In the first days of 2015, I meditated on the events that happened in Paris. A few armed men killed many in the name of Allah.
Beyond the violence of this attack, which - in comparison with what happens frequently in Eastern DR Congo - is relatively limited, it is the ground of this attack that makes me think. In France, Islam is spreading rather rapidly, not only through the many children of muslim couples, but also through conversions. What is attracting so many to this way of life, even in the West, what is it? This is a subject of meditation and of prayer for me.
In our globalized world, our cultural references have often been shattered, and we struggle to find a sure basis for our identity. Who are we, what is the meaning of our life in this world? In Islam, there are strong identity references, with a sacred text that everyone in the whole world learns in the same language - Arabic, even if many don’t understand it well, and they have simple external practices - five pillars, that are the same for everyone.
As fellow Christian believers united in a specific denomination, the Church of the Nazarene, what are the key identity references we have, and are they strong enough to help our people to unite in the depth of their being to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in the midst of the challenges of globalization? We have a tool that I appreciate very much, the Core Values: Christian, Holiness, Missional.
- Christian. What is the foundation of Christianity? A biblical text, or Jesus? If Jesus, a Jesus revealed only through biblical texts or a Living God? Do we have a personal and living relationship with Jesus, as He promised to all his disciples? Or do we hide our empty hearts behind biblical verses and moral principles without real love for God and for our neighbor? How will we live a real fellowship with Jesus? Do we hear his voice as He promised (John 10:27)? If not, how can each of us learn to hear His voice in order to follow Him fully?
- Holiness. Is holiness leading us to serve, or a message of pride to show others that we think we are better than them? Is it an identity marker, a key element of our mission in this world? What is the role of a holiness denomination, a holiness district, a holiness church, a holy person? Do we try to gain status and support, to criticize others? Or do we find our humble place in the body of Christ - the Church, and learn to spread a scriptural holiness revival everywhere we go through our daily living communion with the living Messiah, in the power of the Holy Spirit?
- Missional. To what mission are we called? An intellectual mission, or a ‘Jesus mission’? Are we called to build a human structure first, or to first bring the awareness and transformation of the Living God (that also implies afterward a human structure most of the time)? What will this mission look like for me in these days, in these months? How will I carry this mission?
I am not here to give you all the answers, and don’t want to start a debate. Rather, I want to encourage each of you to meditate and pray concerning these questions, as we prepare to live a new year together, with the regional theme “Prepare the way of the Lord”.
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