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A Hopeful Seed
Last Updated on Tuesday, 17 February 2009 03:17 Written by Meg Tuesday, 17 February 2009 02:07
I am reading a book titled Crisis and Hope In Latin America... an Evangelical Perspective by Emilio Antonio Nunez C. and William David Taylor. For the record, I could have never earned an MDiv because I can't read a whole lot in a short period of time. I have been working on this read for awhile now. I have really been challenged by some things I am reading, and I wanted to share them here.
Thoughts 1: Here in Latin America the Charismatic Movement has taken off. People are drawn to an emotional experience of God. The author has a long chapter on the history of the movement and its effects on different groups (this always includes Catholicism), but the very end of the chapter hit me like a ton of bricks. I can read through and be critical of groups and their "so-called" experiences with God. It is always easy for me to hold my pride up in what I think. But the author makes his message very personal to the reader on the last page of the chapter:
We have to admit that the charismatic movement is a real challenge to the Roman Catholic church, to the mainline Protestant denominations, to classic or historical Pentecostalism, and to us evangelicals in the so-called biblical movement. We have to answer this challenge on exegetical grounds, with an open Bible in our hands, but also on a practical level. Our biblical knowledge and orthodoxy are basic in dealing with this movement. But we have also to answer this challenge with our lives. For instance, do we really belive God? Do we really trust him in our daily lives? Or is he only a far away person, reduced to our theolgical thinking? We know he is personal, we know he has wonderful attributes, we know he is the creator, the God of providence, God the redeemer, and God the consummator. We know he is the only and living true God. But, do we know him in action in our daily walks? We have to demonstrate in one way or another that he is real to us, not only in books of theology, but also in our day-to-day experience. Some people go to the charismatic movement because they feel that they are spiritually empty; they have not seen God as reality in their lives in our congregations.
Many of our churches are agonizing. They have Bible study, Sunday school, women's fellowship, youth meetings, vacation Bible schools, and you name it, but they are not really alive. There is not a real difference between the environment outside the church and the atmosphere inside the congregation. There is not a real worship. There is not a joyful praise to the Lord. The Scriptures may be explained in a technical way, when they are really explained, but the people do not feel the impact of the Word. Their hearts are not warmed by the Scriptures. It seems that we are missing something. We do not have just to blame charismatism if the people leave our agonizing churches to go somewhere else, perhaps back to the world. Are we not supposed to take seriously in our own lives and ministry the New Testament teaching on the person and work of the Holy Spirit?
So I will ask you what I thought to myself, "Did you grow up or are you now part of a church that is alive?" Now, don't even consider the other members. "Are you alive in your daily walk with Christ?"
Thoughts 2: I have just started a chapter that I am really excited about finishing. My eyes were opened to these ideas in college and I am in debt to the ex-missionaries that taught me to rethink some things. Many of you have heard this or read this, but it is always good for me to be reminded of the concept. The chapter is titled "Doing Theology in Latin America: Contextualization."
The section I just completed is about the meaning of contextualization. I have always loved the analogy that a missionary in Sri Lanka gives for when we speak of indigenization and contextualization...
the Gospel is like a seed, and you have to sow it. When you sow the seed of the Gospel in Palestine, a plant that can be called Palestinian Christianity grows. When you sow it in Rome, a plant of Roman Christianity grows. You sow the Gospel in Great Britain and you get British Christianity. The seed of the Gospel is later brought to America, and a plant grows of American Christianity. Now, when the missionaries came to our lands they brought not only the seed of the Gospel, but their own plant of Christianity, flowerpot included! So, what we have to do is to break the flowerpot, take out the seed of the Gospel, sow it in our own cultural soil, and let our own version of Christianity grow.
What a challenge to missionaries! I have struggled with this, and pray to God that he opens my eyes to the message of Gospel that transcends all cultural boundaries. It is so easy to think that something is supposed to be a certain way because it has always been done that ceratin way in my limited cultural expereince. I have visited multiple churches throughout Latin American and the United States and I can tell you if they are cultural to their setting. I am a huge fan of Les and Loopie Williams. My home church supported this couple in Papau New Guinea when I was a child and I remember them coming in and telling their stories at my family's dinner table. I was blessed to hear Les speak at a Missions Interest Group when Greg and I lived in Memphis and Greg attended HUGSR. Les shared how he had learned lessons of contextualization in his work. His talk deeply impacted me. I covet the missionaries across the globe that have figured out contextualization in foreign cultures. I have a seed. I also have a great big flowerpot that has grown with me since I was born into the church of Christ in a small town in TN. I continue to pray that I can decipher between the planting of this seed and the breaking of the flowerpot that came with me.
Our team is studying John and memorizing a short piece from each chapter every week. I really like this short bit coming from the mouth of Jesus:
Jesus lived a life that is a model for all of us. We also are sent by the One. I pray with all of my heart that the people that I encounter in my daily life see the the One who sent me when they look at me. Jesus' life was all about the glory of the Father. May our lives do the same.
March Madness
Written by Meg Sunday, 21 March 2010 14:33
Another update...
1. Maggie is 8 months and AG turns 3 on Tuesday--crazy.
2. Our nights are so busy. Greg has Bible studies on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday nights. House church meets on Saturday nights. For the most part, my husband works nights.
3. We have begun a new study with the two neighbors I have been getting to know. That is exciting.
4. I am trying to utilize our free Friday night as a time for hospitality ministry. We had a family from one of our libraries over this past week, and I have some guests coming this week. It really is a great way to get to know our contacts better.
5. I started Spanish classes this past week and really like my new teacher. For now, I am taking 2 classes a week. I feel really good about it.
6. Greg went and checked out the learning center for Quechua--one of the Indian languages here. He will be starting that soon. Many people in our targeted area speak Quechua as their first language.
7. Ana loves school. It is really nice to be down to one kid again in the mornings.
8. This afternoon we are hosting a Gincana for the Porvenir library. Updates on the teamsite soon. I have been working on the curriculum for the kids events and talking with some of my contacts from home regarding children's books and Bibles. There is such potential for the kids events--I am really excited to see this ministry evolve.
9. My little brother, Collin (who is in med school), spent the last week in Haiti helping surgeons. Besides the devastation that exists there the rainy season has begun. Please pray for the people of Haiti living in tents during a season of rain and pray that they will not receive major hurricane weather.
10. We are excited for Cedar Lane as they finish up their preacher candidate search. They are in our prayers.
11. Our rainy season is coming to an end. I will leave you with this picture I took above our home this past week. God is faithful!
Meg's Mixed Metaphors #2
Written by Greg Sunday, 28 March 2010 03:40
Two from yesterday:
Looking for the pepper corns to refill the grinder: "Where are the pepper grinds?" Not corns. Not even grounds. Pepper GRINDS. =)
Referring to those too-friendly guys who opt for the front hug instead of the side hug: "They go for the full frontal." I'm pretty sure that's something else . . . .
Not Slowing Down
Written by Meg Sunday, 10 January 2010 10:57
It seems that I get into these "a week in review" kicks. Does it ever slow down? I told Greg that I thought this year would fly because of all that we seem to have going on. So far I am right. Come on furlough. :)
1. We started this past week by traveling out to Naranjal to celebrate their 5 year anniversary as a community and the drinking of their first water! We share so much in their joy because Manuela is part of this community. Here she is drinking her first glass after the ribbon-cutting that they allowed Greg and Kyle to cut. (We were their honored guests.)
2. I never posted our "after" pictures of the rabbits. Ana still has no clue (that chicken sure was good), and Manuela informed us that we waited too late to eat them. "There is nothing like a young, tender groundhog (that comment is for my side of the family)." :) Greg found some recipes online and combined them. It really was a yummy concoction, but I won't say that rabbit is my favorite meat in the world. We wanted to honor Manuela, and I feel like we did.
3. After the day of the rabbit eating, we headed to Lima to pick up Ana's visa. We are now all legal residents of Peru! We appreciate the Thompson Family (members of the Lima mission team) so very much. They are quick to extend their hospitality and we always enjoy our visit with them. They have 2 children in very close proximity to Ana and Maggie's age. We enjoyed the "usual" as I like to call it--eating at Chili's, a trip to the big mall, StarBucks visitS, and Papa John's Pizza. We also visited with some of the other Lima members (thanks Wes and Mark) at a little hole-in-the-wall Mexcian taco place--those tacos are the best we have had in quite some time. Thanks again to the Thompsons for putting up with us. We look forward to your family coming to Arequipa whenever that day comes. Below is a picture of Justin working with the 2-year-olds (his daughter and Ana) on a puzzle and a picture of the Peruanos (Corban was born in Lima soon after Maggie).
4. Lima was a nice get-away. Greg and I had not been outside of Arequipa in quite some time. We returned to our wonderful weather in Arequipa (Lima was so hot and muggy compared to here) and got into the swing of things. Friday evening I planned the first kids library event for the year. We discussed cooperation and I planned an activity for the end that I feel was a hit--wheelbarrow racing. The kids are on summer break, and I plan on doing more outside activities with them. After our racing I am convinced that it will be a hit. There were 9 kids that showed up which left one without a partner. Let's just say my abs are sore from participating. I was the crazy competitive gringa in the neighborhood whose partner couldn't hold her legs up! I think I have found a new exercise outlet. :) Two Americans that I met here (their family is here with the mining company) came to watch because they are interested in helping. That is an encouragment.
5. Saturday night we met here in our home. Jose Luis was present (Emilio could not come). We had a sweet time together with him.
6. Today begins a new week. What will it hold? Monday night I am hosting Larissa's Peruvian baby shower. We have close to 40 women on the invite list. I am excited to see how it all goes. I am sure a post on that will be coming soon.
I think that covers it.
I spoke too soon...
Written by Meg Friday, 26 February 2010 19:04
Well, Maggie was measured for her new brace. Greg went to pick it up yesterday. This evening we take her to the doctor for him to make sure it fits properly. I have a bunch of questions. This is what Greg brought home yesterday...
It basically looks like her other harness except without the leg braces. Oh, and one other major difference. That blue and white part is hard plastic. It looks like her legs will be in the splits for sure. I have tried to look up information on this thing, but I haven't had a ton of luck. Have any of you had experience with this? I think it is called a Hewson brace. I have read that it is the step down from the other harness and that it is less restrictive, but I don't see how that is possible. Apparently, Maggie is big enough to damage her shoulders from kicking the foot part on the other harness (since it is attached to a vest).
I am so thankful that the harness worked the past 2 months. I read of many cases where the harness didn't do anything for the child and surgery had to be performed. Also, Greg commented to me this morning that he has loved holding her without the brace on the last couple of days. "Me too!" was my answer to that. She is the sweetest little thing. And though the time was short, we enjoyed putting her in her feeding seat. I am thinking that we can't do that in her new brace. I am curious to ask the doctor if we can take it off more often than the other.
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