Paradigm shift for believers in the wake of 9/11 USA (MNN) ― Even as the tenth anniversary of 9/11 passed with its reflections, many ministries are looking at the lessons that changed the face of the Church forever. David Shibley with Global Advance notes that some realities revealed by September 11,2001 are still confronting the church today, with greater potency. "In this ensuing decade, persecution against Christians has intensified worldwide. Some research indicates that 600 million--and possibly even closer to 700 million--Christians worldwide are experiencing some kind of persecution, at some level." In fact, Shibley goes on to say that the level of oppression against the followers of Christ globally is unprecedented in history. Many of the persecutors do not make a distinction between the West and believer. There is an assumption that Christianity is a religion from the West, now the object of "jihad." The revelation of an enemy bent on the eradication of Christians revealed a second harsh reality. There was a deep-seated malcontent in many Muslims around the world, many of whom were radicalized into an explosive response. Shibley says the militancy that fueled the 2001 attacks was also a catalyst for another movement. "There are millions of other Muslims who are deeply conflicted, and embarrassed, and searching for truth. Because of that, and because of the massive prayers of Christians for the Islamic world, we are seeing an unprecedented number of Muslims coming to faith in Christ." For example, Shibley says, although Iran is known for its persecution of the Church, the Islamic Republic has one of the most vigorous evangelistic, church-planting movements in the world. In many respects, it's a brave, new world. There are opportunities to be the hands and feet of Christ that didn't exist ten years ago. There was a new awareness of resource and priority in the Great Commission. "Many of us have viewed persecution as for 'super saints,' but it's just 'discipleship 101' in most of the world." That paradigm shift revealed a third reality that's proven to be more encouraging. Congregations in the West became more intentional about kingdom-building in the wake of September 2001. Shibley explains, "Many churches really became more mission-oriented as a result of these attacks. They realized that we have indeed come into the Kingdom 'for such a time as this' and that it is time to juxtapose our message of the Gospel to the pernicious message of religious terrorists." Great awakenings happened in the shadow of ideologies that swept large sections of the world. Shibley says that fascism, communism and other similar belief systems controlled people through oppression. Freedom in Truth appeals to people when disillusionment surfaces. "We need to put the present context into an understanding, both of history and of prophecy, and remember that the kingdoms of this world will ultimately become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ." Global Advance resources pastors on the front lines of Gospel work in some of the world's most difficult countries.
Tuesday, 13 September 2011
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