the last year.  Our staff and personnel have been significantly altered, as coworkers and friends have departed to pursue various opportunities and as others have joined in our work.  Currently, our staff members sit, work, laugh, speak, and dream together in an entirely different location than we did just a few months ago; our new office and gallery are across town in a still unfamiliar neighborhood.  Some of our focuses, attitudes, methods, and manners of thinking have also been evolving with time as we have explored our role in international ministry in conjunction with the local church at home and abroad.

Some of these adjustments have been beneficial and fulfilling. Others have been difficult and disheartening. And yet, in all of them, the Lord has made His presence known to us.

In all of the turmoil and turbulence of the significant shifts in our surroundings, we have been afforded opportunities to learn, grow, and improve. We have been granted incredible opportunities which we may never have obtained without change. We have been privileged to get to know new people as they have come alongside our ministry and served with us. We have also enjoyed the successes of those who have moved on from World Horizons USA to work in other fields. We have had the chance to get to know our new neighbors who surround our office.

Perhaps most important, we have been reminded of and comforted by the steadfast character of our Savior, who is the same “yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).  We have been sustained by the blessings of our Father, who “does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).  In spite of the unplanned circumstances we have weathered and the uncertain nature of the steps we have taken to begin new initiatives, we have been emboldened and revitalized by the promises of a Lord who goes before us and will never forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8).

Change is hard.  But we are grateful.   

Able, Worthy, Renewed

~An article for World Horizons USA~

Often, I am overwhelmed by my own inadequacy.  

This is not so much because I regard myself as particularly poor or unrighteous, but more a result of the magnitude of the privilege and responsibility that is serving God.  When I consider my role in working with the international church, I am sometimes reminded of the many times and ways in which I have been derelict in demonstrating the love and grace of Christ. Recollections of past failures surface, and doubts arise. Beyond my individual and personal failings, I become discouraged by my ostensible incapabilities: language learning is complicated, adjusting to new and foreign cultures is difficult, and a life devoted to ministry of any kind can be rigorous and exhausting. Am I really prepared for this? Am I good enough?

It is in these dark moments of uncertainty that God assuages my fearful spirit and faithfully supplies encouragement through both His Scriptures and through the people who surround me.  Recently, as I weighed aspects of my incompetence and wondered if I was truly cut out to follow Christ among all nations, I was reminded of a very similar struggle which afflicted many of God’s people throughout His word.

I recalled the commissioning of Moses, who balked at the daunting notion of confronting Pharaoh Ahmose I, insisting that “I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you spoke to [me].  I am slow of speech and tongue” (Exodus 4:10). And yet the Lord used the ministry of Moses in a mighty manner. Because Moses was devoted to God’s calling and commands in spite of his perceived insufficiency, the Lord’s people were led out of captivity and, ultimately, into the freedom of a land they could at last call their own.  Moses didn’t feel worthy, but God made him so.

Gideon came to mind.  A man who lived a life steeped in hereditary irrelevance, Gideon deemed greatness far beyond his reach. When the Lord visited Gideon and instructed him to take charge of the armies of the Israelites and drive out the occupying foes, Gideon protested, “How can I rescue Israel?  My clan is the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least important member of my family” (Judges 6:15). And yet Gideon, through the unwavering strength of God, masterminded one of the most decisive military victories in the history of ancient Israel, routing the Midianite forces in a dramatic upset which liberated the land.  Gideon didn’t feel worthy, but God made him so.

I remembered the visions of Isaiah, who yearned so desperately to serve the Lord wholeheartedly, and yet despaired when confronted by the task: “Woe is me, I am doomed!  For I am a man of unclean lips… and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord almighty” (Isaiah 6:5). Because of his steadfast commitment and because of the atoning mercy of God, Isaiah, the man of unclean lips, uttered beauty and power: words which shook the foundations of a nation and which foreshadowed the coming of the Savior of Man.  Isaiah didn’t feel worthy, but God made him so.

I thought of the apostle Paul, the prototypical missionary and author of almost a full third of our New Testament.  In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul declared, “For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God” (1 Corinthians 15:9).  Though perhaps perpetually plagued by guilt for his past misdeeds, Paul played a vital part in the expansion and growth of the early church into uncharted territories. Paul didn’t feel worthy, but God made him so.

In addition to these tales of heroic acts and daring deeds in the face of apprehensions and against the odds, a sermon by my good friend Rev. Sterling Severns reminded me of the unfailing grace of God in working powerfully through those who regularly wrestle with personal misgivings.  Rev. Severns remarked, “The Great Commission which we have been given is an opportunity to take the gospel into a world where the gospel already exists. Whether we think we are capable of not, whether we think we have enough understanding to go… none of it matters. Because God is going to see to it that the gospel is carried forward into the world to every corner”. Rev. Severns continued, “We are called to pick up our feet and go, with the understanding that it is with the authority of Jesus that we go. So go and trust that He is going to give you what you need in order to take this gospel to the world that is already experiencing it in the most blessed and mysterious of ways”.

The Lord doesn’t seek out and call the best, the strongest, or the most qualified.  Rather, Christ bids us to follow Him, and through our faith and His goodness, He qualifies us by the work of the Holy Spirit.

I do not always feel worthy, but God has made me so.
 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

– 2 Corinthians 5:17

Weeping With Our Brothers and Sisters

~An article for World Horizons USA~

As the death toll from last month’s Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka surpasses 250 men, women, and children, we mourn with the church and with the nation of Sri Lanka.  This unspeakable loss of life causes us to reflect on our role in loving and supporting our brothers and sisters in communities around the world, both within the church and outside of it.

We remember that the authors of Scripture grieved deeply and unashamedly, freely voicing their sorrow and anguish to a Father who implores us to “cast all of our cares upon Him” (1 Peter 5:7).  We recall the promises of God’s Word to the physically, emotionally, and spiritually afflicted; that He is “close to the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:18), that He blesses those who mourn and pledges His comfort (Matthew 5:4), and that, in the very end, He will “wipe away every tear” and do away with “mourning, crying, and pain” (Revelation 21:4).

But today is not the end, and so tears remain.  The present persistence of pain urges us to reach out to those who are stumbling under the weight of grief.  And so, in humble solidarity, we seek to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2) because the love and compassion of Christ compels us to do so.    

We acknowledge the utter and permanent impact of the devastation inflicted upon the victims of this event, and we recognize our personal inadequacy in healing or repairing broken lives and hearts.  We do not seek to understand this occurrence, nor do we seek to offer untimely and unwise explanations as to how it may strengthen. Rather than offer absolute reassurances or trite guarantees, we come alongside those who are suffering through prayer and through presence. Sometimes, this requires words and actions. At others, this support is manifested in our sober silence and stillness.

Scripture supplies ample room for the expression of confusion, of anger, and of hurt before a Creator who weeps with us (John 11:35).   We must never brush aside the pain of our brothers and sisters around the world for the sake of convenience or ease, nor must we dismiss their despondency in the name of our strength and unquenchable joy.  Instead, we bless those who mourn and we plead for their relief.

Our prayer today is that the Lord will be tangibly near to the people of Sri Lanka.  Our prayer is that His love might be known to those who can find no answers. Our prayer is that the justice, grace, and peace of Christ, the “Man of all Sorrows”, may pervade even the tragedies of a wounded world.  Our prayer is for light in the sometimes vast darkness. Our prayer is for the restoration of souls and the alleviation of heartache. More than anything, our prayer today is “Kyrie eleison”: “Lord, have mercy”.

The Man of all Sorrows
He never forgot
What sorrow is carried
By the hearts that He bought

—Andrew Peterson

Five Things I’ve Learned from Mission

~An article for World Horizons USA~

After completing my missions training program with World Horizons USA in 2017, I did my first placement in the Eastern Mediterranean.  In the course of five months, I worked to help set up a business initiative which focused on producing quality coffee and wine. I also took a job as the manager of a small garden hotel in a local village.  These experiences grew and changed me in many ways. In addition to turning me into an unapologetic coffee snob, my time on the field taught me invaluable lessons that I will remember forever. I want to share a few of those lessons here.

Humility:

Living in the Eastern Mediterranean was incredibly humbling.  This humility was not connotatively negative, as when one feels embarrassed or stupid.  Rather, I gained a humility which came in the form of simple recognition that I was utterly and absolutely dependent upon other people.  I lived in the homes of other people. I prepared and ate the food that other people provided for me. I relied heavily on bilingual speakers to interpret for me as I struggled through learning and speaking the native language.  Whenever I wanted to go somewhere, I resorted to hitchhiking. Hitchhiking is tremendously fun and exciting; it’s effectively free transportation for the affordable price of good conversations and new friendships. But hitchhiking was also a further exercise in humility.  I could not get where I wanted to go on my own, and so I requested help from strangers who I could barely understand and who could barely understand me. Through these experiences, I learned that God provides faithfully for His people and that true humility means I must acknowledge my need for that provision.

Trust:

In order to perform basic tasks such as buy groceries, eat food, and travel, I had to rely on other people.  This necessitates a great deal of trust; trust not only in the people and places that I came to know and love, but trust also in strangers and, ultimately, in God.  When shopping at the local markets store, I had to trust that my language helpers had adequately equipped me with the proper words and phrases to obtain the desired results.  I had to trust that my generous hosts would continue to accomodate me in their homes. I had to trust that total strangers were kind, benevolent, and willing to pull over and take me safely from here to there.  More than anything, I had to trust that God would provide the right people at the right time. During this time, God graciously demonstrated His trustworthiness. He kept me safe, fed, sheltered, and healthy. He provided me with the right clerks behind the counter and the right drivers behind the wheel, some of whom are now my friends.  And though things didn’t always go as I would have planned (indeed, sometimes they went exactly the opposite), God continually worked to bring me to where I needed to be.

Patience:

During my placement, I truly internalized the fact that my attitude does not have to be determined by my circumstances.  I have very little control over the former; I have total control over the latter.

Learning any language can be slow, grueling, and frustrating.  Working from early morning to late evening can be wearing. The chronic, unabating heat and humidity set my teeth on edge.  But every day, I contemplated what a tremendous privilege it was to be there. While I had little to no control over my lack of ability to communicate, the rigorous work schedule, and the often overwhelming weather, I recognized that I could choose to retain a positive attitude because I was blessed to be included in the work.  In light of the big picture, overlooking the small frustrations of everyday life became, if not easy, possible.

Flexibility:

Almost every day in the Eastern Mediterranean was a change in regimen.  I very rarely had a set schedule. The number of guests staying in the hotel changed every day and, in conjunction, the amount of necessary food, clean rooms, and fresh laundry also changed.  The time at which guests arrived to be served meals varied. Sometimes, I switched rooms on a nightly basis in order to provide incoming patrons with an ideal space which suited all of their needs.  I was tasked with coffee roasting, working on the wine, or running errands at random and unpredictable hours. The nature of hitchhiking was such that I never knew quite when I would get to where I was going.  This lifestyle required me to be flexible: To “roll with it”, make quick adjustments, think and work on the fly, and function even when I did not know all of the variables (or even know where I’ll be or what I’ll be doing in the next hour).  As much as it was contrary to my nature, it was also fun and exhilarating

Role Modeling:

One of my last guests at the hotel was an actor who played supporting roles in small productions.  Halfway through his stay, he told me that he had been cast as an American in an upcoming film. Since he knew that I was an American, he informed me that he would be observing me for the entirety of his stay in order to discern how Americans walk, talk, and think.  This caused me to think. People were noticing me. They knew that I wasn’t “from around here”, and so whether they were attempting to learn how to be a good American or else simply curious about the manner in which I conducted myself, they were scrutinizing my every move.  I know that the point of ministry is to reflect Christ by modeling His love, and it’s a wonderful and terrifying responsibility.

What Is Business as Mission?

~An article for World Horizons USA~

Mission is community oriented.  Through serving, interacting with, and loving our neighbors, we may more effectively bear witness to Christ Jesus.  Business is also community oriented: as integral parts of society, businesses supply indispensable goods and services which benefit those who patronize them.

At World Horizons USA, we believe that every aspect of daily life should be dedicated primarily to glorifying God and to demonstrating His love for those around us.  We have found businesses to be productive and effective instruments for planting ourselves solidly in the midst of the communities where we live and work. We believe that God intended the business to be foremost a positive contributor to society.  The lesser goals of lucrativeness and fiscal success are second to the Biblical mandate to serve as salt and light: ambassadors of Christ to a world which is ready to have faith in Him. This mindset towards business necessitates the evaluation of bottom lines which go far beyond the financial.  When assessing our business initiatives, we must weigh our social and spiritual impacts as well.

When we consider business and its relationship to mission, we remember the instructions given in Jeremiah 29:7: “Seek the prosperity of the city to which I have carried you”.  This charge was dealt to those who were living and operating in a land far from home and in a culture which was foreign and unfamiliar. From this passage, we understand that is easy to fall into patterns wherein we become dedicated merely to “looking after our own”.  But God desires far more for us and for the world. The Lord has ordered us to invest our time, effort, and resources into those places and people which are unfamiliar and not always as comfortable as we might wish. The goal is a worthy one: Our Creator is bringing the wellness of His gospel to the people of the earth, and we are summoned to enter into that work and to invite others to join in it with us.

To this end, we plant businesses so that we may participate in the culture which surrounds us.  Businesses offer us contexts in which to invest in the growth and wellbeing of communities in both physical and spiritual ways.  The practice of business allows us to establish connections by providing safe spaces for us to build meaningful and lasting relationships.

David Skews, the Business as Mission Team Leader for World Horizons, puts it this way: “A missionary is someone who is called and sent out to another nation to proclaim the kingdom of God.  If that’s what a missionary does, that is exactly the mandate of a business person who is called to mission. So, a ‘business as mission’ person is a mission worker who is also a business person.  Business is a tool.” Business, like any other manifestation of mission, is merely a small part of our ultimate goal: seeing the love of Christ systemically exhibited in all parts of society: “We don’t just make a business to generate money that we can give to missions.  Within the business, we are proclaiming the kingdom of God. We create jobs for people and we share faith in that environment”.

Business is not an end in itself.  Rather, we value what business has to offer us: practical methods of contributing to societies in a fashion both material and relational.  It is an expression of God’s will for our lives: that every thought, word, and deed may be captive to His love for us and for the nations.

Access, Not Worth

~An article for World Horizons USA~

I first got involved in cross-cultural ministry because I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life.  I had just graduated high school and started university. I knew, at this point, that I wasn’t cut out for professional baseball and that I would never be the starting shortstop for the Chicago Cubs, so I was weighing my options and choosing between the fields of law, politics, and journalism.

This changed my life.

As I studied missiology, theology, church history, language learning, cross-cultural interaction, business and art as mission, and worked in our office, I came to realize that an incredible number of people have not been afforded the opportunity to hear the gospel because there is simply nobody to make disciples in the parts of the world in which they live.

In an attempt to put off making a major decision for a little while longer, I applied for a nine month internship with World Horizons USA and moved to Richmond, Virginia to learn about cross-cultural ministry.

Internalizing this deeply affected the choices I made going forward.  After being confronted with the overwhelming fact that many around the world are born, live their lives, and die without coming into relationship with someone who bears witness to Christ’s gospel, I recalled the words of William Wilberforce: “You may choose to look the other way, but you can never again say that you did not know.” My awareness of this incredible discrepancy changed me.

I know the gospel simply because I was born into a culture wherein Biblical values are systemic and the salvation of Christ is preached regularly in at least a dozen churches within a five mile radius.  I know the gospel only as a result of the fact that I have spent my youth and developmental years in a nation that has had prolonged access and exposure to Scripture. For millions of people around the world, this is not the case.

In light of this, missions must begin with total humility: a realization of Christ’s gracious redemption, both cultural and personal.  God has created me with intricate care so as to please and glorify Him, and the blood of Christ has qualified me, making me an heir and a son after whom the Father longs.  My culture and those who inhabit it are designed intentionally to have relationship with God through Christ, and this is equally true of every single people group around the world.  People are designed to live in fellowship with their Creator, and it is the Lord’s pleasure to invite them to the table.

If this is true, the only difference between me and anyone else (my culture and that of anyone else) is a matter of access, not of worth.

Had I been born in a part of the world with little to no access to the gospel, I would not know or believe it.  Not because I would be less worthy or deserving; merely because of gospel access in the nation or culture into which I was born.  It is a blessing and an incredible mercy to grow up saturated in God’s Word. It is not a right that I am owed or a privilege that I have earned.

Upon realizing this, our missional invitation changes.  When we understand that we are called not to import our culture into the homes and hearts of others, but rather, to offer the culture of Christ’s Kingdom everywhere we go, our missiology is stripped of its elitism.  The nature of our message evolves; rather than saying “Lay down your culture and take up ours because we have a deeper and more established understanding of God”, we say, “May all of our cultural ways of life be refined, transformed, and renewed by God’s power so that He may use them to change the world on His behalf and so that we may work together as the diverse church”.  

We do not seek to colonize the international church with a cookie-cutter culture like our own.  Instead, we we work to see Christ unvelied and discovered in every culture so as to bring unity to the church which supersedes the boundaries of cross-cultural interaction.

Christians: The World Is Getting Better, Not Worse

~A collection of articles for World Horizons USA~

World Horizons exists on behalf of places and people not yet prayed for, churches not yet planted, and cross-cultural workers not yet sent.  Our goal is to engage in partnership with local churches and believers in order to propagate the gospel of Christ among the world’s least served communities.

This work offers us deep fulfillment as well as a real and lasting hope for the future.

We believe that God has tasked us with making disciples of His gospel and with expressing unconditional love for His people all over the world (Matt. 28:18-20, Luke 10:27, Acts 1:8).  We believe that the Scriptures teach that the international church will be effective in sharing God’s Word: that it will be “proclaimed to all the nations” (Matt. 24:14, Phil. 2:9-11, 2 Peter 3:9).  And we believe that when the transformative gospel of Christ impacts hearts and nations, those hearts and nations become better (Rom. 12:2, 2 Peter 1:3-11).

If we are mandated by God to express His glorious work of salvation and if we are promised success in this work and if this gospel of grace renews the human heart and mind, then we can only assume that the world will get better every day.  For if we are called to share the Lord’s grace and mercy which transforms peoples and cultures to be more like Him, the success of the church will bring Christ’s prosperity to fruition on earth.

The evidence of Christ’s present rule on earth surrounds us: the spread of the gospel over the earth has occurred in conjunction with drastic international declines in poverty, famine, disease, political and bureaucratic oppression, and military conflict.  These enemies of Christ are being subdued.  They are in full retreat.  Those things which obstruct the cultivating of the gospel and the resulting human flourishing are becoming the footstool of our Savior (Matt. 22:44).

We must reject the notion that the world is regressing in a state of steady decline and decay.  We must stop thinking of ministry and mission as desperate, last-ditch measures to “take as many people with us as we can” before the earth is reduced to total chaos.  This is neither the Lord’s purpose for our lives nor the message of His Scriptures.  Christ reigns presently at the right hand of the Father.  His gospel gives us hope, not only for eternity, but for today and tomorrow.

When we understand that the work of the church actively establishes the kingdom of God and the promised flourishing that accompanies it, we are enabled and empowered with new purpose. We, the diverse church of Christ representing all nations and tongues, can spur one another on by reminding and assuring one another that we have been promised victory over evil, triumph over sin, and the capability to establish justice and order in the disarray.

This charge applies to every aspect of human society: to business and economics, art and culture, science and mathematics, politics and philosophy, law and justice. As the knowledge of Christ’s gospel grows systemically in all walks of life, hearts and minds are transformed and renewed. As hearts and minds are transformed and renewed, cultures reflect the Christlikeness of those who dwell in them. As cultures around the world shift towards lifestyles and systems which honor God, the world gets better. This gracious work of the Lord is inevitable.

We long to see the influence of Jesus discovered in every culture so that it may permeate every aspect of life and so that all cultures might reflect and glorify Him. Certainly, there is work to be done in every corner of the world. Every single nation and people group shares equally in the need of God’s blessing and in the call to share that blessing with others. We do not exist merely to witness to the nations as a final aim, but to join them or invite them into the work.

Christ’s church among the nations is the light of the world (Matt. 5:14). As that light grows, darkness cannot increase. It is an incredible privilege to be involved in the spreading of Christ’s kingdom on earth. We are unworthy to serve God and the people that He loves, but we rejoice and praise Him for including us in His divine purpose of bringing all nations and hearts to Himself.

Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing.

–Colossians 1:5-6

---

In supporting the conjecture that the worst days of the world lie still ahead, many Christians point to Matthew 24:6-14, which reads, “you will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places… You will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me… And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

Certainly, this passage is enough to raise concern and cause alarm.  Persecution, famine, war, earthquakes: All of these are reminiscent of an apocalyptic film of chaos and survival.  But is this the future of the church?

To whom was Christ speaking and to whom was Scripture written?

The Word of God was written for us and for our benefit, but it was not written to us.  This discrepancy is vital in interpreting passages of the Bible because it informs us that we are to read and understand Scripture with the same frame of reference as those to whom it was written.  The words of Christ uttered in Matthew 24 were spoken over 2,000 years ago to the 12 disciples of His ministry. The gospel of Matthew was written shortly thereafter to Jewish Christians living in the Roman Empire.  Therefore, we must seek to understand the passage as these individuals would have understood it.

Essentially: Christ forecasted events which lay in the future of those who were present with Him in the course of events found in Matthew 24.  Since these words were spoken to that audience (and not to us), it may be a misinterpretation of Scripture to presume that the fulfillment of Christ’s prophecies lies in our future rather than in the futures of those to whom they were delivered.

This bit of insight offers clarification on a later verse, where Christ says to those who heard his grave predictions, “Truly I tell you: This generation will not pass away before these things have happened” (Matthew 24:34). Jesus foretold the coming doom of current society 2,000 years ago, and He assured all of those present that they would witness its fulfillment firsthand.

Historical and religious texts can never mean to us today what they did not mean to their original audiences in the periods during which they were written. This is a fundamental principle of hermeneutics. Properly understanding historical and religious texts requires that we evaluate them through the cultural, linguistic, scientific, philosophical, and political lenses of those for whom the texts were originally intended. Separating manuscripts and documents from their contemporary contexts will inevitably yield misinterpretations.

The context of Matthew 24 refers to the futures of those present and alive in the time of Christ’s earthly ministry, and we must understand this passage accordingly.

Did these prophecies indeed come to pass?

What happened shortly after Christ predicted war, famine, natural disasters, and persecution?

Christians became the primary target of a global government (the Roman Empire) and their elimination became the personal vendetta of some of the most powerful men in history who, in their day, were the rulers of the entirety of the known world.  In the course of the Diocletianic Persecution (or, “The Great Persecution”), Roman Emperors threw droves of Christians to the lions in the Colosseum for sport, or else impaled them, tarred them, and set them ablaze to light their parties. The Temple in Jerusalem was leveled by Roman armies (Mark 13:1-2). Systemic persecution of Christians significantly reduced their numbers, leaving only a small remnant of believers and forcing those who remained into hiding.

Subsequently, the Visigoths sacked the city of Rome and the Roman Empire collapsed.  An interval universally designated the “Dark Ages” followed. An absence of structured governing institutions created a power vacuum which induced a chronic state of global military conflict.  A total lack of infrastructure allowed famine, poverty, and disease to run rampant throughout the known world. Kingdom rose against kingdom.  There were wars, rumors of wars, famines, and earthquakes.  All nations of the Roman Empire (and so, essentially, the earth) attempted to smother Christianity and stamp it out.  These things came to pass just as Jesus prophesied.

Isn’t it possible that the spoken foreknowledge of Christ related to the impending destruction of the contemporary social order could have occurred in the 2,000 years since He predicted it?  Could this great Tribulation have already come to pass?

Why does it matter that we know and understand this?

Since the end of the Dark Ages and the broadening work of global missions, the world has improved at an absolutely astounding rate in virtually every manner possible.  By every quality-of-life metric (e.g. poverty, war and genocide related fatalities, illiteracy and lack of education, famine, disease, life expectancy etc.), we are witnessing an unprecedented era of progress, prosperity, and peace.  Humanity has experienced a steady and remarkable uptrend for centuries.  Additionally, there are currently more self-proclaimed Christians today than at any other single time in human history.

After Christ spoke of the horrible things that are to befall society at large, He asserted “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matt. 24:14, emphasis added).  Follow this succession of events for a moment: Christians will be widely persecuted.  The earth will be reduced to disarray.  After these things have happened, the gospel of the kingdom will be preached to in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and only then will the end come.

Ultimately, this passage of Scripture should encourage and revitalize us, not make us afraid and fearful of the future.  After all of the terrible things prophesied in Matthew 24 (which were to happen in the lifetime of those to whom the words were spoken), the progress of Christ’s gospel establishes human flourishing throughout all the earth.  We are observing as this unfolds today.  Not only this, but Christ promises to return and reign presently once the gospel has been preached in the whole world.  This should shape our missiology by spurring us towards ministry and missions so that we may actively participate in preparing the nations for Him!

Additional notes on the nature of progress:

In response to the statement “the world is getting better”, it can be tempting to present specific examples of societal regression (e.g. the rise of abortion, injustice and oppression under regimes such as that of North Korea, etc.) in order to counter this positive claim.

We must be careful to avoid cherry picking in this manner.

Progress is seldom chronic without periods in which it is static or during which there is even some regression.  Isolating incidents and separating them from data is counterproductive.  It can be likened to claiming “there’s still polio in underdeveloped nations. Therefore, polio must not be decreasing globally”.  This, of course, is simply inaccurate.  Implicitly, this argument assumes that progress must never abate or slow and that it must occur universally in an identical manner in order for it to be considered progress.  In arguing thus, we are forced to presuppose that, if things are indeed improving, there will never be ANY span in the course of which things regress slightly or become static.

In reality, progressive movements have a tendency to fluctuate or stagnate over any given time frame.  Extrapolating a trend from the last 100 years (or several decades) of Christendom’s ~2,000 year history will yield wildly inaccurate results, as it takes into account only a very small sample size.

Certainly, there are “blips” in the overall progressive trend.  But pointing out only remaining issues while neglecting the overwhelming data which demonstrates, for a fact, that the world is getting better by virtually every metric is irresponsible.

Have all of the issues been fixed?  Absolutely not.  Are we nearer to redressng them?  Definitely.  Does this mean there won’t be setbacks?  No.  Do these setbacks negate the overwhelming data?  No.

For more data-based evidence on the world’s improvement, visit https://humanprogress.org/

Image source: Getty Images

Why We Do Art

~An article for World Horizons USA~

Art is one of the primary ministry methods that we implement at World Horizons USA. Our U.S. office houses a professional art gallery, featuring new shows by different artists every first Friday of the month. This gallery serves as a model for the international pop-up art galleries that we host around the world. We have packed art and taken it to various nations in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and South and Central Asia to display it publicly.

There are several reasons why art is so important to us.

God is the original Creator and we readily embrace the call to emulate His glorious artistry.
The character of Christ is exhibited on the canvas of His lavish handiwork. The Lord did not create simply to fulfill His own utilitarianism. He is not pragmatic. His creation is excessive and tedious and painstaking in all of its wonder. The limitlessly imaginative nature of the Creator is displayed in the splendor and majesty of sunsets, flower petals, and sea urchins.
Not only is the universe demonstrable of God’s capacity and inclination towards sophisticated glory, but it also reveals a Lord who carefully crafted a world for His beloved children to enjoy almost as much as He does.

After fashioning the heavens and the earth and all that is in them, the Lord rested and pronounced His work good. (Genesis 1:31). Scripture says that the Lord is declared through creation and that His work proclaims His glory (Psalm 19:1). He is worthy of our worship, and the evidence of this surrounds us. In response, we seek to imitate the Father by creating things which are good and by using art as a valuable means to declare His greatness. If God Himself is an artist and uses His empyrean art to make His glory known, and if we are called to model ourselves after Him, then we also ought to create beautiful art which reflects and glorifies our Maker.

The value of art is also found in its cross-cultural nature. In spite of remarkable diversity in language and culture, vastly different peoples are brought together by the making and displaying of art. We have witnessed firsthand the incredible connective quality of art at work. When we have curated small pop-up shows in various cities around the world, we have spoken to people with whom we otherwise would never have spoken. We have made connections with those who may otherwise have simply passed us by. By inviting people of distinctly separate milieus, backgrounds, and tongues to share something with us that supersedes culture and is universally relatable, we are able to create an environment wherein we can promote Christ. We have shared the gospel with those who have never heard it because art has provided a safe space to exchange thoughts, ideas, values, and beliefs. This offers us the opportunity both to learn from those whom we are serving and to share our own faith as artists, neighbors, family, and friends.

God is the prototypical and divine Artist, and His work exists to declare His goodness. Because He has shared his capacity to create with us, we also proclaim His glory by creating beautiful things to share with the world.

Cultures as Vessels: A Philosophy of Mission

~An article for World Horizons USA~

The month of January is prayer month for all of us at World Horizons. Daily, we pray communally for unreached people groups, focusing on a different and unique nation or culture every day. Because of this, I have been thinking a lot lately about culture and missions.

My understanding of missiology has evolved dramatically over the last three years. I think this is, in part, because of my training with World Horizons USA. But I also think that it is more a result of my experience working on the field with World Horizons and personally experiencing cross-cultural ministry for the very first time.

The biggest single evolution in my thought process regarding the philosophy of missions is the realization that every culture is equally prepared to accept and follow Christ. American culture is not more or better equipped for the gospel than Middle Eastern, North African, or Central Asian cultures.

To make use of my friend Ryan’s analogy, compare cultures to drinking vessels. Consider a wide array of drinking vessels: coffee mugs, beer growlers, teacups, and wine glasses. Each is unique and idiosyncratic in size, shape, color, and yet each is equally capable of holding water.

In the same way, cultures vary drastically from one another, each being distinct, separate, and marked by recognizable features and identifiers. And yet, every single culture is equally equipped and prepared to receive and celebrate the gospel. Just as water can be poured into coffee pots and tea kettles alike, so the gospel can be applied to cultures and nations which are entirely different in function and in understanding of the world.

It would be a grave mistake to attempt to found American or Western churches in places which are distinctly not American or Western. Our goal is not to establish such churches in the places where we work. This would rob the church of valuable and, in fact, vital diversity.

Our goal is to establish self-propagating churches that are marked by the cultures in which they exist and to partner with churches and the body of believers who are already there. The long-term objective is not to see believers adopt the American way of worship; it is to see people around the world accept Christ just as He has accepted them exactly where they are.

We long to see Middle Eastern churches in the Middle East, North African churches in North Africa, and Central Asian churches in Central Asia. Underserved peoples in Middle East are prepared and qualified to receive and follow Christ today. North African and Central Asian peoples are ready to love and worship our Creator right now. They just need to hear about Him!

The difference between cultures, then, is simply a matter of access to the gospel. It doesn’t matter that all cultures are equally viable if there are entire nations and people groups in which there are no churches, no believers, no Scripture in the target language, and no effort underway to right these wrongs. This is why I do what I do. I do not seek to promote the American way of church, worship, and understanding of the gospel. I want to see new expressions of faith in Christ flourish as people come to know and love Him who did not before.

We do not seek to correct or change cultures at large. Certainly, there are elements of any and every culture which might change when the gospel is applied. But the gospel is not monocultural nor does it require or produce one brand of culture. Rather, it is offered by God to people of every nation, tribe, and tongue. This is a rewarding and exciting thought.

Please join us as we continue to pray for those around the world who are ready to hear and accept the gospel today but who have yet to be told.