Going Native

Inspiration for this came from an article by Alex McManus; pastor of Mosaic in Los Angeles.

Introduction

1 Cor 9:19?27 – KJV

19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. KJV

1 Cor 9:19?23 – TLB

19 And this has a real advantage: I am not bound to obey anyone just because he pays my salary; yet I have freely and happily become a servant of any and all so that I can win them to Christ. 20 When I am with the Jews I seem as one of them so that they will listen to the Gospel and I can win them to Christ. When I am with Gentiles who follow Jewish customs and ceremonies I don’t argue, even though I don’t agree, because I want to help them. 21 When with the heathen I agree with them as much as I can, except of course that I must always do what is right as a Christian. And so, by agreeing, I can win their confidence and help them too.

22 When I am with those whose consciences bother them easily, I don’t act as though I know it all and don’t say they are foolish; the result is that they are willing to let me help them. Yes, whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so that he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ save him. 23 I do this to get the Gospel to them and also for the blessing I myself receive when I see them come to Christ. TLB

Style is too Youthy

“I can’t handle it anymore,” said one young woman. “All of this new technology is getting in the way of my worship.” She was 26.

Someone once asked me, “Why do so many Baby Boomers, who were such advocates of change in the church 20 years ago, resist the changes needed to reach postmoderns?”

But as the young lady from the celebration club demonstrated, even postmoderns exhibit resistance to change.

Often they’ll change the church to fit people “just like me,” but no further.

How can we turn a church from being self?absorbed to being relevant to others?

Natives or conquistadors?

Both modern and postmodern churches are inhabited by “natives.”

Natives

Natives are people comfortable within their own culture.

Ministries targeted at their tastes will attract them, and as long as those ministries continue in that culture, they’ll stay.

The gospel according to a native says, “Welcome into our community. But don’t touch the stereo.”

The scribes and Pharisees were natives and fought Jesus the whole time He was on earth.

Conquistadors

Churches also contain “conquistadors,” people who have a sense of mission to take the gospel to the world. But they insist on taking their culture with it.

The gospel according to a conquistador is, “Repent and come take a pew. When you look just enough like us, we’ll think of you as one of our own.”

Alex McManus – Six years ago I piloted a celebration not in our usual sanctuary, but in a multi?purpose facility. We mobilized artists and musicians, using visual components to construct a different worship experience targeting urban gypsies.

Afterward one of our resident conquistadors said, “Why do we have to have this kind of ministry here?

They should come join us”Cmeaning in the sanctuary, subjugated to the tastes of the conquistadors.

I regularly converse with both conquistadors and natives.

Commitment to reach the next generation.

“Can’t it ever be about us?” they ask.

Resistance to change isn’t a function of age or generation.

Every generation has within it both natives and conquistadors, those who place a high value on doing church “the way we like.”

But there is a third group of people, often harder to find, that have grasped a greater vision for the church.

They are not consumers of church who shop for a place to meet their needs.

Rather, they look for a place to serve Christ and reach others.

If we can encourage our churches to catch their vision, we can all become missionaries to generation next.

Kevin came to Mosaic as a summer intern. He was assigned to a predominantly Spanish?speaking neighborhood. Kevin spoke no Spanish, couldn’t dance a salsa rhythm, and was conspicuously white. But Kevin had social intelligence, enthusiasm, love, and perhaps most importantly, the vision of an “immigrant.”

Immigrants

Immigrants are characterized by a willingness to make a personal culture shift.

While conquistadores and natives know how to do things their way, immigrants adapt to their environment.

Kevin’s immigration began as he launched a small group in a local residence by offering English classes. His group grew even though they often didn’t understand what he said. In fact, they seemed to show up to help him teach them English. At summer’s end his appreciative students threw him a large partyCroasted pig and allCat which he presented the gospel and witnessed a group conversion.

If a church is to be relevant to future generations, one after the next, it must find and foster people like Kevin, people who are willing like Christ, to reach out to others right where they are. The church must go native to reach a culture, but it must also raise immigrants.

Fighting the gag reflex

Immigrants to foreign cultures know what the gag reflex is.

They’ve been offered a local delicacy and tried it for politeness’ sake. Their stomach tightened. Their throat refused the offering. Gag.

Acts 10

10:1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:

6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;

8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate,

18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. KJV

In Acts 10, when God instructs Peter to eat alien, unclean foods, I suspect Peter gagged. The problem in many churches of all generations is that there is not enough gagging going on.

Alex McManus – Years ago my mother invited a friend from Latin America into our home in the U.S. The first night we prepared an American dinner of steak, baked potatoes, green beans, and corn. As our guest, we served him first. We passed him the sour cream for his baked potato, and he received it graciously, scooped a generous helping, and placed it squarely on his steak. Then he passed the sour cream along.

My siblings and I were young, but everyone intuitively knew the right thing to do at that moment. We all put sour cream on our steaks as well. Helping our friend feel comfortable was simply more important than suiting our tastes.

Within each generation are those willing to become an immigrant for the sake of others.

If you look closely, you can find them.

They are the ones joyfully rising before sunrise to make sure the sound is set and the chairs are in place for worship.

They’re hosting sinners at dinners in their homes.

Their eyes are not merely focused on celebrating within a society of their peers, but are lifted toward touching all nations.

It has nothing to do with age, generation, or culture, but with being seized by:

 Jesus, the immigrant from heaven.

“What have I done recently outside my comfort zone that reaches others for Christ?”

The issue is not, “Are you modern or postmodern?”

This issue is,

“Are you a conquistador, native, or immigrant?”