3 refreshing dynamics from the baby church here in frontier mission.

 Hi Friends,

Thanks for your prayers. These last couple of days I have been with the frontier church in a situation of less than 0.1% Christian. In fact that figure is a gross over optimistic simplification of this exact context. Preaching this Sunday and sharing with friends in small groups, I sense and see God's presence working in a very vital and strategic way amongst every individual and collectively as a church family.  His word is powerfully active here. This church is not impressive by human evaluation, but astoundingly beautiful in what God is doing. 

 I am reminded of the healthiness of elementary or "bare bones" church.  When we percolate church down to essential biblical and vital characteristics and lose the trappings of our cultural and schismatic preferences. Things are so much more dynamic here, everything is running at a faster rate, the ryhthm of His heart is easily heard. Here are some observations from this frontier context that I think larger more (program driven) established churches could reset to as first (ACTS 2:42-47) principles.

1. Church is family. In a culture where non Christian or even anti-Christian principles dominate, the distinction of being part of Christ's family changes everything. Clear association is a distinctive of trusting and maturing in Christ. We cannot have one foot in each world when both are worlds apart, In our Western culture, many fudge compromise because the church has I fear been sanitised and become less distinctive, less abrasive, less offensive, less clear, more synchronistic. When the believers here call each other "brother" or "sister" it means something. It means we will face the consequences together regardless of their reality. We will bear burdens together, regardless of what it costs us.  We will live in each other's pockets together, learn to be content together (Phil 4:11-13) in good and bad times. This is healthy church, not easy church. "Belonging" matters. When Church is a priceless treasure to us, our comittment to each other is costly. I wish it meant more in some Western churches. 

2. Church is lovingly distinctive in responding to social needs here. When politics and social status law is constantly changing for immigrants. work permits, visas, property (renting and owning), finance is limited and food is needed...life remains in flux. There is no shortage of anxiety here about tomorrow. The demands of living day to day are great. In such a context the church has a beautiful way of becoming a hub of love and help. Our self- sufficiency (and wealth) in some churches means that we do not open up about anxieties, we do not depend on God, we do not need the level of openness that is found in each prayer and sharing time here. The despised and marginalised are out of sight in some churches, and therefore out of mind. That is not so here. It is a healthy thing to be vulnerable in church with church family. It is a healthy thing to have vulnerable people engaging with church, this is normal new testament church (Gal 6:2).
Such churches are what the book of James talk about, with many daily and long term challenges,  but also an open public testimony of the transforming power of the gospel. Such love in our churches is a practical love, attesting to the presence of Christ (John 13:35). Love is not a theory but in Christlike form results in humble action. Such love is the apologetic which changes hearts to listen to the gospel. Such love demands we understand how to help and commit to faithful, persistent, long-suffering help of the hurting. Such love displays the presence and fruit of The Spirit. Pastoral ministry in such a context is not removed (in a study with books or in Elders meetings) but is about being a practical shepherd who hurts for sheep in every dimension with the sheep (Is this not Christlike? Heb 4:14, Isa 53:3, Phil 3:10). This changes preaching (to be practical), changes meetings and interactions (to be two way communication in conversation - not a detached download from an oracle or guru who faces none of the same daily problems.) This is healthy church, healthy preaching, healthy prayer, healthy pastoral ministry in dependance on God not ourselves. This morning I had a precious prayer time with two brothers recovering from alcohol addiction. How rich church is when Christ is at work, how tangible His presence is when lives are being transformed and we live through it together. Depending on God for all things at all levels is a good place to be. 

3. TRUE UNITY MEANS PATIENCE WITH TRUE DIVERSITY: ALL ONE IN CHRIST JESUS. Many cultures and a wide spectrum of people find their home in God's family here. When there is only one local or regional church where Christ can be found - It becomes a visible tangible expression of heaven on earth, all peoples under one head.  In frontier contexts we don't (as a seeker or new believer) have the luxury of finding a church to suit our consumeristic need or preferences. This means that all peoples find their one unity in Christ which illustrates the clarity and wideness of His LORDSHIP. Yes, this is harder, more complex and yet beautifully simple. 

 Each culture (people group) comes with their own way, communication, language of love and charter of cooperation. However, when we submit in humility, own Christ as LORD (not just saviour)  to be flexible and agile for His church, the sum of the parts, the unity which is achieved with greater diversity is so glorifying to God. I long for this diverse unity in some Western Churches. We have become outposts not of the gospel, but to "ghetto-ise" and protect our own personal plans. Local churches should not be a subculture defined by what it is not, but a wide reporesentative of wider society. Churches can be an expression of the narrom mindedness of mankind, not the wideness of Christs heart and wisdom. Such a small minded kingdom (when we build church in our image and for our preferencial culture) has a limited shelf life and deminishing returns for the gospel. Agility in the church to take the gospel to all peoples brings life. Set patterns from our rigid ways bring stagnation. Each day is a challenge here; who to communicate with, how the gospel will be shared, who will engage with us today, who will come to ask for help or wisdom. Each day demands flexibility to listen to the direction of Spirit, yet this is dynamic, not disorientating. When God directs and we fit in with his orchestration, clarity and music comes, not dissonance. Engaging with culture can leave us feeling vulnerable, but God is bigger than all culture.  The Father of all creation has provided all wisdom for all things in His word and Christ Jesus. In Him ALL things hold together.