Monday, October 8, 2012

Jesus' command finally realized?

Right before his ascension Jesus told the disciples, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Gost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8)  What required a dispersion in the New Testament to get the baby Christians off their behinds in Jerusalem and spreading the Gospel to the rest of the world is now seemingly done with the typing of fingers on a keyboard anywhere there is Internet.

Is New Media God's way of helping us fulfill Jesus' prophecy?  The missions explosion of the 18th and 19th centuries nearly spread the Gospel to the uttermost reaches of the earth.  Yet there are still tribes, tounges, and peoples who have not heard the Good News of Jesus Christ.  While it may be easy to post our Christian convictions online and then call to the world, "Come and get it!," there must be people who physically travel to remote places, proclaim Christ, and help the people get copies of the Scriptures in their own language. 

Thankfully, online media can help missionaries stay in close contact with their sending organizations to provide prayers, money, and physical resources for the proclamation of Christ.  And when the missionaries have trained disciples of the local peoples and packed up to move where God is calling them next, they can in turn stay in close contact with their new brothers and sisters in Christ -- through satellite phones, smart phones, and solar chargers if there are no land lines or power stations.  Using a blend of old and new schools, we are within striking distance of being Christ's witnesses unto the uttermost part of the earth   

4 comments:

  1. Is our goal to spread the word or to hear the word? Are we going to this world and using these tools to convert or to reconnect? The intent to build real relationship affects both in the relationship. Is our goal to grow the church or to be the church?

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    1. Professor, I am still wrestling with that question. It is certain that God is at work in all areas of the world, well ahead of the Church's arrival. Yet Jesus commanded us to participate in his ongoing work; making disciples of all nations. Right now I feel we are to proclaim Christ crucified, backing off when it becomes a matter of cultural conversion rather than spiritual discipleship. I know Jesus Christ because someone (in this case my parents) endeavored to proclaim the Gospel to me. How could I withold that opportunity from others I meet? On the other hand an instantaneous "conversion" is of little value without an ongoing conversation. If we are witnessing the enlargement of the family of God, we had better be prepared to love and be loved by our new siblings.

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  2. Robert I love how you so intently pursue the fulfillment of God's call on your life. I think that this new media thing is a great way to expand the church's influence in this emerging world, but I also agree that we need to balance those possibilities with boots on the ground, as it were.

    Blending old and new schools is a great way to look at it, and everything about you says you're an old school kind of guy. I like the old school too, and admire your ability to honestly insert yourself into this new setting.

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    1. Thanks Joseph, I see a great mix of old and new school in your ministry. I would love if social media was the ultimate answer to the Great Commission, but as we've seen in our readings Web access remains limited to the privileged few. It is our responsibility to continue carrying the Gospel specifically to those who have no other means of hearing the name of Christ.

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