A World Christian, Daily

What a fabulous issue of Mission Frontiers arrived in my mailbox this week. I've been chomping at the bit to put some words about it on my blog. This bi-monthly mission magazine put out by the US Center for World Missions focuses on reaching the least reached with the Gospel of Jesus. And what's neat, is that they are all about getting every Christian involved, not just a select few. Their heart gears towards mission mobilization on the home front; equipping, motivating, compelling Believers to live in view of eternity.

In fact, that's what this entire issue was about-amazing opportunities to learn, read, participate, educate, and pray for the spread of the Gospel. They highlighted various opportunities, such as Perspectives (you can read posts of Perspectives in my 2007 blog archives), Global Prayer Digest, and Insight (an integrated 1 year study of missions for college age students).

In Dr. Winter's editorial page he made this profound statement, which has stuck to me like a burr.

We talk a lot about people becoming
“World Christians”—those who accept
a range of personal responsibility that
extends to the entire world.
But, do you know what? Realistically, I
would not give you a dime for a World
Christian who is not also a DAILY World Christian.

Unless personally you make sure something
daily enters your consciousness,
something vital and gripping about
God’s great heart and His overall claim
upon your life—unless that happens,
your life will grow slowly or not at all.

God, for example, is concerned about
those millions of fearful, stressed, suffering
people in our world who struggle to
survive. They have absolutely no security
and at best only a fleeting awareness of
their true, loving Father in heaven. He
cares. Thus, the better we know Him
the more we share His concerns! We
don’t fully belong to Him if we do not
also care, and CARE DAILY."

In essence, what he's saying, is that a passion for the spread of His glory isn't something that wanes like the tide, here this month, this Sunday, this mission trip, and then gone again. It is a daily consciousness. And it doesn't happen unless we are intentional to fan that flame, and keep ourselves reminded that we are just "strangers and pilgrims" on this earth. He's describing someone with a missionary heart.

This whole business of reconciling daily life and work with daily world Christianity, is where my battle stands. It's easy enough to want to be a daily world Christian, but the living it out, the ever constant consciousness that God desires praise of every people, tongue, and tribe, that takes deliberate effort and prayer.

So here's the question, how will you and I "personally make sure something
daily enters our consciousness, something vital and gripping about God’s great heart and His overall claim upon our life?"

It can take all sorts of shapes, something we read, pictures and maps around us, family prayer time, newsletters or blogs we subscribe to, fellowship with like-minded friends. But with daily intention and always towards that end of challenging us to pray and live our utmost for His highest, "that every tongue might confess that He is Lord, to the glory of the Father."

Step Faster, Step Surer

Elizabeth Prentiss, from a letter dated 1870


The more I reflect and the more I pray, the more life narrows down to one point ~ What am I being for Christ, what am I doing for Him?


Why do I tell you this? Because the voice of a fellow-traveler always stimulates his brother pilgrims; what one finds and speaks of and rejoices over, sets the other upon determining to find too.


God has been very good to you, as well as to me, but we ought to whisper to eah other now and then,


"Go on, step faster, step surer, lay hold on the Rock of Ages with both hands."


You never need to be afraid to speak such words to me. I want to be pushed on, and pulled on, and coaxed on.

The Story of Christianity

Here's one of my reading goals for the next month or two, The Story of Christianity, by Dr. Justo Gonzalez. This combined 2 volume tome is slightly daunting, with 800 some pages of small print, and a generous sampling of pictures and maps sprinkled throughout. It seemed a good idea to post this goal online, so as to have some outside accountability to actually finish it!

Dr. Gonzalez explores Church history, from beginning to present day. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy history, but typically it's not my bedtime reading material. I'm convinced, however, that having a solid understanding of Church history strongly shapes our view of God at work in the present.

God repeats many of his themes, like the leading line in a melody, through the centuries. There is myriads to learn and be challenged by, from the testimonies of Church fathers, missionaries, reformers, pastors, martyrs, and religious pilgrims. I'm looking forward to tracing the history of the global church, not just the American church, but that in Africa, Asia, south America, etc...

Another strong reason for looking back to church history, is getting a better perspective of how I fit into God's global plan. "Their" part, my part, and your part are all intertwined, and to have a true perspective of myself, I must look at my "family" before me.

I've only just chased a dozen or so pages down, but already I'm impressed with simple, sometimes profound, examples of God's purpose and plan for His children.