Challenge you may not know
More than ever, a particular part of being a christian has become a challenge for me. In general, each day of life in the States is filled with nothing but Americans (mostly) and each Sunday is spent in a home church. In that home, most of those around us are extremely easy to see eye-to-eye with, especially when it comes to doctrine, worship style, etc. Place yourself on another continent, work with an international, inter-denominational organization and the challenge to truly be one body of Christ becomes amplified. Does God move in you in ways you couldn’t imagine while going through this? Yeah. Doesn’t mean it isn’t a testing time.
Being home on furlough, to have a child, or for whatever other reason brings a missionary back should hold with it the enjoyment and replenishment of a home church. The local body you know best and knows you best works wonders in your spirit. Being able to worship in your heart language, to be surrounded by other believers you’ve served with, and then hear a solid biblical sermon isn’t standard around the world, I’ll tell ya. Even in stable, gracious Tanzania it’s not. Especially not for wazungu (foreigners) who struggle enough with conversations. Then, try to tackle a Swahili sermon… ha!
If you live in the States, or any other western country really, do not take what you have for granted. Make the most out of the people and opportunities you have together with the ones in your home church. Jump quickly at a chance to live Christ alongside someone from another denomination even if it is on a simple friendship level. There are resources from believers of your church. There is perspective from believers of other churches. Unity is challenging.
February 7th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Good point about not taking unity for granted. We were able to visit Viggo and Julia’s church in Norway. Fortunately we had an interpreter for parts of their send off service. But mostly it was a lot of Norwegian and we had no clue what was going on.
Julia and Viggo attended a Swahili speaking church in Dar on Sunday. The pastor and his wife graciously invited them to their home for a meal afterword. However, the pastor’s English was limited and Julia and Viggo have only a bit of Swahili until they go to Swahili camp this weekend. Your post made me think about how long it may be before they can sit in a church and comfortably understand even a sermon!
May God bless all of you serving in other cultures, learning other languages, meeting all new people!
February 11th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
It is difficult Jonathan. Since being in Europe for 7 months, my point of view is already changing a lot. In the States, I am quite quick to tell exactly what I think about doctrinal issues (what is acceptable and what is not). Here I really have to back-peddle and think not twice but several times and analyze my ideas.
Are some of the things I’ve been valuing really highly about my christian practices not that important. And which ones can you work with and fluctuate and which doctrines, and practices are inflexible? This head-trip called missionary work is sure to take me places I didn’t want to go, but where else can I go but follow God?!
February 12th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Kent – Thanks for the great encouragement as always!
Neil – Yeah, I definitely wasn’t ‘expecting’ to be challenged in this area to this extent. It is good being able to relate with someone, especially close to the same stage of transition as they are. I think y’all are doing a good job over there.