Local commitment – Global impact

J. Herbert Kane summarizes the geographic expansion of the early church in this way: “The Book of Acts opens with 120 timid disciples meeting secretly in an upper room in Jerusalem for fear of their enemies. A generation later, when the Book of Acts closes, the gospel had been preached as far west as Rome; and there was a thriving Christian church in almost every city of significance in the Eastern part of the empire.” The hope of expanding the message of the Kingdom of God during those crucial years of the Pentecost fell in the hands of brave men and women.

It is clear to see how the partnering of followers of Christ, no matter the cost, at that crucial time in history served to unleash the power of the gospel to vast geographic boundaries.  This was done because hope overtook fear, giving birth to an unrelentless mission for Christ.They met secretly and they used every means possible to continue communications for encouragement, support, and the advancement of the mission at hand. Bold and relentless indeed.

When I think about “timid disciples meeting secretly in an upper room in Jerusalem for fear of their enemies,” I contrast it to the reality of today where it takes relentless emails, checking of schedules and putting aside of ego’s, towards initiatives to bring local churches, people, agencies and outreaches together for a mere discussion.  I can already hear the great murmur that each local church, agency and or outreach initiatives have busy schedules and already full agenda's. I can hear the voice of realism saying, yes this all sounds great, but it is not realistic. No one said it would be easy, but by labelling such partnerships as unattainable, we in fact are also telling God, the true orchestrator of such partnerships, that His power is limited.

The hope of the Great Commission depends on unity and collaboration. It was not to be an independent pursuit. The growing partnership of churches and outreaches develop a universal character of Christ’s church that would be more clearly exhibited. No time ever in history has it been easier to do so than now through internet, technology, limitless resources and modes of communication. We become comfortable with our excuses. 

Let me place the focus of my thoughts and emotions on the main issue:  In the globalized and highly integrated world we live in today, how we carry out local outreach agenda's have long lasting and powerfully effective global implications. Let me now be even more specific with respect to what fuels my mission: How we reach and build bridges with Muslims in our local communities have long lasting and powerfully effective global implications. What we do here, matters there. What we do here, effects there.

Here is another truth that I declare confidently and boldly: We can not logically, responsibly, or honestly have a discussion about the completion of the Great Commission without a conversation about reaching the Muslim world.  Without this conversation, we run into the danger of spiritual disillusionment and denial about the task that God has entrusted us with. 

The paradigm I dream of contains the idea of joint actions by churches, agencies and people that, when linked together, increases the effectiveness of both local and global evangelical efforts. The key word to this paradigm is “we.” The question that various Muslim outreaches need to asks is “What is our role in obeying the Great Commission?” There becomes an emotionally unified and focused partnership and ownership in building bridges with Muslims in our local communities.  This model of partnership assumes an interdependent perspective. Here is the true obstacle to this oversimplified and hopeful vision: Us.  Yet, I continue to think back to the fearful disciples huddled together secretly in an upper room for fear of their enemies.

I praise God that I am in Kansas City. The spirit of God is truly magnified here! The spirit of unity by followers of Christ is brilliant! I am so proud of the global Muslim outreaches we initiate. However, we must also recognize and focus initiatives on local  Muslim outreaches to address the fast growing Muslim populations at our doorsteps.  Once again, we must work with the reality that local Muslim outreaches have global implications.  What deeply excites me is that God is doing most of the work for us! He is bringing the Muslim world here! He is bringing them to us as our neighbour's, business owners, co -workers and classmates. We can no longer allow and accept the fact that there are so many Muslims integrated into our local communities and networks, yet go on living here in America for years without a single friendship with an American! Forget a single friendship with a Christian, I am speaking of a friendship with just any American. What a tragedy indeed.

You may ask, how can building bridges of friendship and love with Muslims in the local level have global implications to Muslim evangelism? I would like to highlight two main points here.  We know that one of the greatest obstacles to bringing the gospel to a foreign culture is that the gospel message is introduced as a “foreign hope.” A foreign message. There exists a cultural separation in which the gospel message must pass over. When a Muslim person in America comes to know the Lord and accepts the invitation to God’s Kingdom, they in essence become that needed cultural bridge to take over the message of salvation to their culture.  The fantastic and powerful result is that the Muslim background believer is not only planted back into their home country, community and networks, but they also take the gospel message back with them.  The gospel MUST flow naturally, genuinely, and gradually within the natural networks and hearts of the Muslim community trying to be reached.  The gospel message is rooted from within, rather than imposed from the outside, penetrating deep into the fabric of that society; flowing naturally.

The second way that the local level outreach has global implications is that through the various Muslim networks and people that we build relations with here in our local American communities, we gain access to enter into the various networks, communities, homes and hearts in the global Muslim world. Our relationships with Muslims and Muslim outlets here in KC, allow us to be accepted without hostility and suspicion to various Muslim outlets around the world.  Through such networks built on relationships, we enter the Muslim world as friends and not imposters.

Revelations 7:9 is a gorgeous and breathtaking picture that resonates deep into my heart and mind and serves as my fuel for reaching Muslims.  When I dream about that image where the multitude of every tongue, nation, language and tribe look up at the throne of God in worship, declaring His glory, I regain focus on what my fight is  all about. I regain strength and perspective. I fight…. I believe that God wants all of His children to fight for the Muslim people that God loves, to be included in that crowd, in that multitude, giving all praise and glory to Him.  I will continue to fight to have our Muslim brothers and sisters there with us, in that crowd, worshipping and praising. Writer Robert E. Coleman said, evangelism is not an optional accessory to our Christian life, rather it is a matter of obligation as Christ’s ambassadors. I passionately believe that in that fold of obligation also sits firmly the obligation to reach the Muslim world.  This is my passion.

For this passion to come alive and be unleashed, I dream of the unity of local Muslim outreaches to unite in partnership for a truly global effort. Maybe I am naive. Maybe I am just a dreamer. But for now, it is what fuels me until God tells me otherwise. Once again, the thoughts of my mind and heart go back to, “120 timid disciples meeting secretly in an upper room in Jerusalem for fear of their enemies.”

 Only a small portion of the Christian world cannot carry the burden of 2.1 billion people. I do not propose that we all drop everything and become missionaries overseas in the Muslim world, nor do I advocate that we all become fully engaged within a local Muslim outreach. God did not give all of us that specific calling. However, what I do say is that we are all obligated as followers of Christ to share His love with Muslims that God has placed in our communities as neighbour's, business owners, co workers and classmates. When you reach out to your Muslim convenience store owner, that is your ministry and that is your commitment to this obligation and fight.

The result is that we each in a personal, individual and community level start to take on a very small portion of that 2.1 billion burden.