I am currently reading a book by K.P. Yohannan, "Revolution in World Missions," and it has been perhaps the most challenging book I have ever read. Yohannan, an Indian pastor living in the United States, is quite frank as he evaluates the church in America from an outsider's perspective. He suggests that American Christians have lost touch with the great commission and that our attempts to follow it have been half best at most.
What if Americans individuals took the great commission seriously and poured everything they had into it? What if American church saw the great commission as the single most important goal and purpose of the church and focused everything into that? What if Christians in America actually grasped what it means to save a man's soul from eternal suffering rather than "make this temporary life a little more comfortable" with hand outs and gestures of good will? (pg.111) Would entire nations actually turn towards God rather than merely catch up to the living standards of the west?
Yohannan suggests that we have become experts at dishing out humanitarian aid, yet have forgotten our first call; to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. We have become experts at creating multi-million dollar buildings to glorify God, yet have forgotten that while here on earth "the Son of Man had no where to lay his head." We have become experts at storing up treasures as Christians so tightly here on earth that we fear releasing the very things that God has given.
We fear that God will not come through again. We fear being in want. We fear that without a great display of what we've accumulated, no one will ever be attracted to Christ. So we spend our time as the church hoarding, building great fortresses, and being "entertained and entertaining...as if [we] were trying to escape from a guilt [we] have not yet defined or even identified" (pg 41).
This past year as a staff worker with InterVarstiy, I met a homeless woman one night as we handed out sack lunches and prayed with the homeless in Santa Barbara. It was apparent this woman was not your typical homeless as she was sober, had no evidence of past drug use and sat calmly reading a well worn bible. She shared that she had felt God's call on her life so deeply to give up everything and follow him, that she did exactly that. As she travels around California, she's now able to offer freely the only thing she has left to give: Jesus. And her testimony to the faithfulness of God is turning many to him. But scared me the most about this woman was that as she spoke, there was an unnerving peace in her eyes and voice. She understood the call of Christ so completely and in following there was peace, not fear. It was unsettling to see someone actually living out the very call of leaving everything behind to follow Jesus. It's the same call I had been given. It's the same call you have been given. This woman however had the strength to do what I fear. Giving up my treasures on earth.
We have much to offer; wealth, knowledge and Jesus. We have been given everything! Yet we are afraid to share it...even Jesus.
I highly suggest reading this book. I myself am still trying to sort out what I think about Yohannan's assessment of the American church, and I might need to re-think some of my theology...but it is worth it. You can actually get a copy of the book at www.gfa.org for free. It's well worth it!
What you said really resonates in my spirit. I've recently finished reading the biography of Brother Yun (one of the main leaders of the Chinese house churches), which brought me to tears many times reading about his joy in Christ despite the persecution. The tears were also from reading the miraculous accounts of God's faithfulness - like when God miraculously opened all the doors and gates and blinded the eyes of all the guards of one of China's most high security prisons - so that Yun could escape. Yun had similar things to say about the Western church - all in love of course. Reading it ruined my "life" in a way, in a good way! The Holy Spirit ruined all of my self-contentment and self-righteousness through testimonies like that. And then I read a book called "Back to Jerusalem" which documents how all of the house churches in China have united under a single goal: to bring the Gospel to all of the nations that lie between China and Jerusalem, nations which happen to be the 50 most unreached nations in the world - the 10/40 window. They are so eager to complete the Great Commission that they are determined to send at least 100,000 missionaries into the 10/40 window by 2010, and eventually close to a million in the years to follow. The leaders say that they have agreed to "tithe" 10% of their church members in China to become Back to Jerusalem missionaries (which would be close to a million). All of those who go are leaving everything behind and they often go without all the details figured out about how they will afford it or where they will stay. Many of them expect to be martyred and are SO happy to be counted worthy of the task! You can read about it at www.backtojerusalem.com, and you can actually send financial support to the Chinese missionaries through the site. So in a way we can join in their efforts!
ReplyDeleteAnyways, God has used testimonies of people like that to bring me to my knees. So I really appreciate your post!
Kevin Ott
Hi guys~
ReplyDeleteI just found your site and am so excited to read about your thoughts on "Revolution in World Missions." I worked with them at their home office in Carrollton, TX when I was 17, and can testify that the staff there are living what they preach. The coolest thing I learned while I was there is how amazingly wonderfully God answers prayer. As we prayed for the missionaries in the 10/40 window, they would call the office the next day and tell us how our prayers had been answered exactly down to the last detail. It was exhilerating. Usually as we pray for our brothers and sisters far away we don't get to hear what happens. But God delights in our partnering with Him in prayer--I think that's the whole reason He asks us to pray.
Anyway, if you get a chance to read more of K.P.'s books, they're really good. His wife, Gisela, wrote some great ones too. And by the way, they're always looking for new staff at the Texas office... :) I have never been more encouraged or blessed by one group of people in my life than I was being with them.
Looking forward to hearing about your adventures in Wisconsin. :)
Love, Naomi Dillon