Church and Mission in Global Contexts: A Personal Reflection

Church and Mission in Global Contexts: A Personal Reflection

Tao-jen Wang

Global Christianity is changing: an emerging “south” Christianity that Jenkins described in his book[1] is transforming the look of global Christianity.  The “south” is more conservative,[2] indigenous,[3] and sometimes Pentecostal.[4]  In contrast, religiosity is declining in Western society and even in the United States.[5]  So what’s wrong with western Christianity?  Is the culture of western Christianity too liberal and going down the wrong path?  Or is charismatic experience the key and we should all pursue it?  Or from a non-Christian point of view, do people become more “civilized” and “rational” and then abandon their religion? 

If we look deeper, people tired of churches in the United States are still seeking spirituality.[6] Human, being created by God, certainly has spiritual needs; it’s the church that disappoints.  And a conservative theology does not guarantee from disappointment or decline; evangelical churches in the United States are also going down.[7]  Pentecostalism may or may not help, but there seems to be difficulties for some people to experience God in this way than others even if they are willing: spiritual gifts are given by the Spirit “who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.” (1 Cor. 12:11 NRSV)

And when we are analyzing global Christianity, we should keep in mind another important question: is “size” or “number of Christians” the only right way to analyze a church?  Is the largest church in the world always doing the right thing?  If so, the Protestant Reformation should never take place and Jesus’s church should be seen as a failure.  Actually nearly every church with its theology has its ups and downs.  Only God and His Word have the final say on what is right or wrong for a church.

Even though a declining church does not always mean something is wrong, it is still a good warning sign to see if we miss God’s plan in some ways.  At least we can see what kind of church is drawing people in, which is important when we want to do mission.  So what do the “successful” missions across the global landscape have in common?  Why are people listening to what these churches want to say? 

Maybe it’s about post-modernization: across east, west and south, the world we face now wants more experience than doctrine, more feelings than knowledge, and more tolerance than truth.  So when the church becomes more indigenous and relevant to daily lives, and when charismatic experience really touches people’s heart and solve their problems, people come to the church. 

This is significant when we are facing a new theological debate: homosexuality.  We already saw this issue divided the Anglicans and recently the Presbyterian Church of U.S.A., which already resulted in churches leaving the denomination, lawsuits of church properties and members leaving churches which remained in the denomination.  This seems to be a difficult time for Christians who chose to stay and also for those who left.

This controversy also has its impact in the society in Taiwan, where the younger generation being more open and pushing the older generation to change.  For the time being, churches are mostly on the side of the older generation, but this might change over time, since some young Christians are changing their minds.  Is division inevitable in the future for churches in Taiwan?  Will there be a time when Christians in Taiwan need to pick sides?  Is unity no longer possible?

When one browses through the heated debate among Christians, it is easy just to label some Christians being homophobia or others forsaking the Holy Bible.  But this is actually not the truth, because if we know more of these Christians personally, we will find that sincere God-fearing people with sincere love for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) exist on both sides.  Christians in Taiwan are struggling and trying to love God, love the church, and also love every person including LGBT.  A Christian may disagree on another with regard to how to do these, but the heart for God and neighbors may be the same.

This is important if we want to do mission in this post-modern world: people are observing the church, including young people.  People might be tired of the debate and the possible division; young people might perceive one side of the church as outdated; but people might also feel the sincere heart of Christians on both sides.

So for Christians in Taiwan or even for Christians facing this issue around the world: we do not need to worry.  We should always go to the word of God and seek God’s guidance to differentiate right and wrong.  No matter which theological stand we take, we should face the debate with humility and love.  And hopefully, by God’s grace we can testify to the world the gospel we experienced by the way we face this issue.  There might be difficult times ahead, but we know God will lead us through everything. 

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[1] “South” may not mean geographically.  See Philip Jenkins, The Next Christendom (New York: Oxford University Press, 2011), 3-4.

[2] Jenkins, The Next Christendom, 8.

[3] Jenkins, The Next Christendom, 58-59, 62.  This is echoed by Lamin Sanhneh, Whose Religion is Christianity (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 2003), 10-11, 31.

[4] Jenkins, The Next Christendom, 9.

[5] Diana B. Bass, Christianity After Religion (New York: HarperCollins, 2013), 81

[6] Bass, Christianity After Religion, 92.

[7] Bass, Christianity After Religion, 12-13, 72.