Apr
7
2009
Globalization really?
Author: pastoroffishing“Globalization matters because it fundamentally changes the contexts in which we minister, the way people and cultures perceive each other, how people think, and the means available to reach them. We cannot dismiss the effects of globalization on ourselves as communicators of the gospel message. -Michael Pocock”
Ugh…I really don’t like this at all. I hate the concept of globalization because it means that I as a pastor have to make the church more aware. I had a discussion with someone at church pertaining to why we have no global mission focus as a church? We send our money and we get our reports from missionaries, but don’t know our missionaries at all…
The response was startling to me, “We have enough issues trying to get people to think about their neighbor how can we look at the rest of the world”. This person was a leader within our church and it made me cringe.
I then think of cultures…how many are around me? How many subcultures? I know just when I look at youth in my area there is about 10 major people groups from the jocks to the nerds, the emos to the punks, and so forth and so on. It becomes very clear to me that its here on my doorstep. I can’t ignore it thus the church can’t ignore it. In the end we have to look at who we are and how we are carrying out the assistance of the global church.
Man, I have some planning to do now…
My first thought is rethinking the concept of outreach. Should it be a missions group within in our church? Local, regional, national, global in focus? I don’t know yet, but it is something I would love feedback on. How do your churches handle this?
