Posted by Chris on Sep 22, 2010 in
Culture 
Although I doubt that author Thomas Cahill meant it to be a missiological textbook, How the Irish Saved Civilization provides an almost step-by-step breakdown of the methods necessary to catalyze a continent-wide missional movement.
The book opens with a description of the western world on the precipice of the fall of Rome. The key player is Augustine, the brillia
nt thinker credited with inventing individualism, and medieval Catholicism. In comparison to the state backed, violence justifying Augustine stands Patrick.
Exiled as a shepherd in ancient Ireland, the Roman Patricious develops a deep faith and love for the Irish people. Despite being released back into the Empire, Patrick feels called back to his adopted homeland. In a single generation, the first recorded missionary since Paul is able to affect a change that can only be paralleled by the pre-Constantinian church, and perhaps today’s Chinese Christian movements.
Learning from his humble and trusting example, Patrick’s heirs take his mission back to the continent. Monasteries become starting points for cities that will gather and nurture civilization. Along the way, they painstakingly copy down the Old and New Testaments, as well as the great works of Latin and Greek literature.
Here we find an Irish model for missional living. While saving souls, bring people together and promote the best of what man has to offer. Perhaps it’s not too late for us to save civilization.
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Tags: How The Irish Saved Civilizaion, Ireland, Missional, missions, patrick, St. Patrick, Thomas Cahill
Posted by Chris on Jun 4, 2010 in
Church 
Check out part 1 of my thoughts on Hirsch’s The Forgotten Ways here.
Reading through chapter 3, I found myself almost giddy considering the simple core truth of the Christian faith: Jesus is Lord. Tradition is nice. Theology is helpful. But the core element that catalyzed the first century Jesus movement, is spreading throughout China and has been at the center of all great Jesus movement is the life changing confession that Jesus is Lord.
Hirsch unpacks just how powerful this would be in a polytheistic society, where one is living in constant fear of upsetting one deity or another. He compares this to the false claim of Communist state as Lord, as well as exposing America’s own polytheism, the worship of money, power, health, etc.
He also points out the tendency of Christians to a dangerous syncretism. His example of how the false god of comfort and power got mixed up with the Church in South Africa to create apartheid is a chilling reminder of what could happen to us.
Chapter 4 makes the argument that powerful Jesus movements are little more than disciple making systems. He quotes Neil Cole of Church Multiplication Associates saying “we want to lower the bar of how Church is done and raise the bar of what it means to be a disciple.”
The primary barrier to disciple-making is consumerism, both inside and outside the church. Our culture is set up to make us disciples of consumerism, we consume food, art, and even identities. We take this mindset with us, expecting to be “fed” at church.
Secondly, our current system of religious education also inhibits disciple-making. Unlike Jesus disciples, who met with him day in and day out, we remove a select few and pump them full of book learning, then return them to the church. This may help them learn how to think, but it often does little to help them live more like Jesus, and lead others to do the same.
Hirsch’s accusations are clear: we have added so much to the gospel and so much to the way we teach about Jesus, that it impossible for our current way of being church to spread.
What do you think? Have you seen a simpler, more effective Church?
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Tags: Alan Hirsch, disciple making, Forgotten Ways, Missional, missional church, missions, Neil Cole
Posted by Chris on Jun 8, 2009 in
Church,
Culture,
God,
Life 
As you probably know, I’ll be heading on a world-wide mission trip with Global Journey (www.globaljourney.org) this coming week. The following is five questions with Sarah Rinn, founder of GJ and our trip leader.
Chris Morton: Tell us a little about yourself!
Sarah Rinn: Well, I’m Sarah Rinn. I was born in Texas, went to college at Rhodes in Tennessee, and now reside in New Braunfels, TX. Since college I have worked many summers at TBarM Sports Camp and even spent a year on TBarM’s Timothy Team, where I went on my first ever mission trip to Nigeria. On that trip I knew missions would be a very important part of my life.
In 2006 I went on the World Race, an 11 month mission trip visiting over 11 countries, in 2007-2008 I went on 80 Days Around the World with The Global Challenge, and the summer of 2008 I helped lead another trip around the world that was the pioneer trip for Global Journey. I’m passionate about giving others the same life changing experiences I have had.
I also love sports, games, deep talks with friends, random road trips, The Price is Right, and anything sweet.
CM: Why did you start Global Journey?
SR: I felt the Lord calling me to start something like Global Journey way back when I was on the World Race in 2006. I knew this is what I was called to do, but I had to be patient and wait for the Lord’s timing. My heart is not only to share the love of Christ around the world and be a part of the Great Commission, but to impact the lives of the participants on the trip. My prayer is that while travelling participants might get a bigger glimpse of God’s calling on their lives, that they would fall more in love with Jesus, and be more willing to live surrendered to God. I also hope that we can build lasting relationships with missionaries all over the world and be an encouragement to them. Our goal is to go places where the Lord is working and join in.
CM: What is this summer going to be like?
SR: HOT!!! Just kidding…well kind of!
I’m expecting the Lord to do some big things this summer. It is going to be a stretching and challenging for the team as they are taken away from comforts that we have in America. I’m hoping they get a bigger picture of God’s world and people and get to partake in different types of ministry. We will be living with orphans in India, love kids at an AIDS children’s home in Uganda, sharing Christ’s love with Muslims in France, and putting on sports camp in Nicaragua. I’m also praying for lifelong friends to be built amongst the team.
CM: What do you hope the trip will accomplish for the missionaries and organizations you’ll work with? For the participants?
SR: My hope for the missionaries and organizations is that we be servant’s to them. I want us to be a team of 6 bodies willing and able to serve and walk alongside them with what God is doing where they are. I hope that we might be able to encourage them in what the Lord has called them to.
For the participants my prayer is that they will begin to get a glimpse of the difference between living a committed life and a surrendered one. My prayer is that all of them would come away willing to surrender and say “Yes” to anything the Lord calls them to. I pray that God would give me some Amy Carmichaels, Mother Teresas, Brother Yuns, Jim Elliots who will forever impact the world eternally.
CM: What can we pray for?
SR: You can pray for Jesus’s name to be known and for God to be glorified. Pray for God to open doors to make an impact for His kingdom. Pray for team unity and for us to be a light for Christ. Pray for hearts of the people we will visit to be softened to the Gospel. Pray for us to be protected from satan and spiritual warfare. Pray for each team member to grow in their understanding of God’s love for them and fall more passionately in love with Jesus.
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Tags: global journey, God, missions
Posted by Chris on Apr 15, 2009 in
Church 
Here’s an extended quote from a great post on Stuff Christians Like. It encapsulates what I’m doing this summer, and I’ll tell you more soon.
Dear _______,
I never write you letters.
That’s a weird way to open a mission trip letter. My youth minister/pastor gave me a form letter to follow but that felt even weirder. The truth is that I don’t write anyone letters and if I opened up this letter by pretending this is just the latest in a long chain of correspondence we’ve kept up oh these many years, that would feel as fake as when people run out of things to say and ask you questions like, “hot enough for you?” Wow, that was a really atrocious run on sentence, but I’m excited about this trip and I’m not going to let sentence structure stand in my way.
If I were you, I would probably be thinking, “_______ is going on a mission trip?” That’s a completely fair thought. I keep asking myself that too. I’m not the first person people think of when it comes to feeding the hungry/helping the poor/working on a coconut farm. Plus, I’m so busy. School/work is really intense right now and this is not a good time to go on a mission trip. But I’m not sure if there is ever a “good time” to go on a mission trip. And I could probably come up with a list of reasons why I shouldn’t go, but I keep coming back to the one reason I should – God loves people.
I’ve been trying to live that in the life I currently have. I mean it’s easy to pray for far off places and far off people, but loving who you live and work with is a challenge. I’ve been trying to see my life as a mission field, not just this trip. And it’s been cool to see the way God has used this new approach to everything from the way I tip at restaurants to the way I treat people in traffic. But now, it’s time to take the things I’ve learned to a new longitude and latitude.
I’m going to _______ for ________days/weeks. Going wasn’t a hard decision. When it comes down to it, Jesus laid out a pretty simple religion for us, didn’t He? Love God, love others, and love ourselves. Nope, deciding to go was easy. Paying for it however, is a real challenge.
To be honest with you, I just don’t have $#####, laying about the house, eating baked Tostito chips and watching soap operas. So, instead of selling my plasma 87 times, I decided to send letters to people I don’t usually write and ask for something I don’t usually ask for, money. I’d love if you could financially support me on this mission trip. A little, a lot, any would be great. And if you want to know more about the trip, please let me know and I will give you a call.
The one thing on the form letter I got from church that I agreed with was the request for prayer. If you could pray about the trip, that would be great. As much as God loves mission trips, other people don’t. There will be a whole host of obstacles that pop up and entangle themselves around our ankles as we prepare to go love the people of ______. And knowing that you are praying would mean a lot to me.
Thanks for reading this rambling letter. I have included the form letter version as well in case you prefer a more traditional approach to the “can I please have some of your money” letter.
Sincerely, _________
P.S. If you do give, there’s a good chance that you will be famous, or at least regionally famous because my friend Jon at Stuff Christians Like, God’s favorite sarcastic Christian blog, will probably give you a shout out. I’m just saying, something to think about.
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Tags: global journey, mission trip, missions
Posted by Chris on Mar 13, 2009 in
Church 
For those of you who still don’t have summer plans, you might consider a trip around the world with my friend Sarah over at www.globaljourney.org. Here’s what she has planned:
- Hang out with Slum Dogs in India
- Help out at an AIDS orphanage in Uganda
- Get to know the Muslim population of Paris
- Run a sports camp for Nicaraguan children
The trip takes place over 60 days this summer. It’s a great opportunity if you are interested in mission work, but not sure you know where you want to go. It’s also great for students or teachers trying to make the most out of their summer. For more information, contact Sarah Rinn at sarah@globaljourney.org.
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Tags: AIDS, china, college student, France, global journey, india, mission work, missions, muslim, nicaragua, orphans, slumdog, sports camp, uganda
