DAWN Fridayfax 1999 #44

China

The gospel for idiots

"A Chinese proverb says 'A wise person must hear the truth once to believe it; a sensible person twice and an idiot three times before he believes it.' I belong to the final category," writes a Chinese Christian who only recently left the traditional Yiguandao sect to follow Jesus Christ. "The first time I heard the truth was when my best friend was refused entry to a Yiguandao meeting because she had a harelip (a split upper lip). 'Businessmen don't buy rotten goods, and we don't accept invalids. We must remain pure to retain our power,' the leader explained. I took her home, and she cried with shame. Two months later, I invited her to come to a Christian house church to which I had been invited. To my astonishment, they washed our feet when we sat down with them. They welcomed us as guests of honour! My friend was overcome, and burst out in tears as she told about her rejection from the Yiguandao sect. That evening, the house church read from John 13: 'If I do not wash your feet, you have no part with me'. My friend was overjoyed and became a Christian. I was happy for her, but never went back there myself. As I said, I was an idiot... The second time was during another Yiguandao meeting led by my parents. I had invited another student, who was very hesitant to come along. That evening, the group tried 'automatic writing', in which 'gods' take possession of a medium and dictate messages to us. That evening, though, nothing happened. The medium became increasingly frustrated until she turned to my friend and said 'You're the problem. I've been shaking since you entered the room. It seems as though the spirit won't reveal himself while you are here.' My friend replied 'I belong to the only true God and follow his son, Jesus Christ. Call your spirit and ask him in Jesus' name whether he is good or evil." The medium did as he said, and wrote the words 'I come from hell'. I had again experienced Jesus, and still did not believe. A true idiot. A long time later, I met my friend again. We had both married in the meantime, so our friendship was no longer so close. We met in a park to chat. When I saw that she had a Bible in her handbag, I had a terrible thought: I decided to steal her Bible! When she left, I started to read random sections. The first words I read were 'Today you will be with me in paradise.' I was surprised and shocked, because Jesus said those words to one like me, a thief. And suddenly, I saw it! Jesus is Lord of life and death. He can choose who he accepts into paradise. That truth filled me with total certainty, and the Chinese religion suddenly seemed ridiculous. My friend returned because she had discovered that her Bible was missing, and discovered me reading it. Since then, I trust God and can hardly wait to have a Bible of my own..."
Source: an unnamed Chinese Christian, via Open Doors, fax (+49)-5384-90978

Lebanon

Marriage counselling at 60mph

"I met a particularly good member of God's ground crew in Lebanon," writes Hans-Peter Nüesch, leader of Campus Crusade for Christ in Switzerland. "Adel Masri, the 60-year-old leader of Campus in Lebanon, took every opportunity to tell of his hope in Christ. On one occasion, a newly-married couple overtook us on the motorway. Adel wound down his window and shouted across to them: 'My wife and I have been married 40 years. We always had a happy marriage because Jesus Christ is the centre of our relationship. If Jesus is the centre of your relationship, you will also have a happy marriage' He then blessed them, and they were gone. I don't exactly recommend following his example..."
Source: Hans-Peter Nüesch, Fax (+41)-1-2748483

Worldwide

50% of the world's 6 billion inhabitants are under 24 years old...

A global youth culture is forming, and Christians are learning to adjust to it. Some are already claiming that the church must be completely re-invented in our generation... Thousands of Christians all over the world are addressing this topic, and the Dawn Friday Fax will regularly report about encouraging trends. Here are some: - The mystification of the church: the newly-forming culture depends less on scientific and rational patterns of thought and tends to the mystic, seeking to experience God personally. This means that the church will no longer be inviting agnostics alone, but also spiritually active people to a relationship with Jesus Christ. Those seeking spiritual experience will be disappointed by a church offering only information about God. - The role of the leader is changing from a religious representative and teacher to an approachable leader and interpreter of experiences, from an organisational manager to a spiritual father. - Holistic experience of the whole gospel: "People want to participate, not just listen. They want to experience God with all five senses: taste, touch, smell, hearing and seeing," says pastor Mark Driscoll of the innovative Mars Hill Fellowship in Seattle, USA. - Stories, stories, stories: "People no longer ask 'What happened, and why?' but 'What happened, where?'. Christians must learn to be storytellers. Many African American preachers have understood this, and don't tell a story to illustrate a theological message: the story is the message! Stories creep up on you from behind and whisper something in your ear. The moment you turn around to see what it was, it kicks you in the backside, runs away and hides behind a bush. You can't debate about a story - it makes you think, whether you want to or not..." says pastor Brian McLaren of the Cedar Ridge Community Church, USA.

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