Gracism, the Gracist way...

Gracism. A book about inclusion of those that are on the boundaries, whether that's racially, culturally or those that are just different. This book provides a very interesting concept about including those that are in the minority to be a part of the fellowship or a part of our lives. This is certainly something we can learn from in our churches and also in our Christian Unions. I am doing a seminar on International Mission in a couple of weeks and a point I will be making is if we want to share the Gospel with the nations and international people within England, then we need to reach out our lives and friendship to those that are different to us.

The book provides many challenges for us. Anderson says in the book about the heart of a gracist is "The one who hears, sees and pays attention to those on the margins" This is a challenge in itself about whether we would willingly go out of our way to include those that look differently to us or are sitting alone and are perhaps socially awkward. There is a lot of talk about racial divide in the book and how as a "gracists" you need to intentionally look out for those that are different in any way. Although I agree with some of the ideas of intentionally looking out for those that are different and on the margins, I don't think however we need to use another label like "gracist". I just think we should be doing these things anyway because we are Christians, followers of Christ.

But not just because we are Christians but because we have a global Gospel. A Gospel that includes everyone to share in fellowship with Jesus. So to not do that and deny those that are different in hearing or sharing in the fellowship means you are going against the Gospel. The very heartbeat is that there is unity in Christ because there is unity in the trinity. I would of loved the book to continue on from stories of acts of inclusion to how this inclusion is demonstrated within the trinity and what the Gospel provides which then should warm our hearts to this global gospel and sharing it with all nations.

Ministering Cross Culturally

Recently I have been reading a book about Cross Culture mission while being in Peru. It has struck me that mission is much more then just giving an explanation of the Gospel, but there is a a huge part of sharing the Gospel which requires us sharing our time and lives. This can be hard if we are from a culture that demands the use of our time to be for certain use and pressures, such as work, or meetings or other things. But I have been challenged by the Peruvian culture that time to be with each other is a good use of time and a great oppertunity to share the Gospel, not just only with words but with our use of time and relationships.

What I think tends to happen is that we and myself included is share a British culture Gospel to the mission field, be that Peru, France or Asia... the problem is, is that British culture is by no means the standard at which the world should live and the cultural things that we have and do can restrict us and imprison us. So when we share the Gospel there can be an emphasis on British time keeping or way of doing church or CU or anything like that which fits well in our culture but not in a different culture. There isn´t much we can do about some of them, but in some ways we need to be ready to integrate and change in order to be flexable. Because the Gospel can reach all cultures and its the Gospel we have as our standard and how to live as a body of Christ and how to love one another.

There is a brilliant quote in this book that I want to share:
"We must understand that transforming a society does not mean moving people from their prison (culture) into ours but rather helping them to know Christ and be transformed personally and communally into people and communities of the Spirit. If we are to minister successfully to the members of a different society, therefore, we must learn about and participate in their culture" - Ministering Cross Cultrally, pg 120

I wonder how that would not only translate in different countries but in Britian when trying to reach internationals. How can we reach the Gospel to them when sometimes it may fall on deaf ears because we have not shown respect and interest in their culture first and we have not learnt ways to communicate to them that will build relationships with them?
Or we have tried to impose our culture on them rather then sharing Jesus with them?

It makes me think a lot about how barriers can be put up straight away just because we dont understand the culture and where they are coming from as they enter our churches or CUs.

So the question is, how can we as Christians reach international people as they enter our churches with an understanding of their culture that will enable us to reach them with our lives and the Gospel rather then a British way of doing things?

Why I love international outreach

I have just come back from Oxford, with its rain, bikes, beautiful buildings and a crazy two weeks that was packed with an amazing team, amazing students and an amazing Gospel. I can't describe how incredible these two weeks have been, but perhaps I can tell you why I love doing this...

1. The Gospel is true
You know what? The Gospel is true and that's amazing. If the Gospel wasn't true, I wouldn't be doing this. But it is true and we have amazing good news to share.

2. Reaching all Nations
Jesus told us to make disciples of all nations. Well for two weeks, a lot of those nations came to us. It is wonderful seeing God open hearts, sharing Jesus with people that have never heard of him. Reach nations that are normally closed to us, but the treasure of the Gospel can be theirs.

3. Team Life
I love the team life, sharing Jesus with fellow Christians. I love how we all worked together with the Gospel centered and we all had a role to play and God used all of us.

4. Amazing Fellowship
I have met some amazing people. I have met people that have encouraged me greatly with their love for Jesus and willingness to surrender all for Him. It was fantastic having the opportunity to come along side some of the girls and chat and pray with them. The fellowship has been so key.

5. Meeting Interesting People
Over the two weeks I have met some very interesting people from all over the world - Japan, Colombia, Chile, France, Africa... its been so much fun getting to know them.

6. It is about Relationship
You can't shove the Gospel down their throats. Its about building relationships and sharing your time and your life with them. Its something that perhaps English people aren't always good at. But I enjoy this so much, its more personal and people are not projects.

I just love international outreach so much! Its been amazing being able to share the Gospel with people, to get to know different people from around the world and to meet Christians that have amazing testimonies and share the same vision and to have so much fun as well. There were many laughs!

If you get a chance to do this type of outreach, then do - it is an amazing opportunity!