FutureChurch

2010 is a big year for us South Africans - World Cup and all. It's also the 4th Amahoro Gathering, in Mombasa from May 3 - 10. I've been to two Amahoro Gatherings and have found them immensely significant, since Amahoro is on the other side of the coin to the emerging conversation (taking place in Western contexts) as it looks at the impact of the colonial narrative on the Gospel, and where that leaves us now.

Brian McLaren spoke about "Post-modern and post-colonial": two sides of the same coin, in Johannesburg just before the first Amahoro Gathering, in 2007. It's one of the 3 best talks I heard that year.

There are many things I like about Amahoro: the family reunion feel, the people, the diversity, the topics we address, and that we're taking theology developed in Africa by Africans seriously. Kenzo Mabiala is the resident theologian of Amahoro; he completed his doctorate under D.A. Carson before returning to the Congo to head up a theological college.

Carson asked him why he was interested in the emerging church conversation (primarily happening in the West), and Kenzo answered that the emerging church is asking the right questions.

For more information: The Amahoro website.

And now to encouraging comments on this post: why is it important to understand how the Gospel was shaped by the rise of the colonialism, and what are the implications for those who live in post-colonial contexts?

Technorati Tags: Amahoro postcolonial postmodern

Telling someone to simply believe and it will be so seems problematic to me, and an awful lot like The Secret. Initially it might seem like an encouragement to believe in the power of G-d as a demonstration of childlike faith and a refutation to the wisdom of the world because we are entering into a trusting relationship with G-d the same way a child would. However, if/when G-d doesn't do what the person is trusting Him to do, the person is left to draw the following conclusions: either G-d doesn't love me (or worse), or I do not have enough faith (because "he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind" - James 1:6), or G-d is saying "No" or "Not yet."

None of these are good options, except perhaps the last one, which at least assumes that the person has a strong enough frame of belief to know that G-d loves them and that they have enough faith.

In addition, we cannot have faith that G-d will help bring about what we're asking for without us doing something to help bring it about ourselves. I do not understand why some Christians say that "God does all of the work; we do none of it." I do not know why these same Christians pray, "Thine Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven," as if the only role of the Church is to pray for G-d's kingdom to come on earth while doing nothing to help usher that kingdom in themselves.

The whole concept of "transformation" has fascinated me for a while now. To transform is to make a thorough or dramatic change in the form, appearance, or character of something. The field of personal development is focused on personal transformation and many Christians speak about transformation: of people, of society and of the planet.

In addition Christians believe that G-d transforms human lives when He is invited to co-habit "inside" someone.

I'm not so much interested in the fact of transformation as I am in the process and in the "how". How does somebody get transformed? Does it happen very quickly or much slower? Should we count on instant transformation of lives as something to be expected of God (and call it "faith") or is there some kind of "working with" G-d which happens - and if so, how does that "working with" G-d work? What sorts of things should we expect to happen, and how will we know once they have? Can we ask G-d to work specific things in us, or is the outcome completely determined by Him and Him only?

Technorati Tags: faith psychology Transformation

Do you know what emergence is? Finally, a cartoon which explains it!

My friend Jacques posted a great article comparing the heart with a guitar (in the category "reasonate" - I love that!). He writes,

We can make music in such a way that it draws others in — in creating a loving space where all contribute and get a chance to shine. May we learn to listen to the Music. May we learn to listen to our hearts again, and learn to play again. May we learn to make music together!

I find it interesting that many guitarists (myself included) seem to stop learning after a while, like we’re happy with the set number of chords and songs we can play, and we settle into a rhythm of predictability. It’s like, “I’m good enough for now...” And then there are others who go on to discover alternate tunings, and jazz chords, and what playing in a duet is like, and perhaps a band...and maybe going on to record...or even playing next to the campfire, singing the heart out.

And so the metaphor is complete :)

Technorati Tags: music