Global Christianity: Shifts, Challenges, and Faithfulness

 

Summary

In today's discussion, we explored the dynamic shifts in global Christianity, particularly the growing influence of the Global South. This region, characterized by a robust faith in the authority of Scripture, offers a poignant reminder to the Western church of the importance of remaining steadfast in biblical truth. While the Western church has been impacted by liberalism and other ideologies, the Global South's commitment to Scripture, even to the point of sacrifice, serves as a powerful testament to living out one's faith.

We also examined the significant geographical shift in Christianity's center, moving from the North to the South. This change is reshaping the profile of a typical Christian, who is now more likely to be a woman living in a village in Africa or a slum in Brazil, rather than a middle-class white man in the North. This shift necessitates a sensitivity and adaptability from the Western church to these evolving demographics.

Furthermore, the growth of Christianity in the Global South is largely attributed to the Pentecostal and charismatic movements. While these movements share a belief in the Bible as God's Word, they differ from the classical Protestant tradition in worship and daily living. This divergence presents a challenge for those transitioning from Pentecostalism to Reformed faith, as they seek a worship experience that resonates with their spiritual upbringing while embracing Reformed theology.

In Indonesia, the historical context of Christianity's arrival, marred by associations with imperialism, contrasts with the more favorable perception of Islam. However, the compassionate response of Christians during disasters, such as the tsunami in Aceh, has begun to alter perceptions, highlighting the importance of good works in changing misconceptions about Christianity.

Finally, we discussed the need for patience and longsuffering in gospel work, particularly in regions where Christians are a minority. The call is to trust in God's timing and the work of the Holy Spirit, while maintaining a positive and loving witness in the community.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Global South's unwavering commitment to Scripture challenges the Western church to re-evaluate its own faithfulness to biblical authority. This steadfastness, even in the face of adversity, serves as a powerful example of living out one's beliefs. [00:31]

2. The shift in Christianity's geographical center from the North to the South is reshaping the global Christian identity. This transformation calls for a greater understanding and sensitivity from the Western church to the diverse experiences and challenges faced by Christians in the Global South. [01:11]

3. The growth of Pentecostal and charismatic movements in the Global South highlights the need for adaptability in worship and theology. As individuals transition to Reformed faith, they seek a balance between their spiritual heritage and new theological convictions. [03:47]

4. In Indonesia, the historical perception of Christianity as imperialistic is being challenged by the compassionate actions of Christians during crises. Good works, while not salvific, play a crucial role in reshaping perceptions and demonstrating the love of Christ. [09:00]

5. Patience and longsuffering are essential virtues in gospel work, especially in regions where Christians are a minority. Trusting in God's timing and the work of the Holy Spirit, while maintaining a loving and positive witness, is crucial for effective ministry. [10:15]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:31] - Faithfulness to Scripture
[01:11] - Shift in Christianity's Center
[02:03] - Changing Christian Demographics
[02:39] - Pentecostal Influence
[03:13] - Differences in Worship
[03:47] - Reformed Faith Challenges
[04:22] - Worship Experience Dilemma
[04:49] - Influence of Martyn Lloyd-Jones
[05:24] - Baptism of the Holy Spirit
[06:21] - Identity Crisis for Converts
[07:13] - Historical Context in Indonesia
[08:10] - Perceptions of Christianity
[09:00] - Impact of Good Works
[10:15] - Patience in Gospel Work
[10:49] - Mutual Support Between Churches
[11:43] - Spiritual Marshall Plan

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 28:19-20 - "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."
2. Acts 1:8 - "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
3. James 2:17 - "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."

Observation Questions:
1. What are some of the key differences between the Global South and the Western church in terms of their commitment to Scripture? [00:31]
2. How has the geographical shift in Christianity's center affected the profile of a typical Christian today? [01:11]
3. What role do Pentecostal and charismatic movements play in the growth of Christianity in the Global South? [02:39]
4. How have Christians in Indonesia begun to change perceptions about Christianity through their actions during crises? [08:35]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How might the Global South's commitment to Scripture challenge the Western church to re-evaluate its own faithfulness to biblical authority? [00:31]
2. In what ways does the shift in Christianity's geographical center call for greater understanding and sensitivity from the Western church? [01:11]
3. What challenges do individuals face when transitioning from Pentecostalism to Reformed faith, and how can these be addressed? [03:47]
4. How do good works play a role in reshaping perceptions of Christianity, especially in regions with historical biases? [09:00]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own commitment to Scripture. Are there areas where you feel challenged to deepen your understanding or faithfulness? How can you take steps to address this? [00:31]
2. How can you personally contribute to fostering greater understanding and sensitivity towards Christians from different cultural backgrounds within your church community? [01:11]
3. If you have a Pentecostal background, how do you balance your spiritual heritage with new theological convictions? What steps can you take to find a worship experience that resonates with you? [03:47]
4. Think of a time when your actions as a Christian might have changed someone's perception of Christianity. How can you continue to demonstrate the love of Christ through your actions? [09:00]
5. In what ways can you practice patience and longsuffering in your own gospel work or ministry? How can you trust in God's timing and the work of the Holy Spirit in your community? [10:15]
6. Identify a specific way you can support a minority Christian community, either locally or globally, through prayer, resources, or advocacy. What steps will you take to make this support tangible? [10:15]
7. How can you engage in meaningful conversations with those who have misconceptions about Christianity, and what role can good works play in these interactions? [09:00]

Devotional

Day 1: The Global South's Commitment to Scripture
The Global South's unwavering commitment to Scripture serves as a powerful reminder to the Western church of the importance of remaining steadfast in biblical truth. In a world where ideologies and liberalism have influenced many Western churches, the Global South stands firm in its faith, even in the face of adversity. This steadfastness is not just a testament to their faith but also a challenge to others to re-evaluate their own faithfulness to biblical authority. The Global South's example encourages believers everywhere to live out their beliefs with conviction and courage. [00:31]

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you strengthen your commitment to Scripture in your daily life, especially when faced with challenges or opposing ideologies?


Day 2: The Shift in Christianity's Geographical Center
The shift in Christianity's geographical center from the North to the South is reshaping the global Christian identity. This transformation calls for a greater understanding and sensitivity from the Western church to the diverse experiences and challenges faced by Christians in the Global South. As the typical Christian is now more likely to be a woman living in a village in Africa or a slum in Brazil, rather than a middle-class white man in the North, it is essential for the Western church to adapt and respond to these changing demographics with empathy and support. [01:11]

"And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'" (Mark 16:15, ESV)

Reflection: How can you personally contribute to fostering understanding and support for Christians in the Global South within your own church community?


Day 3: Adaptability in Worship and Theology
The growth of Pentecostal and charismatic movements in the Global South highlights the need for adaptability in worship and theology. As individuals transition to Reformed faith, they seek a balance between their spiritual heritage and new theological convictions. This divergence presents a challenge but also an opportunity for growth and unity within the global church. Embracing diverse worship styles and theological perspectives can enrich the faith experience and foster a deeper understanding of God's work in different cultural contexts. [03:47]

"Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe." (Hebrews 12:28, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take to embrace and appreciate diverse worship styles and theological perspectives within your own faith community?


Day 4: The Impact of Good Works in Indonesia
In Indonesia, the historical perception of Christianity as imperialistic is being challenged by the compassionate actions of Christians during crises. Good works, while not salvific, play a crucial role in reshaping perceptions and demonstrating the love of Christ. The compassionate response of Christians during disasters, such as the tsunami in Aceh, has begun to alter perceptions, highlighting the importance of good works in changing misconceptions about Christianity. This serves as a reminder of the power of love and service in witnessing to others. [09:00]

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively demonstrate the love of Christ through acts of service and compassion in your own community today?


Day 5: Patience and Longsuffering in Gospel Work
Patience and longsuffering are essential virtues in gospel work, especially in regions where Christians are a minority. Trusting in God's timing and the work of the Holy Spirit, while maintaining a loving and positive witness, is crucial for effective ministry. In challenging environments, it is important to remain steadfast and hopeful, knowing that God is at work even when progress seems slow. This call to patience encourages believers to persevere in their mission, trusting that their efforts are not in vain. [10:15]

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life or ministry do you need to exercise more patience and trust in God's timing? How can you cultivate a spirit of perseverance and hope in these areas?

Quotes


I think one of the ways that churches in the Global South can help the Western church is to remind them of the need to remain faithful to Scripture. I know there are exceptions, but as you look as a whole, it appears that the churches that are growing in the Global South have a stronger faith in the authority of Scripture, and they are willing to die for that and to live out what they believe is the Word of God. [00:00:01]

Perhaps we could remind the Western church about that, even though we’re very thankful to the Western church because our missionaries first came from there. Also, perhaps we could remind the Western church that there has been a great change in the geographical center of Christianity, a shift in the last thirty-five to forty years, when the center of Christianity—I’m speaking about number of churches, of Christians, and even financial power—has moved from the North to the South. [00:01:06]

Now, if you want to imagine what a standard Christian would look like, it would not look like a middle class white man living in the North, but probably a woman living in a village in Africa or in a slum in Brazil. So this is going to make a huge change in what Christianity looks like, in the profile of a standard Christian in the next few years. [00:01:42]

Much of this growth of Christianity in the Global South is due to the Pentecostal and charismatic movement. We do share some things with them: the classical Pentecostal church does believe in the Bible as the Word of God, and they do tell the members to love the Bible, and to read the Bible, and to seek God’s ways there. [00:02:39]

But Pentecostalism is different from the classical Protestant tradition streaming from the Reformation. They're different as to the way of worship, and they're different as to the way they live every day. So there has to be an adaptation. Many many Pentecostal and Neo-Pentecostal Christians have come to the Reformed churches in Brazil, or they have come to the Reformed faith. [00:03:32]

They have discovered R.C. Sproul on YouTube, they have discovered MacArthur on YouTube, they have discovered all of you who have somehow been translated into Portuguese, and they say "I want to be Reformed, but I’ve been raised in a Pentecostal church. I can’t take the service in a Presbyterian church. It’s dead, it’s cold." [00:04:15]

When Christianity came to Indonesia it started only one-thousand and five hundred years after Christ. But Muslims came at the end of the seventh century, so missionaries are too late to come to Indonesia. And then when missionaries came, they came by bringing the gospel plus cannons and warships, and they did their merchandising and their business by cheating people. [00:06:53]

But after disasters like the tsunami in Aceh—Aceh was first visited by Muslims about the end of the seventh century. Sixty years after Muhammad died, already most of them came to Indonesia to preach Islam. It was only after another eight-hundred years that Christians came. They don't believe in Christians after the Crusaders. [00:07:45]

But when the tsunami came, about thirteen years ago, only Christians went to help the people of Aceh. At first they said, "These are unclean. These are pagans." They do not even want to eat the food given by the Christians, because this is not Muslim food. This Christian food is unclean. But by and by, several months after, the good works of Christians was so obvious. [00:08:34]

So good works are very important to change their concept, their perception of Christianity, even though good works cannot bring men into the grace and salvation of Christ. But we Christians should show our good works, our mercy, and our honesty in order to regain and to change their concept. [00:09:15]

Perhaps one thing that we can share with you is the need in our generation to learn how to live with longsuffering and with patience. God's work doesn't happen overnight, and we live in a culture that expects short term results and immediate outcomes. In our part of the world, you need to learn to be a minority. [00:09:41]

You need to learn to be a long-suffering minority and to be a positive Christian minority, loving your neighbor, preaching the gospel, not having antagonistic attitudes, but trusting the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to accomplish His work. [00:10:23]

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Transcript
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