snakes & schools; holy river & holy tourist trap

Saturday October 31 2009

..... snakes, camels, monkeys, oxen

So this turned out to be one remarkable day!. It is almost impossible to convy the emotion, the stories of Christian dedication and sacrifice, the smells, the myriad of visual stimuli – all that India is.

Our team traveled in two rented vans – really taxis. It was a little over two hours to our destination, longer on the way back due to traffic jams leaving Haridware and again upon travelling through Dehradun. The smell of diesel is strong in the India traffic congestion - it would be quite a challenge for my wife Yvonne. I prayed my asthma could handle this, and it has PTL!. Sometimes those riding on scooters or walking have scarves over their faces to help with this. The main culprit – other than the fact that there are too many people, too many trash fires, too many vehicles - there are too many 3 wheeler open air cabs. In Delhi these must now all be natural gas. Dehradun district has proposed the same restrictions but I gather this is not well received by the '3 – wheeler taxi union!'

Our drive took us trough two stretches of National Forest, and monkeys played along the roadside in these locations. At one point we saw a caravan of camels along the road but we came upon them so quickly no one was able to snap a photo.

We were moving out of the mountain foothills onto the agricultural plain, so oxen - pulled carts were plentiful – just one more type of vehicle sharing the the narrow roads – with scooters, cars, buses, trucks, 3-wheel motorized rick-shaws (George calls these 'miss-guided missiles'), bikes, pedestrians – and of course, cows, dogs, and hogs. The traffic eased a little after we moved through Haridware with all its pilgrims – more on that later. Eventually we found ourselves in the thick of of sugar cane fields – taller than our vehicles.

Close to our destination, hidden down a sugar cane field lane, just past a dirt poor village of subsistance farmers and scavengers and livestock, is a squatters village of 'snake charmers'. This is the lowest level of human existence I have seen in my life. These make-shift huts are beyond imagination. However most of the girls are dressed – but some little boys have nothing to wear. The village came to life as our vans stopped. No tourist is going to see this place, but because this ministry reaches these children, it is ok for us to stop. Before we know it all the children have gathered and one teenage boy brings 3 snakes to show us. The python is in a dirty brown bag, it is the largest; one basket contains a cobra, one a boa constrictor (I think). All conversation with the locals is in Hindi. A flute is not needed to get the cobra to dance (snakes cannot hear) – it is all done with hand motion. I am told these snakes are local to the area.

During the height of pilgrimage season to Haridware, the snake handlers will make some good money putting their snakes on public display – snakes are considered holy to devout Hindus.

Our ministry leaders gave the village spokesperson a few rupees – an older woman who was yelling at the top of her lungs, arguing, demanding, much more than the custom donation for our 15 minute stop.

Khrist Jyoti Academy is hidden down a narrow raod through sugar cane fields. As we saw this school Jim and I believed this to be a physical and spiritual

..... oasis hidden in the middle of the sugar cane field

A faithful Christian sold her Mercedes and donated $15,000 to purchase the land. She continued to raise funds for the building of this amazing school.Before that the school operated out of rented facilities, having to move 3 times in 5 years.

School facts:
...320 students in grades pre JK through 8
...182 children come at 4 pm for special tutoring and a hot meal – this is in patnership with Compassion International Ministries – the monthly sponsoring of children funds the evening (late afternoon ministry)
...60 of the 182 are academy students
...60 of the 182 come from the 'snake charmers village'
...this is one of 7 schools run by the ministry (only 3 have buildings – others are rented facilities)
...virtually all of the children (academy and afternoon) are 'Dalits', the lowest caste, the 'untouchables'
...the building has been built in such a way that additional schoolrooms can be added to a 2nd level of the existing building. About $50,000 is needed to make the school useable through grade 12. It is important to add a grade each year. Otherwise students will never complete their education. It is difficult to get a child into a new school in the higher grades. Right now this school is out of classroom space.
...The existing staff building needs additional apartments. Again the existing 3 flat building was constructed in such a way that 3 more can be added when funds become available.

The Principal of the school and his wife entertained our team of 14 for lunch. Very modest accomodation with unreliable water and electricity. Yet the dedication of school staff is inspiring. Sathosh George and his wife both graduated from NTC and came to this school in Pathri 5 years ago. Sadly this couple lost their only child less than 2 weeks ago (a seven or 8 year old born with diabilities) – and we were blessed by their gracious hospitality during this mourning period.

We also heard of another aspect to the ministry: a women and infant program designed to asist with education in the areas of hygeine, health, care of children. 60 ladies are involved (4 are pregnant at this time and 56 have infants.) Home visits are so important: most of these women are Dalits and have husbands who are alcoholics and/or virtually unreliable and of little or no help in raising the children. It is precious to know that they are being shown the love of Christ in practical ways.Even the fact that they have been taught to write their name is significant progress.


Notice in the pics how disciplined the children are as they leave school for the day – bikes in single file and will not be ridden until outside the school gate (just need the adults on Indian roads to learn this lesson!)
the school bus is a bicycle powered cage; we watched in amazement as 19 (honest truth) were squeezed into this contraption. I think the driver told us that he will take each child to their home.


Everytime we entered a classroom the children would rise as one and greet us “good morning sir”. They smiled, attended to their teacher, and were a delight.


..... the holy river, the holy tourist trap

The Ganges River flows from the mountains, the home of the spirits and gods. To bathe in its waters is a very special and holy ritual which can improve your fortunes when it comes to oneness with god and improve your status in the next life.The city of Haridware is a holy city (“door to god”). It is undergoing significant infrastructure improvement in anticipation of next year's special festival (it comes to this city only once every 12 years). Millions of people and vehicles will try and get into this city. Buses are hired and trains are filled with pilgrims even now. Next year will be, in my humble opinion, unmanageable; the crowds and pollution and noise will be at a level beyond imagination. It was not a comfortable place. Spiritually oppressive, dirty, noisey (Hindu shrines seem to have a love affair with loud music played through loud speakers!). It had a carnival atmosphere. But it is very important that we see what draws Hindu pilgrims from all over the world.



So many NTC grads have remained in North Africa to be front-line missionaries for Jesus. Their stories inspire, astound, amaze. They face opposition and hardship. As I get to see more and more of the dark oppression Hinduism has left as its legacy, my heart is humbled and broken. The caste system, though officially abolished, is alive and well. People are kept in bodndage to poverty and superstition. Women may have it better in Hinduism than Islam, but it is still difficult. I have met some of the most courageous servants of Jesus who work in some of the most difficult places on earth. I have had the privilege of befriending future leaders and servants of ministry in North India. The students are a joy to be around. I am better, deeper spiritually, more blessed due to this interaction – in the classroom, in worship, at prayer meetings, on the sports field.

about the college

About the College

The academic year began in late June. Students arrived from 26 of the 28 states in India, and 3 foreign countries. Different denominations and traditions are represented among both faculty and students.

NTC is now in its 21st year – the growth has been steady. George Chavanikamannil (no wonder they call him 'Uncle George' ) and his wife Leela founded the school, and the initial vision was for perhaps 10 students. That seemed reasonable as north India is not one of the two strong areas of Christianity in this country. But God blessed the vision, and the campus is now 25 acres – the original plan was for 5!

Academic programs: B.Divinity; B.Theology (two programs, one in English and one in Hindi); M. Divinity; Diploma in Worship & Music;

But the Society theat sponsors/overseas the NTC ministry is larger than just the College: there are also primary schools and orphanages, and a network of hundreds of churches, many new church plants. NTC graduates will serve as pastors of these churches and teachers of the schools.

The 5th orphanage has just opened – located in the eastern state of Assam. This is a state with much poverty and parents sell their children for as little as 100 Rupees ($2.27 cdn) as they are unable to take care of them. Pastor K.P. Philipose is working hard to get the necessary permissions to continue care for about 20 children.

I am amazed at the resolve and courage these students have to do compassionate ministry in the name of Christ – in a country filled with opposition, active persecution and incredible spiritual oppression. I am humbled.

..... church planting through opening schools

Graduates of NTC do church work in remote areas. One is leading a new church up in the mountains – in one of the 5 Hindu holy cities, the tributaries that feed the Ganges River. These 5 river sources become special holy cities. There are another 7 holy cities throughout India, fed by the tears of a special Hindu god. This pastor has a vision to eventually network 5 christian churches in these 5 holy mountain cities. A church is started by offering excellent education to the children. From a quality school the church emerges naturally. It comes from within the community. One does not just walk into a village or city and 'start a church'. But a new school is quite welcome. Hindus want their children to learn well. And they will tolerate, actually affirm, these schools. Generally, public school teachers are perceived to be lazy and uninterested. I obviously cannot comment intelligently on that generalization, but this is what I am told. This year NTC started a Christian academy for 3 lower grades, and George thinks it would have been good to start this school about 10 years ago. But they had to wait until excellent leadership was available. Students come from the NTC campus faculty as well as many children in the community.

There are plans to build a school building in an open field on the NTC campus. Currently the academy uses the lower floor of a boys' residence. Money gifts are needed to fund the finishing work to a second campus gate and road as well as the new school building. There is a demand from the community for additional schools. Enrollment will not be a problem.

Our group from North America will get to visit two of the schools in the NTC family – one on Saturday October 31 and one on Monday November 02.

who let the dogs out?

NTC Thursday October 29 2009 3:30 am

..... who let the dogs out?

Stray dogs, not really 'wild like coyote dogs' are everywhere. Some make their way onto campus. They roam the streets with the cows, the people, the scooters and cars. 'Free roaming dogs and cows' do not seem to bother anyone. I have witnessed no aggressive dogs or cows – just motorized vehicles. The animals are well fed as the roadside piles of garbage & trash are everywhere. This is all taken for granted and part of the culture. The only trash cans/receptacles I have seen are those located on campus. These photos were taken standing on the rock wall which acts as a fence along the roadside boundary for NTC. The trash lies against the wall for a few hundred yards. Difficult to say on which side of the wall it originated.

With the increase emphasis on “going green” that I read in the daily newspapers, and with Christians around the globe finally recognizing how important 'creation care' is, one wonders if India will soon see both some cosmetic changes to the landscape as well as attitude impacting activity – hopefully with Christians taking the lead! Time will tell.

People will eventually try and burn some of the trash piles. Campfires are always burning by the many outdoor restaurant carts. So the valley is filled on a daily basis with a foul stench and smoke fog (not as bad as the pollution in Delhi though!) For my Creston friends, it can sometimes get like the CV when the Idaho farmers decide that since the wind is blowing north it is time to burn their fields.

Sometimes the dogs get into night-time barking contests which echo through the valley. It is loud and constant, and I wake up most nights.

From yesterday's newspaper:
1.The sports section is dominated by photos and writing on the sport of professional cricket. Editorials complain that Indian cricket fans suffer from 'sports fatigue' and are calling for a shorter season. (I've heard this song elsewhere.)
2.7% of the Himalayian glaciers disappear each year
3.The Indian government has issued a travel alert, encouraging its citizens to refrain from traveling to neighbouring Pakistan due to escalating terrorism violence in recent weeks.this is disappointing news as many Sikh's from the State of Punjab wish to visit next week for Gurpurah – the birth anniversary celebration of Guru Nanak Dev, who was born near Lahore, Pakistan.
4.Speaking of religious travel, the Indian government annually financially supports Indian Haj, the annual pilgrimage of Muslims to Mecca. Air India has Haj airfare Delhi or Mumbai to Jeddah listed at 16,000 rupees while the regular traveller pays 80,000 to 90,000 rupees. Criticism comes for both Muslims and non-Muslims. The first group is sensing that such special assistance gives them a bad name, while the second group feels that the debt-ridden national airline Air India is receiving indirect 'bail-out' money. George tells us that one state in India will provide scholarship money for Christian Indians to do pilgrimage to the Holy Land. (let's play fair I guess)

Dehradun details

NTC, Dehradun, North India
Tuesday Oct 27 2009 9 pm

Dehradun:
capital of Uttarakhand State
gateway to the mountain cities and villages
altitude 640 metres
a city of research stations, residential schools,
home of Indian Military Academy (think West Point) (we feel safe here!)
home of Institute of Petroleum Exploration, Institute of Himalayan Geology and the wild Life Institute of of India
meaning: Dehra = 'camp'; Dun (Doon) = 'valley between the mountains'


... from today's newspaper:

1.There is an ice skating oval being constructed in Dehradun. Officials are worried that it will not be ready for the South Asian federation Winter Games scheduled for this State in January 2010. Canadian officials will make the inspection of the facility. There is an ad in the paper recruiting skaters between ages 5 -12!
2.There is a new trend among corporate India executives to put their leadership & management teams through a “fire walking” motivational and team building event. The idea is to increase confidence levels and therefore productivity and efficiency and morale. The seminar builds to the main event. First there is marble stick breaking followed by lively games and then enjoyable dances. Finally a 4 foot by 9 foot trench is filled with charcoal and doused in petrol. Once it is lit and red hot, the employees go for their barefoot walk - of course with motivational exhortation first: “nothing is impossible, everything is achievable” is the mantra. Men are asked to roll up their trousers before they take their walk. Women are asked not to wear silk pants or saris. ... interesting that the leaders of this event were trained in the United States.
3.341 days until the 2010 Commonwelath Games in Delhi (I don't know how athletes will breathe)
4.Number of cellphone towers in Delhi = 4,532; number of illegal cellphone towers in Delhi = 2,517
5.Tips on how to avoid 'winter depression'. Mood swings and dullness and psychological disorders are on the upsing as we enter winter. (Good grief: it's sunny and hot everyday! This elates me!)
6.the Power Regulatory Commission has given approval to a hike in power tariffs in Uttarakhand: up to 15% increase retroactive to the 1st of this month. (Question: will it also mean 15% less daily interruption of service time?)

adrenaline rush

Monday October 26 2009 – NTC – 10 pm

Well, what a disappointment. This afternoon, after the power came back on there was a brief hope the internet might work. No where on campus could I find a wireless hotspot or a computer with a regular connection. Jim got online for a few minutes, long enough to check on his on-line college students back home. The library computer gave me a few minutes for a quick email but there was no usb port for my stick. I wanted to paste into the blog stuff I have been writing.

So at 5 pm I packed up my computer and got set for the drive of a lifetime!

..... more exhilerating than any Disney ride! Dr. George (our host), Dr. Jim (my traveling & ministry mentor) and I jumped in the van with Johnson, our professional driver. George had to go to downtown Deharadun to buy a new cell phone. We went along on this fearful expedition, thinking that it might not matter if the internet never came back on. You have seen Tokyo or Mexico city pictures I am sure – some of you have driven in NYC or on Toronto's Front Street after the Blue Jays game – this was Dehradun, not even Delhi. This is a city in the foothills of the mountains. Yet the traffic (vehicular, pedestrian, motor bike and regular bike) is astonishing. In India you can drive a car without wheels but it must have a horn! The greatest thrill came after we parked the car (a parking lots shared with half a dozen roaming cows) and crossed the street. You have seen the show “fearfactor”? No kind of traffic yields to anything here. You literally put your hand out, not to point or ask traffic to stop, but to push the bikes and vehicles so that you can squeeze your body through a narrow opening.Everyone, everything, has the right of way.

The shanty stores,the wagon restaurants & vegetable stands line the roads into the city. Once in the urban centre, any available space is used as a storefront and they are all busy even after darkness has set in. The more established 'real' stores are about 5 feet wide and 20 feet deep. And these cubicles sell anything you can think of – appliances, clothes, material, shoes, books, electronics. The electric lines running all this capitalistic effort, have been spliced into in such a fashion that it puts my spagetti Christmas electric cord extravaganza to shame. Scattered among the rustic downtown merchants you will see the golden arches, dominoes, Pizza Hut ... While George and Johnson bought the phone, Jim and I stood at the curb and just took it all in. Horns never stop. Vehicles drive with about 2 inches between bumpers, there are no lanes – but you know what? - I never heard any 'road rage'. Really. It is just a way of life. In NA we have bumper to bumper non-moving traffic jams. This is a slow moving traffic jam. Rarely are you stopped for more than a few seconds. No traffic lights make turns difficult, but it does keep the traffic moving.

Nothing spiritual about this post I guess – except that now I really know how to trust in the Lord!

Dehradun headlines

Monday October 26 2009 3 pm
NTC

I walked from the guest house to the library to see if they had internet yet. No internet anywhere on campus. Even Professor Matt Kuiper from Michigan (he and his wife plus their 3 children have been serving in ministry in various parts of India) can't get his satellite stick to connect to the internet! That is not all, my battery on the computer had reached the 'red line' and I was hoping the administrative building had electricity. So there I was, with about a dozen students in the computer lab (the computer lab a gift from West congregational Church in Haverhill through their Interim Minister, Dr. Tim Tennent, now the new President of Asbury Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky) – all of us waiting. Finally we hear the buzz and within a split second the place becomes a behive of work again. Didn't get your homework done? It is not “the dog ate it” excuse, it is “the power was off”.

So I'm back in the room writing. Outside feels like the hottest day yet. No a/c because this is winter, so I turned on the fan.

..... from yesterday's Dehradun english speaking newspaper:

1.The city of Dehradun, aprox. 80,000 people, is in the state of Uttarakhand. This state has 968 glaciers! The Himalaya's are now being called the earth's 'third pole'. And they are changing like the other poles. There is some new research going on, attempting to see if it is global warming or climate change causing the problems. I think both are related.

2. Looks like 8 movies are on in this city: 6 of them are advertised in English, 2 in Hindi (the other official language of India, along with English, – but more common in North India) and 6 in English. I do not recognize any titles, even the english ones, and I do not know if these movies are subtitled, dubbed or what.

3.There is a gathering of medical experts going on right now – in the mountain city of Mussoorie. This city is high in the mountains, and visible from down here at the college. I hope to visit Mussoorie this week. The pics should be amazing! The ride up though, another story! Anyway, the experts have discovered a particularly alarming rate of gastric cancer among Tibetans. 55% of the test sample! It seems Tibetans consume too much junk food: like momos (?) and chowmein on a daily basis. They also eat a lot of refined flour, which gets stuck in the digestive tract causing constipation. Who knew?

4.The lines for emergency medical care and lab tests at government hospitals are way too long – yes, that's from this newspaper, not the one you are reading. And there is a nurse's strike in this state right now.

in the classroom

Monday Oct 26 2009 Noon
New Theological Seminary, North India

Another normal beautiful day: around 80 degrees F - in the sun, clear blue skies. I am sitting at my guest room desk with the door open to the screen door, the large balcony to my right. The sun has not reached this side of the building yet, but in a few hours I will have to close the door to keep the heat out. This is winter so the air conditioning is off. A number of students and staff were wearing shirts and sweaters.! I would be in shorts if the culture permitted that. These mountain valleys cool nicely at night. But it is not a total paradise – more on that in future posts.

..... teaching a class

This morning I was invited to teach the second year Bachelor of Divinity class, 16 students, men and women. They were here from various parts of the country. What a joy it was. Class instruction is in english. We had some dialogue about the challenges to doing ministry in India as compared to North America. We discussed the struggles of pastoral ministry and how to utilize resources which allow God to refresh and strengthen us. I spoke from my years of experience, illustrating how resistance to Kingdom of God work comes as much from 'within' the community of faith as it does form 'without', the secular culture in NA and the very religious culture of the hindu north.

I shouldn't be surprised, but it still amazes me, when I witness the respect and responsibility shown by the students. Today is the start of a new semester, so our classroom had not been used after a 5 day break: students quickly moved chairs, dusted off the teachers desk, made sure the whiteboard was clean, picked up small pieces of dust and trash off the floor before I entered the room. And those arriving late, asked permission to enter the classroom. Somehow I can't see that happening in a Canadain University!

My students all believe God has called them to ministry, and they are praying for clear direction for when they graduate. They conveyed inspirational passion and expectation. I was blessed.

As I type I can hear a lecture in theology taking place. There are classes in Christian Education, music, Bible, Missions – and of course Philosophy, which Jim teaches.

The school gathers at 8 am for a 30 minute chapel. Students led the prayer & praise time, and Jim was today's preacher. I want you to note that this was the 5th sermon the students have heard in less than 24 hours! And they 'thirst for more'! Two class periods, each 50 minutes long follow chapel. Then it is time for 'chai'. The entire school gathers for 10 minutes: a cup of chai tea in small metal cups (black tea in china cups is offered for guests like me) and announcements. Then three more class periods. If I understand correctly, afternoon is usually study time and late afternoon is sports time. Because Jim is here only for 3 weeks, his classes will have to have extra afternoon instruction time.


I am not sure what the rest of the week will hold, but I know it will not be boring!

how long can you worship?

Sunday October 25 2009
New Theological Seminary, North India

.... how long can you worship?

The Church gathers at 9 am. The NTC community numbers about 300 people, including families, faculty, and students. Today, because it is the end of a 4-day sememster break – and some are out of town - the numbers are down. I estimate about 225. Women sit with their husbands, but single females are on the preacher's left, single males on the right.

This morning there are 3 preachers, two are a lead up to the special guest preacher from Canada. When I begin at 11:10 am, there have already been 45 minutes of worship (praise songs, one hymn – some in Hindi, some in English) and two Bible messages. The first was expositional preaching of Psalm 100; the second was exhortation from Isaiah 61:1-3. I was assured not to feel rushed. I am given one of their best translators (this being my first time preaching with a translator, perhaps they expected a tough challenge!) Over half are able to understand English, so the real test is to see if the response/laughter after I pause in English, is also repeated after the Hindi translation.

I had absolutely no trouble with the translator, who stood to my right. (You need a double wide lectern to accomodate both of us and our Bibles and notes and mics). We immediately got into a rythm, and I only crossed her up once or twice. I preach nine lessons from the letter of Paul to Philemon.

Church is done at Noon – a full 3 hours after we start! Try that at home! The entire school gathers again at 6 pm for one hour of worship and the 4th sermon of the day! Dinner at 7 pm after roll call for the start of the 2nd semester. Spiritually fed for sure.

.... preaching in bare feet

This is an interesting experience. If you lead in prayer, or the singing, or if you preach – basically if you are on the platform at any point, you take off your shoes. Barefoot or socks – both are acceptable.The 'holy ground' aspect. Women cover their heads if they are leading, and wear colourful Indian garments. Pants are quite acceptable for men and women, lots of blue jeans for the guys. I have only seen shorts on the cricket/soccer field.

We are back in our rooms by 8 pm – to read, write, sleep. It has cooled down, and the loud music from a Hindu celebration echoes through the valley until late night. Jim says it lasted until after 5 am on Monday!

so why India? (part #1)

It was the last week of the summer of 1970. I was 18 years old and had just come off one very active summer that included working at two Christian camps and a school trip to Japan. Now I was the camper, college & Careers Camp at Mini-yo-we on Mary Lake. The speaker for the week was a young student from Ontario Bible College - Revi Zacharias. Ravi was born in Madras, India, and came to faith in Christ at the age of 17 after a failed suicide attempt. A 1966 move to Canada with his family enabled him to study at OBC (now Tyndale University and Seminary) allowed our lives to intersect for one brief week.

There we were, about 100 young people, listening to the most inspiring Bible preaching that I had ever heard in my short life. To the best of my recollection, Ravi spoke on Romans 1:1 "Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, seperated to the gospel of God." The call was clear. God was looking for some of us to commit 100 % to serving the Lord, to dedicate our lives fully to following and living for Christ. So I responded. My life took on a new focus. And a long journey of ministry, begun then, continues to this day. And it was a young 24 year old from India who was instrumental in making the adventure happen.

So now I get to make my first trip to the land that birthed the servant of Christ who in a way helped birth this servant of Christ.

By the way, Ravi went on to become a world leader in the field of evangelism and apologetics. You can read about him here and you can view his ministry website here

the primacy of The Word

Jonathan Edwards and The Ministry of The Word, Douglas A. Sweeney

* how schoolboys have changed!!! (p. 35) in Edwards' own words from his PERSONAL NARRATIVE: "I used to pray five times a day in secret, and to spend much time in religious talk with other boys, and used to meet with them to pray together.... it was my delight to abound in religious duties. I, with some of my schoolmates joined together, and built a booth in a swamp, in a very secret and retired place, for a place of prayer. and besides, I had particular secret places of my own in the woods, where i used to retire by myself... I seemed to be in my element when engaged in religious duties."

* P. 41 again, from his PERSONAL NARRATIVE The Pivotal Verse that Changed J. Edwards' Life?
1 Timothy 1:17 "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen."

* a look at his life will cause us to ask these questions about our own setting:(p.31)
1. What can we do in our world to draw attention to The Word?
2. What can be done to encourage Christians to pay attention to the divine, thinking Biblically, theologically, about their daily lives?

is the 'emerging church' the only version of the next church?

THE NEXT EVANGELICALISM: FREEING THE CHURCH FROM WESTERN CULTURAL CAPTIVITY -
Soong-Chan Rah

(love this quote) p. 108
"there I was, sitting in yet another workshop led by yet another blonde-haired, perpetually twenty-nine, white male with a goatee and eyeglasses way cooler than yours." - with absolutely no recognition that there are 'emerging' or 'next-generation' churches with Black, or Asian or Hispanic leadership/congregations ...

the 'post-modern' movement in evangelicalism is still a movement held captive/blinded by and therefore perpetuating the white-western image and ethos

Rah says it is outragious how many books are written on the emerging church compared to its relative size as a movement - only 150 pomo congregations in the US but 300-700 second-generation Asian congregations - but where is the notoriety, publicity for them?

p. 113 - 115 post-moderns crave community, communication, authenticity, diversity (and it has nothing to do with denomination loyalty, dynamic sermons, worship style)- but is the w/w church really answering the call?

simulation rarely promotes long term stimulation

p. 117
pluralism is universally recognized as the central tenet of postmodernity yet where is it affirmed in the post modern expression of evangelical Christianity? - the only acknowledgement appears to be in the question of how other faiths impact Christianity and how the EC will impact the world - BUT NEVER ABOUT HOW NON-WHITE CHRISTIANITY WILL SHAPE AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY!

P. 124 "I personally find the term 'emerging church' offensive. I believe the E/C is the church in Africa, Asia and Latin America - churches growing by leaps and bounds. For a small group of white Americans to usurp the term = reflects arrogance."

p. 125 E/C leaders = disgruntled with baby-boomer evangelicalism ... why don't they leave B/B churches and join immigrant churches instead of clustering with other white Americans to form a new movement!

Acts 2, the real reason for church growth

The Next Evangelicalism by Soong-Chan Rah
p. 106 - 107

Modern/Western reading of Acts 2:
* preaching(& Holy Spirit?) are emphasized as causing growth
* vs. 40 = "with many other words he warned them and pleaded with them"
* vs. 41 = culmination - "those who accepted the message were baptized and 3000 were added"

Alternative reading:
* vs. 41 is a bridge from Peter's sermon (vs. 14-40) to details on church life (vs. 42-47)
* chiastic (very common to Greek literature)

A.numerical growth of church - 41
B.church life:fellowship(teaching,bread breaking,prayer)[outsiders amazed]-42,43
C. SELF SACRIFICIAL CARING OF CHURCH - 44, 45
B.church life:fellowship(meet in Temple,break bread,praise)[outsiders amazed]-44,45
A.numerical growth of church - 47

Therefore, it is possible to see church life, scrificial living as the active ingredient in church growth (as opposed to the delivery system of proclamation)- or at least as an equal partner = the intersection of primary & secondary cultures!(see previous post)

primary or secondary cultural context

THE NEXT EVANGELICALISM - Soon-Chan Rah

church growth movement prioritized personal salvation/individualism at the expense of social justice/community - p. 97

church growth movement/megachurch rise revealed its captivity to western/white culture's market driven materialism by also awarding greater respect to bigger/richer - p. 98

Problem: racial segregation is justufied because churches grow faster along homogenious lines - THEREFORE BLINDING AMERICAN EVANGELICALISM TO GROWING PLURALISM! - p. 98

primary cultural systems or secondary cultural systems

primary = prioritize relationships
secondary = prioritize structures/institutions/services

primary = tribal, values people,survival depends on relationships & oral communication

secondary = industrial, impersonal, survival depends on knowledge & written communication, especially through machines .......p. 100

p. 105 = intersection of primary and secondary cultures is era of NT church: flourishing frimary culture of Judaism + emerging secondary culture of Roman Empire (note rodney Stark's 1996 Harper Collins book The rise of Christianity:How the Obscure, Marginal Jesus Movement Became the Dominant Religion Force in the Western World in a Few Centuries
* about 1,000 Christians A.D.40 to 4 million A.D.350 (56% of world population)
* conversions occured along relational networks (primary)+ care for diseased, poor
* news travelled the empire via good roads, trade

God shows up & it's not always in the academic

A chance meeting at the top of the mountain - both couples had hiked to to the look-out by different routes but arrived at the exact some time. It meant we could admire the view of Lac Morency together and reciprocate the favour of taking each others photograph on the edge of the cliff. Yvonne and I found Barry trying, quite unsuccessfully mind you, to balance his camera on a rock and using a remote to capture himself and his wife Lesley high above the Lake. Some good conversation and then we returned by their route of ascent and they ours.

We all laughed an hour later when we met each other back at the resort - it seemed we were not only in the same building, but actually in adjacent rooms! As we conversed with each other we soon realized that we shared in common our faith and love for Christ. We agreed to meet for dinner at the resort Restaurant two nights later.

Dr. Barry Earp and Dr. Lesley Earp own and manage the Crossways Health Centre in Terrigal, Australia. Terrigal is located north of Sydney, south of Newcastle, on the 'central coast'. They have been leaders of the Terrigal Uniting Church for over 30 years, having met each other at University through the ministry of IVCF.

It soon became evident that we had similar values, experiences, - both personally and in our church life. As they described their church we found ourselves resonating with everything they spoke of. So many of the same programs, the emphasis on small groups, operating from giftedness, the primacy of Scripture, diversity and creativity in worship, worship that celebrates using all the senses .... definitely our kind of church!

We held in common our high regard for family; they raised 5 boys (5 boys!) - we raised 4 children. (so, as November fast approaches for Hannah & Peter, we entered into the 'grandchild conversations' too!) They love to travel, to be adventuresome and explore, as do we. It was dessert time when the subject of scrapbooking and Creative Memories came up - well, that set off another round of excitement! Often in these kind of situations we share our experience of homeschooling - guess that will wait until we visit Australia!

All this to say - as a reminder for those who take great pride in our libraries (and our libraries are so cool, so important - look at my office! - don't misread me here [note the pun eh?]...)some of the best discoveries and encouragement from God come in the surprise of the moment, when you're not striving to attain them, when you take the time to explore and be alert to those "God moments".

Thankful today for Barry and Lesley and for the Church of our Lord Jesus in Austalia!

consumerism holds the western church captive

more from The Next Evangelicalism by Soong-Chan Rah

as the society has been infected with affluenza, so materialism and consumerism governs the society of the western church? (p.49)

(p. 51) does it also effect how we view success?... how we design church buildings? (like malls, movie theatres) ... and the design of malls now reflect the search for community p. 52 ... I ask, what's with the role reversal here? ... both, though, are shrines to the gods of materialism

this captivity is also reflected in the 'old' church holding on to its resources to the bitter end, even while it dies; it could, though, be invested in the new face of evangelicalism (p. 54)

consumerism, materialism - they reflect/affect on our shallow spirituality (p. 54) ... we have consumer expectations of church (church shopping) ... (p.55) = entice
with consumerism, retain with consumerism .... question: if it starts with marketing how can it move to a deeper commitment? ... materialism/consumerism is the trap to entice and hold

the focus becomes buildings, bucks, butts, - and this defines success?? By what standards? The culture (to which we are enslaved) not the Bible (p. 56)

the result: creating leadership heroes (of culture or Christ I ask)

the need for liberation of God's people from this slavery was first expressed by the OT prophet Amos. ... excessive wealth and economic injustice indicated spiritual decay ... ironically, they were still polished worshippers (p. 59) much like the western white church that excells in externals

so.... (p. 62) the church of today still needs to have its Temple cleansed

the church is captive to the idol of "self"

Soong-Chan Rah in his 2009 IVP book The Next Evangelicalism: Freeing the Church from Western Cultural Captivity

the individual is primary ...
yet most of Bible books are written to communities (p.33)
so what's with the 'individual' reading/interpretation of Scripture? (p.35)

love this quote (p.35) "worship in the white captivity of the church is oftentimes a collection of individuals who happen to be in the same room." ... we can do better than this can't we?

and this one (p. 36) "Our overreliance on therepeutic culture is a reflection of excessive individualism - the desire to have one's personal needs met with the focus of an entire hour being upon the individual"

and with this, any remnant of community dies quickly

lessons from a confused GPS (and an angry driver)

Sometimes the most powerful lessons are simple ones, from one's experience and not always the books! Here's one from yesterday. http://208.56.172.5/dailythinkingpoints130.php

the changing face of global Christianity ....

FROM THE NEXT EVANGELICALISM soong-Chan Rah,IVP 2009

global Christianity is changing its demographics but western/white Christianity is unable/unwilling to grasp the implications of this change (p.13)

1900 = 82% of Christians were European or North American; by 2005 that number drops to 39%;by 2050 it will drop to 29% ... on the rise are African, Asian,& Latin believers who make up the balance ... and these numbers do NOT reflect the fact that a majority of N.A. Christians will be non white ... GLOBAL CHRISTIANITY IS CLEARLY NONWHITE! (p.13)

Immigration does not reflect the de-Christianization of N. American culture but the de-Europeanization of American Christianity (p.14)

CAPTIVITY OF THE CHURCH:
Martin Luther = the established church stranglehood on sacraments at the expense of faith and grace = Babylonian Captivity = doctrinal captivity
... captivity of the church = defining the church by an influence other than Scripture .... other captivities = societal,gender,tradition, suburban, (p.21)

mountain hike

The first reflection comes not from one of the four books on the list, but from a little adventure that reminds me of THE BOOK! read about it here

reading week

watch for some reflections on this list:

The reading will be some or all of these 4 books .... plus a back log of newspapers ;-)

1. Jonathan Edwards and the Ministry of the Word: A Model of Faith and Thought, Douglas A. Sweeney, Inter Varsity Press 2009 .... Edwards had a multifaceted understanding of Scripture. The Bible was at the center of his intellectual and pastoral life.

2. In Search of a Confident Faith: Overcoming Barriers to Trusting in God,J. P. Moreland and Klaus Issler, Inter Varsity Press 2008 .... This is a call to, a handbook on, robust faith; what could be called 'God-confidence'.

3. Living the Lord's Prayer: The Way of the Disciple, Albert Haase, Inter Varsity Press 2009 .... This prayer is a trustworthy guide for spiritual formation and a compact handbook for holiness. The idea is to live The Lord's Prayer rather than to simply say it.

4. The Next Evangelicalism: Freeing the Church from Western Cultural Captivity, Soong-Chan Rah, Inter Varsity Press 2009 .... Many churches are not equipped to minister to the changing cultural context, which is diverse and multiethnic. Spiritual renewal is happening in corners and margins that will soon become the new center and strength of Christianity.

So, if I can't read them all, where should I start? Your opinion? Follow some of the things I'm learning