The topic of a recent cover story in Christianity Today is shaking up not only the world of missions, but also academia. The World the Missionaries Made is a report on the work of Robert Woodberry, a sociologist currently researching at the Political Science Department of the National University of Singapore. CT’s Executive Editor Andy Crouch calls it the CT cover story of which he is most proud. Its thesis and Woodberry’s work support a remarkable conclusion – that a generation of “conversionary protestant missionariesâ€[1] laid a foundation for democracy around the world. In effect, missions in the 19th and 20th centuries may be one of the most significant factors, and certainly one of the most overlooked, in what CT calls “the health of nations†today: [Read more…] about Missionaries Changed the World Once – Can they do it again?
Ed Brown
The Jamaica Call to Action (Part 3): A Plea for Prayer
The Jamaica Call to Action, based on two convictions and presenting 10 clear and actionable things that the church can do, nonetheless recognizes that even though we know what needs to be done, and we know how to do most of it, this is not enough. A problem that has eluded the best brains and that all of the powers of all of the governments on earth are unable to solve will not be solved with a to-do list, no matter how well thought out.
So the call to action ends with an urgent call to prayer:
Our call to prayer
Each of our calls to action rest on an even more urgent call to prayer, intentional and fervent, soberly aware that this is a spiritual struggle. Many of us must begin our praying with lamentation and repentance for our failure to care for creation, and for our failure to lead in transformation at a personal and corporate level. And then, having tasted of the grace and mercies of God in Christ Jesus and through the Holy Spirit, and with hope in the fullness of our redemption, we pray with confidence that the Triune God can and will heal our land and all who dwell in it, for the glory of his matchless name.
[Read more…] about The Jamaica Call to Action (Part 3): A Plea for Prayer
How Do You Pray About an Oil Spill?
Last week Ed Brown, director of Care of Creation, Inc. posted How Do You Pray About an Oil Spill? Below is an excerpt which my wife and I, found particularly helpful for the direction of our prayers. Note: in the context of Daniel’s prayer of confession as recorded in Daniel 9.
From today’s New York Times:
“In the furor over the Gulf disaster, a hard-to-overlook fact: America needs the oil.â€
As an individual, I do my part to feed our oil- and coal-driven economy by pumping gas into my car, by burning electric lights and using all kinds of oil-derived plastics to sustain my “lifestyleâ€. As do you. (You are reading this on a computer screen… enough said). Collectively, we have created an economic and political system that cannot run without these fossil fuels, and we bear collective guilt for this. Yes, guilt. We could have designed an economic system that would have functioned in harmony with God’s creation rather than in opposition to it. We did not. We are guilty.
Over the past several days, I have been struck by how the oil spill is an example of research and development reaching its in the field limits. The deep exploration tested boundaries with unexpected consequences. Could more university research (before going to the field) modeled these potential consequences and adverted the current situation? Do we really have a grasp on how to accurately track the spill (e.g., 5/9 NPR Piece with Widget and comments)?
Will the oil spill be capped, if so how?* Or will we have to wait until it runs dry? Who should be leaned upon for the best recommendations regarding next steps in addressing the spill (short and long term)? Will the incident discourage similar exploration or encourage a chastened pursuit to get it right?
Is there a point at which our society should choose, even become satisfied with less? In what ways do followers of possess the beginning of a framework for saying No to our consumer orientation and harnessing our creative efforts in order fulfill the call to care for/steward God’s creation? More on these topics coming, but would love to read your thoughts. …
Recommendations regarding next steps:
- Read How Do You Pray About an Oil Spill?
- Pray.
- Gather some friends to pray on the National Day of Prayer for Creation Care (May 25).
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Encourage further conversation on the oil spill and pick up a copy of Our Father’s World: Mobilizing the Church to Care for Creation (InterVarsity Press) for summer reading as an individual or part of discussion group. Note: The new Our Father’s World is about 20% longer, with updated material, several new chapters and a discussion guide suitable for small groups or Sunday School classes.
- Ask around to see if there is interest in hosting Our Father’s World: Why Christians Should Care about the Environmental Crisis to explore these questions further. Note: Ed shared with me that the weekend seminar can be done with a student/campus focus. I’ve desired to arrange a seminar for several years, if you’re in the Mid-Atlantic and have interest in partnering, let me know.  For more information, visit here and/or email ed [at] careofcreation.org.
*[BP deploys second containment box (CNN Wire Staff, 5/12). Picture linked from article.]