We are always somewhere and we are always going somewhere. Thats the story of our lives. Thats the story of history. What is amazing to me though is how we as the Christians always seem to be a step behind where the now is, and clueless on where the next stop is. Maybe this is because we hold to traditions that are long lasting and timeless. Maybe because we serve a god "who is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore." Maybe it is because we have lost the touch of the prophetic that can see clearly what the signs of the times are and what lies ahead. Jeremiah had this. He saw what was coming. He saw that destruction was coming and spoke honestly to a nation that didnt believe him. But he saw even beyond that, which is why he obeyed when God told him to buy land. He knew that down the road there would peace and therefore he got something that would benefit his family decades later.
I was talking to my dad yesterday and he was telling me about some of our family friends who are studying Arabic in College. They are doing this because they have a heart for the Middle East. It is obvious and doesnt take a rocket scientist or deep spiritual knowledge to state that the Middle East is the center of attention in our world today. But can we say that that will be the case 10-15 years from now? 20 years ago College students were studying Russian because the eyes of the world were focused on the confrontation of the Soviet Union and America. Now we focus on a new world. My point in this is that statistically there are only a few dozen American Soldiers stationed in Baghdad that can understand ANY Arabic. So if we had anticipated that the Middle East would be something important and had learned to speak it 20 years ago, we would be able to communicate far better.
The same goes for postmodernism. Now it is a hot word that people want to study and talk about. But its day is just about to pass and we are not part of the process of understanding what is coming next or better yet of creating what is coming next. My point in all this is that we should be those who understand the times yes. We should study Arabic and postmodernism because that is where our world is RIGHT NOW. BUt why not understand where our world is going and prepare for it, so that when it comes we are completely ready and can speak before Kings and Princes.
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4 comments:
Wow David, great point. Being "on top of things" really means that we are a "step behind". Scary but a good wakeup call nonetheless.
Interesting point here. I wonder how churches become disconnected from the prophetic insight of someone like Jeremiah, and how we can avoid the same fate. I don't really think that the Middle East will decline in importance or influence in the near future, but I see your basic point that many people in the church have lost an ability or desire to see past the present into the future.
I wanted to respond but startted writing I realized that it would be too long. So, I wrote a blog in responce to yours. I will post it in a couple days but wanted to thank you for this post. It made me think a lot about the role of the church. THANKS!
ok. I posted the blog
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