Lausanne World Pulse – Research Articles – World Christian Trends, Update 2007
One related and growing phenomenon is insider movements—defined as “movements to Christ where the gospel flows through pre-existing communities and networks, and believing families remain inside their socio-religious communities, retaining their natural identity while living under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the authority of scripture.” Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists around the world are following Christ while remaining within their own communities. Churches and mission agencies are just beginning to grapple with the implications of this for the world Christian community.
5. God’s global family will include all peoples. The biblical text (Revelation 5:9, 7:9) leads us to a world in which all peoples have access to the gospel message. The body of Christ will not reach its full stature until all peoples are worshipping at the throne of God.
In 2007, we find ourselves in an unprecedented position for the whole Church to take the whole gospel to the whole world.
References
Barrett, David and Todd Johnson. 2001. World Christian Trends, AD 30-AD 2200: Interpreting the Annual Christian Megacensus. Pasadena, California, USA: William Carey Library.
Barrett, David, George Kurian and Todd Johnson. 2001. World Christian Encyclopedia: A Comparative Survey of Churches and Religions in the Modern World. Second Edition. New York: Oxford University Press.
Barrett, David, Todd Johnson and Peter Crossing. 2007. “Missiometrics 2007: Goals, Resources, Doctrines of the 350 Christian World Communions” in International Bulletin of Missionary Research. January, 25-32.
Johnson, Todd and Sun Chung. 2004. “Tracking Global Christianity’s Statistical Centre of Gravity, AD 33-AD 2100” in International Review of Mission. (93)369.
Johnson, Todd and Sandra Kim. 2005. “Describing the Worldwide Christian Phenomenon: Terminology for the 21st Century” in International Bulletin of Missionary Research. April.
Johnson Todd and Charles Tieszen. (slated for October 2007). “Personal Contact: The sine qua non of 21st Century Christian Mission” in Evangelical Missions Quarterly.
World Christian Database. 2007. Leiden: Brill Publications.