Reflections printed in the Local Paper - Herald Palladium
Herald Palladium Insights Section
Is your faith one of movement?
My wife and I recently returned from a trip to Thailand. We traveled from the far north to the far south and places in between, exploring the vast terrains of Thailand for 12 days. The landscapes are beautiful, but what continually captured our attention was the dynamic and living Christian faith throughout the country.
Our purpose for traveling to Thailand was to witness, first-hand, the movement of God in this country. We were there to meet Thai Christians and discover how they are living out their faith. Our exploration uncovered a lively faith that sent us home wondering, "How do we live more faithfully in God when we return home?"
The work of Christians in Thailand is alive - the church is dynamic and the ministry is holistic. Without overly romanticizing the work in Thailand, it is clear that a love for God is deeply embraced by the believers in this part of the world. Their faith in God moves them to powerful and public action. They partner with whoever needs help; their lives seek to bless everyone, regardless of religion, class or ethnicity. The people we met worked every day to bless others by alleviating poverty and hunger, creating accessible education, and empowering communities to seek healing and wholeness.
The Christian leaders and participants we met in Thailand spoke of their faith as a movement. Sometimes I wonder if our more American understandings of faith are too committed to buildings or institutions more so than for the purpose of blessing others? The life in Christ movement throughout Thailand was a dynamic and powerful movement - it is a gift from God for people (and creation).
We met one man who was formerly a witch doctor in a northern Thai village. His prior life was committed to removing curses from people's homes, farmlands and even their bodies. When the curses were not broken, the witch doctor was responsible - he became the community scapegoat. He feared for his life on a daily basis. He is no longer connected to the animist practices, but confesses a Christian faith. These same communities that came to him to release curses now come to him to receive blessings - for their homes, farmlands and even their bodies. Villagers ask him why he has such joy and hope. He shares his story and prays a blessing for them. He is no longer a scapegoat, and his communities trust him. He is no longer in fear for his life. This is good news.
I hope that our local church and local churches in the Michiana area can learn from the living faith of Christians in Thailand. Think how different our little area of the world would be if Christians lived only to bless others - to seek to help the hurting and restore the lonely.
The movements of the Spirit throughout Thailand sent me home wondering: How is the Spirit calling us to become a blessing in our local communities of faith? Are we moving toward God and others or toward ourselves? How might we more faithfully live as a transformational presence of local and global proportions created and led by the Holy Spirit? As we engage with one another and our community, I believe that we will begin to experience a life change that will mirror the powerful and living faith of those we met half-a-world-away.
Today's Insights column was written by the Rev. Kyle J.A. Small, pastor of Harbert Community church in Harbert.
Insights is written by area clergy to give different viewpoints on a variety of topics. It is published each Saturday in cooperation with the Berrien County Association of Churches.
The views expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the views of member churches.
Our purpose for traveling to Thailand was to witness, first-hand, the movement of God in this country. We were there to meet Thai Christians and discover how they are living out their faith. Our exploration uncovered a lively faith that sent us home wondering, "How do we live more faithfully in God when we return home?"
The work of Christians in Thailand is alive - the church is dynamic and the ministry is holistic. Without overly romanticizing the work in Thailand, it is clear that a love for God is deeply embraced by the believers in this part of the world. Their faith in God moves them to powerful and public action. They partner with whoever needs help; their lives seek to bless everyone, regardless of religion, class or ethnicity. The people we met worked every day to bless others by alleviating poverty and hunger, creating accessible education, and empowering communities to seek healing and wholeness.
The Christian leaders and participants we met in Thailand spoke of their faith as a movement. Sometimes I wonder if our more American understandings of faith are too committed to buildings or institutions more so than for the purpose of blessing others? The life in Christ movement throughout Thailand was a dynamic and powerful movement - it is a gift from God for people (and creation).
We met one man who was formerly a witch doctor in a northern Thai village. His prior life was committed to removing curses from people's homes, farmlands and even their bodies. When the curses were not broken, the witch doctor was responsible - he became the community scapegoat. He feared for his life on a daily basis. He is no longer connected to the animist practices, but confesses a Christian faith. These same communities that came to him to release curses now come to him to receive blessings - for their homes, farmlands and even their bodies. Villagers ask him why he has such joy and hope. He shares his story and prays a blessing for them. He is no longer a scapegoat, and his communities trust him. He is no longer in fear for his life. This is good news.
I hope that our local church and local churches in the Michiana area can learn from the living faith of Christians in Thailand. Think how different our little area of the world would be if Christians lived only to bless others - to seek to help the hurting and restore the lonely.
The movements of the Spirit throughout Thailand sent me home wondering: How is the Spirit calling us to become a blessing in our local communities of faith? Are we moving toward God and others or toward ourselves? How might we more faithfully live as a transformational presence of local and global proportions created and led by the Holy Spirit? As we engage with one another and our community, I believe that we will begin to experience a life change that will mirror the powerful and living faith of those we met half-a-world-away.
Today's Insights column was written by the Rev. Kyle J.A. Small, pastor of Harbert Community church in Harbert.
Insights is written by area clergy to give different viewpoints on a variety of topics. It is published each Saturday in cooperation with the Berrien County Association of Churches.
The views expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the views of member churches.
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