"How to make a Christian Buddah" (A word on extreme contextualization)

A recent missions magazine has published some rather disturbing articles regarding contextualization in missions. While the articles were provocative and thought-provoking, I found them troubling, in the sense that there seemed to be an almost syncristic perspective of Christianity that allows for someone to become a "Christian", yet remain in a Buddhistic (or Islamic, etc.) package. While there is value and necessity in allowing the Gospel to flow into any culture without it's western trappings - there is a line crossed somewhere when a convert refers to him or her self as a "New Buddhist". Christianity requires an embracing of Christ and rejection of certain aspects of every culture - including western materialism.

While I found this troubling and thought provoking, these articles have milled around in my head for several weeks.

I was very happy to hear that I am not the only one who found these articles troubling. I commend to you these "Fresh Words" from Dr. Piper. He addresses this issue with balance and authority.

Revisiting an Old Friend

During this week of vacation, I have been spending a significant amount of time with an old friend. In these extended visits I have been reminded once again why James Hudson Taylor has spoken so much into my life and thought and understadning of Christianity.

For those who may not be familiar, Hudson Taylor was not only the founder of the China Inland Mission (known today as Overseas Missionary Fellowship), but also called the 'Father of Modern Missions". So much of the way we do things in the C&MA are principles that were tried and proven by a young English missionary in the 1860's. Hudson Taylor's pioneering spirit and his progressive ideology of conextualization and 'war-time lifestyle' were advanced of his age and epoch.

Missiological principles aside, the life and ministry of Hudson Taylor are even more challenging to my personal spirituality and pursuit of God.

The Biography of Hudson Taylor, written by his daughter-in-law Mrs. Howard Taylor, tells of a man who spent his life well. He was a man of prayer and of the Word. "The sun never rose on China without finding J. Hudson Taylor on his knees before his Father." There is much here that I am processing, and re-processing in praparation for a couple of Biographical messages on his life and ministry around the time of our Missionary Conference. I am eager to share with our church insights into a life that has been so influential in mine.

I keep coming back to the sobering words of Paul as I read these books this week:

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw-- each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
(1 Corinthians 3:11-15 ESV)

Every one of us are going to stand before God as to how we spend our lives. I tremble at that. I stood on the shore as the sun came up this morning, looking at the sea on one side and rubble from a past hurricane on the other ... and I mourn over how much of my life has been spent on things so small. So much straw. So much will be burned. God help me to live for the most eternal gold. Like your servant Hudson Taylor, make Your Name and Your Renown the only desire of my soul.

I look forward a few weeks from now to sharing the life of this servant of God who has walked the road of faith before us.

Sobering Merciful Devastation

I have debated whether to BLOG anything at all about the Katrina catastrophe. I know we are seeing it and hearing about it everywhere. It's difficult. My son very seriously showed me an online news photo of dead bodies in the water. I almost feel like we've been watching the 2005 TV news version of the prophet Amos (read the book of Amos and you'll understand why I thought that). Jeremiah 19:3 was my experience last week. "My God, are we watching the judgment of a city?" At that thought my 'ears tingled'... quite literally.

It then occurred to me that we are actually watching mercy. It is mercy that God doesn't choose to annihilate us all. We are sinners and rebels each one. And if we understand the holiness of our Creator rightly, we will understand the need we have for new mercies each morning. Katrina ought to make us quake at the mighty and holy hand of God in our lives - and move us to lay up our treasures in heaven. For our Katrina is coming. One day everything will indeed be shaken and all that will remain will be that which can not be shaken (See Hebrews 12:25-29). That leaves one thing remaining: The unshakeable, eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Christ. I flee to Jesus and to His cross. I hope and pray that all who read this will flee to Him, as well.

I am happy to report that my friend and colleague Willie Neudahl has been located and is safe. There was a thriving C&MA church in New Orleans that served much of the international community. There is a phone interview with Willie that you can listen to at the C&MA website.

Keep them and the city of New Orleans in your prayers.