discovering missions - Southern Nazarene University

245187 Disc Missions ins 9/6/07 1:04 PM Page 74
74 A Global Church
unity is not rooted in shared human culture. In a sense of identification with
each other and with an attitude of mutuality uncolored by ethnocentrism or paternalism,
believers around the world must together affirm the words of Paul:
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens
with God’s people and also members of his household . . . with Christ
Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined
together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord (Ephesians 2:19-21).
Questions for Reflection
1. How does the story of God transcend all cultural barriers? Explain and give examples.
2. In what ways is the Church different from what it was 100 years ago? What are
the ways the Church is (or should be) the same?
3. What is paternalism? How might it impact attempts at global church development?
4. In what different ways might Christians and non-Christians explain “global togetherness”?
5. How will the shifting of the geographic center of Christianity affect the
Church?
6. Why are reciprocity, mutuality, and identification so important when cultural
boundaries are being crossed?
7. What is the importance of partnership in the contemporary world?