15/01/2018. Under Fire. The Global Church Biblical Context 3 Commandments. The Global Church Historic Context

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Under Fire The Global Church in a Multi-Religious World DON HUTCHINSON, B.A., J.D. principal, services www.donhutchinson.

And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.

1 Under Fire The Global Church in a Multi-Religious World DON HUTCHINSON, B.A., J.D. principal, services The Global Church Biblical Context 3 Commandments You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 22:37-40) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34-35) Don Hutchinson, B.A., J.D. 2 The Global Church Historic Context Evangelicals too often think the church began with Luther or the founder of their particular denomination. It is misleading to see the church only within our own recent or immediate experience. If we concentrate too much on contemporary issues, we can miss the rich history that tells us how the Spirit has been building the church continuously for two millennia. I pray that those who call themselves by the Christ of Nazareth will combine their witness to strengthen the Christian story. (Brian Stiller, An Insider s Guide to Praying for the World) (Ro 12:3-13; 1 Cor 12:3-30; Gal 3:28; Eph 1:22-23, 4:4-16, 25) Don Hutchinson, B.A., J.D. 3 1

A., J.D. 4 Global Religions Context Don Hutchinson, B.A., J.D. 5 (https://www.pbslearningmedia.

2 The Global Church Historic/Contemporary Membership Voluntarism joins (sect/club) vs. born into (church) vs. joins (church) Difference from surrounding cultures and subcultures boundary maintenance Don Hutchinson, B.A., J.D. 4 Global Religions Context Don Hutchinson, B.A., J.D. 5 ( *based on 2010 Pew Research data) Don Hutchinson, B.A., J.D. 6 2

3 *based on 2010 Pew Research data Don Hutchinson, B.A., J.D. 7 People in conflict with religion Don Hutchinson, B.A., J.D. 8 State in conflict with religion Don Hutchinson, B.A., J.D. 9 3

Political Context Politics tied to Religion Religious Totalitarianism (Sayyid Qutb) 1. God (Allah for Qutb) has absolute sovereignty and authority 2. Every human authority is forbidden (as an idol) 3.

4 Political Context Politics tied to Religion Religious Totalitarianism (Sayyid Qutb) 1. God (Allah for Qutb) has absolute sovereignty and authority 2. Every human authority is forbidden (as an idol) 3. Guidance as to how to live personally and organize socially comes from God alone 4. Personal and societal life must be in submission to God/religion Therefore, isolate or overcome communities that ignore God (as understood in the dominant community) Don Hutchinson, B.A., J.D. 10 Political Context Politics tied to Ideology Religious Secular Totalitarianism 1. The state God has absolute sovereignty and authority 2. Every divine human authority is forbidden (as an idol) 3. Guidance as to how to live personally and organize socially comes from the state God alone 4. Personal and societal life must be in submission to the state God/religion Therefore, isolate or overcome communities that worship ignore God (as understood in the dominant community) Don Hutchinson, B.A., J.D. 11 Admitting Christian coerciveness One of the greatest ironies of the history of Christianity is that its leaders constantly gave in to the temptation of power political power, military power, economic power, or moral and spiritual power even though they continued to speak in the name of Jesus, who did not cling to his divine power but emptied himself and became as we are power offers an easy substitute for the hard task of love. (Henri Nouwen, In the Name of Jesus) Don Hutchinson, B.A., J.D. 12 4

5 Addressing Christian coerciveness The cure against Christian violence is not less of the Christian faith, but, in a carefully qualified sense, more of the Christian faith stronger and more intelligent commitment to the Christian faith as faith. (Miroslav Volf, A Public Faith) Thin but zealous practice of Christian faith is likely to foster violence Thick and committed practice will help generate and sustain a culture of peace It s not about quantity, how long we ve been a Christian, but the quality of our relationship with Christ, His Church, and His written Word. (Don Hutchinson, UNDER SIEGE: Religious Freedom and the Church in Canada at 150) Don Hutchinson, B.A., J.D. 13 Religion in Relationship with Politics Religious Political Pluralism (Miroslav Volf, A Public Faith) 1. Faith (Christianity for Volf) is to be active in all spheres of life 2. Faith is not to be coercive 3. Faith is concerned with personal and common good (human flourishing) 4. Faith relates to the surrounding culture 5. Faith bears witness 6. Faith offers no political blueprint; all religious communities are to have the same religious and political freedoms Don Hutchinson, B.A., J.D. 14 the early Church / the Global Church today 1. Imago Dei, all people are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27) 2. Human rights apply to Christians as much as any other citizen (Acts 25:11) 3. Observable stages of persecution (violation of religious freedom) i. Stereotyping generalizing a quality about a group ii. Vilification abuse, denigrate or delegitimize iii. Marginalization making the group and members unwelcome iv. Criminalization practices connected to belief of group v. Outright Persecution social or state-sponsored hostility Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated of whom the world was not worthy (Hebrews 11:35-38) Don Hutchinson, B.A., J.D. 15 5

Persecution is expected (theology of persecution) Discipleship means allegiance to the suffering Christ, and it is therefore not at all surprising that Christians should be called upon to suffer.

Rejoice when persecuted because of Him 4. The persecuted receive God s blessing 5. Persecution is inevitable Is persecution good? NO Does good come from persecution?

6 Persecution is expected (theology of persecution) Discipleship means allegiance to the suffering Christ, and it is therefore not at all surprising that Christians should be called upon to suffer. (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship) 5 biblical principles of Christian persecution: 1. Suffering on account of Jesus Christ 2. In the line of God s messengers 3. Rejoice when persecuted because of Him 4. The persecuted receive God s blessing 5. Persecution is inevitable Is persecution good? NO Does good come from persecution? YES (Glenn Penner, In The Shadow of The Cross) Don Hutchinson, B.A., J.D. 16 response to persecution Church and State are two separate but overlapping kingdoms, each deriving their authority from God (Abraham Kuyper) 1 Peter 2:13-14; Romans 13:1-7; Matthew 22:20-21 "If the heart is cleansed by the love of Jesus Christ, and if the heart loves Him, one can resist all tortures." (Richard Wurmbrand, Tortured For Christ) Matthew 5:10-12; 1 Peter 3:8-17 Hebrews 13:3 Don Hutchinson, B.A., J.D. 17 biblical perspective revisited Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you did it to me. (Matthew 25:34-40) Don Hutchinson, B.A., J.D. 18 6

Pray Individually Community International Day of

ca) Intercede International International

Andrew) Canada The Evangelical Fellowship of

opendoorsca.org World Watch Monitor www.

7 Pray Individually Community International Day of Prayer ( Intercede International International Christian Response Open Doors (with Brother Andrew) Canada The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada The Voice of the Martyrs Canada Don Hutchinson, B.A., J.D. 19 Stay Informed Open Doors Canada World Watch Monitor Don Hutchinson, B.A., J.D. 20 Stay Informed Voice of the Martyrs Canada Don Hutchinson, B.A., J.D. 21 7

Syrian Church Displaced (5+ years) Lebanon

Provocative Preachers Anti Pastors Only the

House Church Movement (unregistered) Three

Christian Council China Catholic Patriotic

8 Syrian Church Displaced (5+ years) Lebanon tent cities (not refugee camps) Leadership Protected Return and rebuild Indigenous People Group Don Hutchinson, B.A., J.D. 22 Nigerian Church The 2011 & 2015 elections Provocative Preachers Anti Pastors Only the Gospel Boko Haram Don Hutchinson, B.A., J.D. 23 The Church in China House Church Movement (unregistered) Three Self Patriotic Movement (registered) China Christian Council China Catholic Patriotic Association (registered) China Catholic Bishops Conference Don Hutchinson, B.A., J.D. 24 8

On Account of His Name

On Account of His Name When we become Christians we are deeply moved by the enormous benefits that devolve upon us as believers, but we also experience the feeling of being scorned and marginalized by the cool crowd. You experience