Many Gripped By Fear!

We recently had brother Paul Washer visit and stay in our home here this past week as he came to learn of the work within this particular part of the world. It was a pleasure to have him here and to speak/share with him many of the amazing opportunities for ministry that are present within this location. On the other hand his visit has also only further lead me to believe and see what I had already began to believe and experience here already. Fear has gripped the missionary endeavors here! They have forgotten that we serve the great God and King who not only can get us here but, keep us here.

It is very dis-heartening to see how so many western missionaries are so given to fear and how easily and readily they are prepared to cheapen the gospel (slipping into massive contextualization... As in contextualization effecting the gospel and the life of a true follower of Christ) in order to blend in somehow or somehow not risk persecution. I recently have been attending an International  church service here (run by western missionaries) and what I am experiencing there is shocking! These services never have theological/doctrinal truths taught/dealt with and rarely have scripture expounded upon (only a verse here and there to back up some point usually out of context). Not to mention the widespread easy beleivism and say this little prayer methodology that has come to define evangelism today. Instead these services are usually highly topical, psycho-babbling, story laden talks which leave me wondering what it is that so many of these missionaries actually believe and how do they go about ministering to the people they come into contact with?  What I am finding out is truly shocking! I almost think I would rather them teach most of what we experience back in the States rather than what I am seeing (sarcasm).

It seems that many believers are simply just to scared to do anything radical for the glory of God. These individuals being to fearful to declare and to ill equipped to proclaim the truths of the gospel to a lost and dying world. Many even fearful to correct falsehoods that even arise within those who call themselves believers here. I am not speaking here of being unwise, rude or offensive. We are all to seek wisdom in our dealing with others. We should all practice kindness and humility. And we should all of us seek to be compassionate to others. However, we all must also have boldness, courage and Spirit filled passion in our handling of the scriptures and the preaching/teaching of the gospel in places where Christ is not yet worshiped. The fear of man and the missionaries unwillingness to risk much for the glory of God is sickening to say the least.

Contextualizing Away The Biblical Gospel

So what is contextualization? Contextualization is the process of adapting the gospel message to a myriad of cultural contexts in the world today. As Christians, we want to relate to our culture, but there's a real risk of morally selling out to that culture.  Many have a tendency to sell out due to the natural aversion to being rejected for what they believe. In order to avoid rejection, they attempt to conform or cleverly come up with new ways to engage that culture without risk of persecution or rejection (often removing those elements that are most opposed to those we come in contact with. Namely: The Gospel). John Macarthur on Contextualization has stated;

 

"The apos­tles went out with an absolute dis­dain for con­tex­tu­al­iza­tion. The mod­ern drive for cul­tural con­tex­tu­al­iza­tion is a curse, because peo­ple are wast­ing their time try­ing to fig­ure out clever ways to draw in the elect. Con­tex­tu­al­iza­tion is "zip-code min­istry?" The mes­sage of Jesus Christ, on the other hand, is tran­scen­dent. It goes beyond its imme­di­ate cul­ture or sub-culture. It crosses the world, and ignores the nuances of cul­ture." John Macarthur 

It seems a real problem here as so many workers seem scared of their own shadows. It is truly surprising and unnerving to see so many uncomfortable individuals who literally get bent out of shape when you begin speaking of our Savior and Lord. My question here is, if it is so difficult and uncomfortable to talk about Christ and His gospel with other professed believers, then how on earth do they expect to do so with those who do net yet believe? The answer is: they don't! They simply smile and are intentional in looking real happy, just waiting for the individuals around them to ask them about Christ, so it seems.

The C5 and Insider Movements

C5 describes the closest accommodation to Islam that is possible and still encourages the Lordship of Christ. C5 describes a community of Messianic Muslims who have accepted Jesus as Lord and savior. They remain legally and socially within the ummah. They call themselves Muslims without any reference to their relationship to Christ. Believers are free to remain active in the mosque, although actual practice may vary. They perform the salat like any other Muslim; though the content of their prayers may vary. They affirm the shahada (creed), underlining the prophethood of Muhammad and may go on pilgrimage. They may participate in their own communities for worship. In certain C5 communities, evangelical Christians can legally convert to Islam and join the mosque community itself.  C5 is a reflection of intentional western missiology, western training, and often a great deal of western money. Mission agencies expend a great deal of effort to promote “Insider”/C5 methods. These movements and methods are very dangerous to the cause of Christ and cheapen and even redefine the gospel and what it means to be a true Christ follower.

When I see movements and methods such as these I cannot help but feel like we are increasingly giving into earthly pressures and forsaking the God in whom we supposedly claim. Far to often missions in this realm of thinking leads to a man centered, man made, and man ran system that places Christ and His Spirit on the back burner.

"I doubt, indeed, whether we have any warrant for saying that a man can possibly be converted without being consecrated to God. More consecrated he doubtless can be, and will be as his grace increases; but if he was not consecrated to God in the very day that he was converted and born again, I do not know what conversion means." J.C Ryle

 

I am not suggesting that one must become American or even begin to look like what most American Christians are doing...far from it! I am suggesting that as we are to seek to be more biblical and like Christ, that they also would begin the process of sanctification unto the glory of God. So many today stress the importance of keeping ones culture....I am in full agreement. For my citizenship is not of this world and this is truly not my home.  It is the gospel that I take issues with not music, language, cultural dress and cultural identity... However, on the gospel we must be uncompromising. Lest, we forget the gospel at some point in time was very counter cultural to our very own way of living and cultural expectations. The gospel is counter cultural....sorry.... doesn't matter what culture it is. I have begun to loath what we call American Christianity. It is biblical Christianity that we are to strive after.

The Need To Wake Up!

I feel it is important at this time to allow the scriptures to speak and not fall into what others are becoming more and more inclined to do. Mainly, coming up with new ways and new concepts in ministry, ones in which seldom use scripture and are more about the methods and strategy of man, rather than the commandments and power of God in His word.  

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth." 2 Tim. 2:15

"I charge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."

2 Tim. 4:1-5

"Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or tamper with God's word, but, by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God." 2 Cor 4:1-2

"Keep close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by doing so you will save both yourself and your hearers." 1 Tim.4:16

Dealing with the overseer, "He must hold firm to the trustworthy word taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it." Titus 1:9

"So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ." Eph. 4:14-15

"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But, even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. (v.10) For am I now seeking the approval of man or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." Gal. 1:6-10

Conclusion

We need prayer here brothers and sisters. I am constantly reminded that I will be a bit of an odd ball here among even my own people. However, I do not intend on or plan on backing down or becoming  fearful of man while I am here (please pray for this). The Lord has brought me this far and I am convinced that he can keep me here as long as he so chooses (I pray longer than shorter). I seek to be wise, humble, loving (in truth), compassionate, caring, gentle and creative in my ability to share the gospel with others. However, I also understand that I must be bold, courageous, biblical and committed (even unto persecution) for the glory of God and the biblical/historical gospel that seems to be so lacking here. For the love of God and for the love of these people pray for nothing short of a revival and a move of the Holy Spirit here. I did not come here for man made results. I seek for the Holy Spirit to move within my life and others in ways that only He can receive the glory. Will join with me and pray that He would make His glory known here?

"If God does not save men by truth, he certainly will not save them by lies. And if the old gospel is not competent to work a revival, then we will do without the revival." Charles Spurgeon

"The power that is in the gospel does not lie in the eloquence of the preacher, otherwise men would be the converters of souls, nor does it lie in the preachers learning, otherwise it would consist in the wisdom of men. We might preach until our tongues rot off, till we would exhaust our lungs and die, but never a soul would be converted unless the Holy Spirit be with the preached word of God to give it the power to convert the soul." Charles Spurgeon