A New Landscape. Really?
“The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. 27 He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. 28 The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” (Mark 4:26-29)
Introduction
Understood biblically (Isa 55:8-9) through the lens of the cross (1 Cor 1:19-20) God’s ways are not like ours. We crave the seeming certainty, security and predictability that come with rationality, but there are deeper aspects about divine and human life that define analysis. I believe we live on the threshold of a clash of cultures in the global Church.
Perspective
Let me share some matters picked up from Zoom calls this week. Yesterday, a representative of Tearfund, who advocate internationally on behalf of the poor via the church, shared that COVID 19 will force more than 100 million into extreme poverty. Also, the UN Sustainability Development Goals for global peace and prosperity have been pushed back by at least seven years. Even more disturbing is how hostile governments are taking away freedoms from the Church, e.g. the banning the international transfers of funds to Christian NGO’s in India. Serious matters like these justified the topic of my Zoom meetings with the Asian Evangelical Alliance, Asian Church in the New Landscape. This gathering assembled representatives from 17 nations, Pakistan through to Japan. The discussions were conducted prayerfully and in the Spirit by folk who are almost always members of a religious minority. Two contradictory narratives emerged.
An extreme example of the Old Normal
Pastor How leads the two-decade old “Heart of God” in Singapore, a tech-savvy megachurch with an average age of 22. They employ strategies to keep the age profile down, especially focussing on a culture of belonging. Their $50m premises, the pastors are business owners, is constructed to function as a home for young people during the week. The central auditorium is designed for sound, light and dance spectaculars and hosts a walkway. All the roles of leadership are occupied by youth/young adults and exist at multiple levels. Pastor How’s favourite story is from D.L. Moody, “Two and a half came to the Lord…two youth and one adult.” The story is inspiring, and the hand of God is unmistakable on “Heart of God”. However, older people seem invisible or non-existent, and this dynamic seems non-transferable to a rural or outback setting with limited finances etc. As a friend (Peter Pollock) says, music + money + gifted leadership mean almost anything is possible.
The First Normal
Our Bible study presenter was an older Indian sage (C.B. Samuel) internationally noted for his non-analytical biblical expositions. He urged us to turn away from the focus on building, numbers and programmes typical of “charismatic empires”. The exhortation was to recalibrate to the Early Church in its emphasis on identity in Christ, holiness of life and the purpose of our calling (1 Pet 1-2). This means an inner orientation to Christlikeness and continuously upholding his supremacy (Col 1:18) over all other religious figures and systems.
Since Church is a community rather than an event, we must relocate Church from Sunday to weekday. “And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts 47 praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:46-47). The presence and pleasure of the Lord was strong in the midst of his family and sustained their frequent meeting together. Can the old normal (Ps. How) and the first normal (Rev. Samuel) be held together? It is probable a majority hope so.
Old and New?
Jesus said, “every scribe…trained for the kingdom of heaven…brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”” (Matt 13:52). A South Korean theologian put forward what looks like a hybrid structure for the future of the Church. Her suggestion is that future Christian communities can build discipleship through high tech, contentful virtual education, plus high touch relationships. She insisted this approach be biblical rather than emotional and focus on Christian character. I think this mix of a technological and relational focus contains an implied clash of cultures. Firstly, since the Word weeps (John 11:35) we must never set the biblical and emotional in opposition. Christ possessed a healthy mind and affections (Matt 22:37). Secondly, technology, more often than not, is the master rather than servant. The powerful control and anonymity people find through technology will usually overwhelm the unpredictable and often painful world of relationships. The rise of online teaching in Bible colleges has led to a decline of deep Christian community on campuses. When I was lecturing, I believe that my students received an impartation from the Spirit, and at times my vulnerability was unmistakeable. A computer interface can never replace the human face!
Glory in Ignorance
Without deep prayer the advent of technology, marketing and business plans robs the Church of the “he knows not how” element of the advancing kingdom of God (Mark 4:27). Our as to the “how” of the growth of the kingdom, and so the Church (Matt 16:16-19), points us beyond possible explanations to the unsurpassable glory of God. Likewise, the Greek for “The earth produces by itself” is the word from which we get “automatic”. Growth through the seed of the Word parallels the holy mystery of the unpredictable Spirit-wind (John 3:8). We just know when the Lord acts, but we can never explain it! When several brothers recently testified of kingdom fruit whose coming they could not comprehend the presence of the Lord was manifest.
Conclusion
Why God created the world is explainable, but how he did it is completely incomprehensible. It is much the same with the unfathomable depths (Eph 3:8) of what it means to be a creature and a saved son of God. In an age where we are increasingly surrounded by technological marvels and strong expert-like charismatic leaders our hearts need something more. In a “new landscape” we need the presence and power of “the old old story” whose incomprehensible goodness in character and action always leaves us dumbfounded. This is the nature of the (crucified) glory of God. And I am praying that the devil is not able to rob and seduce us of it (2 Cor 11:3).