How denominational missions can damage grassroots faith
A host recounts a missionary's book about China's Back to Jerusalem movement: after his seven-year imprisonment, returning foreign missionaries had denominationalized the grassroots church, with Pentecostals and Reformers fighting over theology while Chinese believers stopped asking 'are you a Christian?' and started asking 'what denomination are you?' Dan agrees the same risk exists in Zimbabwe.
More on Missions
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The persecuted church and Western comfort
- What does biblical faith (pistis) mean: belief without proof, or belief because you saw?
The hosts work through a 2021 list of the 50 countries where it is most dangerous to follow Jesus, noting that 13 Christians are killed for their faith every day, with North Korea…
From No. 422 · Jesus, Technology and Persecution
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Reaching 'unsaved Christians': the Bible Belt article
- What are good starting points for a spiritual conversation with a cultural Christian?
The hosts work through the Christianity Today article 'to reach unsaved Christians, first help them get lost': a pastor's parking-lot epiphany that the Bible Belt — where people…
From No. 364 · Golden Calf Purity Rings
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Do we misunderstand 'unreached people'?
- Is redefining 'unreached people' to include our neighbors hampering international missions?
The hosts discuss a Christian Post article reporting that mission alliances worry Christians now define 'unreached' as their unbelieving neighbor, which — the article claims — is hampering funding for truly unreached people groups (tribes in Sudan, Malawi, the pygmies).
From No. 338 · Following the News
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What's happening: Ebola missionaries - how far is too far?
- How far is too far for a Christ-follower to go in helping people who are infectious, when it could endanger their family or country?
Dan (addressed by name) presents the news: missionaries infected with Ebola in Liberia are back in the US in quarantine, and some fear an outbreak.
From No. 201 · As We Are