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In today’s world we’re watching the globalization of music, fast-food restaurants and corporations-and the growing ghettoization of immigrants, refugees, migrants and aliens! Few people really feel at home anymore, and many feel threatened by neighbors with radically different cultural values.
In London, lilting cadences from the West Indies are heard more often than cockney accents. Patrick Johnstone describes Canada as a mosaic of indigenous and immigrant nations and peoples, many of whom have retained much of their original cultures. In the US, Miami has been dubbed the “capital of South America,” while both Texas and California have Hispanic populations greater than many Latin American countries. Recent elections in Europe and Australia have generated heated debate on the politics of immigration. Meanwhile, emigration is a major trend in countries like Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Ghettoized globalization has the potential to impact world missions in two powerful ways.
1. Pressures from within. Instead of seeing the mission field at our doorstep, we are tempted to view ethnic neighbors as a threat to our way of life or, even worse, to envision them as potential terrorists. Because we are so fearful of the problems at home, we could be tempted to ignore Jesus’ command to make disciples of all nations. Our fears may cause us to retreat into a fortress rather than boldly advance in obedience to the Great Commission.
2. Pressures from society. In the interest of political harmony, we are being encouraged to regard all religions as different roads leading to the same destination. We are urged to avoid anything that seems like arrogant proselytizing. But yielding to religious pluralism will destroy us. If Jesus is not the only way, then the gospel is not really good news for the peoples of the world. If other religions are equally valid, why should believers sacrifice the security of home and family to take Christ’s gospel to a hostile environment? Why should Christians intentionally lower their standard of living so that they can financially support missionaries?
Yes, there are aspects of God’s truth in other worldviews, and God has spoken through general revelation to all ethnic groups. But we affirm Jesus’ unique claim, “I am the way.” We must obey his command to preach the good news in all nations. The clearest example of the good news is John 3:16.
o For God: the God who created all the galaxies and all the peoples of the world.
o so loved: the most perfect and selfless love, love beyond our imagination.
o the world: the whole world, not just people with our heritage, our color of skin and our language.
o that he gave his one and only Son: Jesus, the supreme gift of the Father, the only way for people to become fully human and the only path to eternal life.
o that whoever believes in him: this includes the beggar in India, the warlords in Afghanistan and the atheist in New York.
o should not perish: we speak of hell, the natural destination for people without Christ, not with arrogance, but with tears.
o but have eternal life: we are offering the world’s only hope for joy, fulfillment and life beyond the grave.
Perhaps God is intentionally mixing up the ethnic groups of the world to provide an opportunity for the gospel of the kingdom to be preached to all nations before the end comes (Matt. 24:14). In these days when world evangelization is politically incorrect, let us move out with loving boldness in our neighborhoods and to the ends of the earth with the only good news in the whole universe.
July 19, 2002