ISBN: | 9781783684342 |
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Imprint: | Langham Global Library |
Format: | Paperback |
Dimensions (mm): | 229 x 152 x 8 |
Publication Date: | 30/05/2018 |
Pages: | 152 |
Series: | Institute of Middle East Studies Series |
Language: | English |
The Church in Disorienting Times
Leading Prophetically Through Adversity
The Middle East is in a period of profound change. In the midst of turbulence, trauma, tragedy and the hopelessness felt by many, an increasing number of indigenous churches are finding ever more imaginative ways to be active in the societies of which they are a long-standing and integral part. This book describes some of these developments. It seeks to inspire Christians worldwide to stand alongside such people and to provoke everyone, in the Middle East and elsewhere, to ask what they should be doing to encourage transformation of societies to the glory of God.How can we be the salt, light and yeast that Scripture exhorts us to be when faced with despair? How can we live as active heroes when others expect us to be passive victims? The expert contributors of this book delve into these issues to give churches direction in these disorienting times.
Endorsements
Personal stories are combined with contextual conversations to offer the global church rare insights into discipleship, faith and mission in difficult contexts of the Middle East. Highly recommended not only for Christians in persecuted countries, but also for those living in contexts of religious freedom such as in the West.
Kang-San Tan
General Director, BMS World Mission
Here men and women speak candidly and wisely about the cost, sometimes fatal, of discipleship, and about the risks, often brutal, of speaking good news. They wrestle with questions of faithfulness in the face of torture and imprisonment. They talk about a joy and peace in Christ that defies earthly explanation. They speak of a hope worth suffering and even dying for. Buy a copy, and listen in. But be warned: it will mess with you. It will shatter all versions of the gospel that reduce it to merely good advice. Prepare yourself to meet the real thing.
Mark Buchanan
Associate Professor, Pastoral Theology,
Ambrose University, Canada
Author of Your Church Is Too Safe
In this volume are found some of the most profound reflections you will ever read on the situation of Christians in the “disorienting times” of the Middle East today. As key themes are explored – persecution, emigration and minoritization – we are confronted with the raw reality of suffering and despair; and there are also some necessary correctives to prevailing perceptions of the situation. But overall there are grounds for hope and even joy in the continuing calling to followers of Christ to be his agents of transformation in the Middle East.
Anthony Peck
General Secretary, European Baptist Federation
Table of Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1 – Persecution and Suffering
- Reflections on the Christians of Egypt Today (by Ramez Atallah)
- Devotional Pause: Psalm 91 (by Gary Nelson)
- Cross-Check: Palestinians – Suffering Occupation (by Daniel Bannoura)
- Witness 1: Aydin – A Convert Who Was Obliged to Leave His Country
- Witness 2: Tahia – Choosing to Follow Jesus Cost Her Marriage
- Global Cross-Check: Victims or Heroes in the Search for Meaning? (by Gordon Showell-Rogers)
- Leading Prophetically
- Questions for Reflection
- 2 – Emigration
- Biblical and Theological Reflections on Emigration (by Elie Haddad)
- Devotional Pause: Psalm 18 (by Gary Nelson)
- A Syrian Perspective (by Harout Seliman)
- An Egyptian Perspective (by Ramez Atallah)
- A Palestinian Perspective (by Daniel Bannoura)
- Witness 1: Kamel’s Temporary Move Abroad Lasted Thirty Years
- Witness 2: Ash’s Journey to the USA via Lebanon
- Global Cross-Check: Canada – A Nation of Immigrants (by Greg Butt)
- Leading Prophetically: Being Faithful to the Call of God
- Questions for Reflection
- 3 – Hopelessness and Despair
- A Theology of Tears: Cry with Us (by Yohanna Katanacho)
- Devotional Pause: Psalm 27 (by Gary Nelson)
- Cross-Check: Syria as a Wake-up for the Church (by Nehla Issac)
- The Book of Psalms for Situations of Conflict and Overt Evil (by Yohanna Katanacho)
- Witness 1: Rebecca with Suzanne, Teresa and Fr Simon
- Witness 2: Nadia with Tala and Sahar
- Global Cross-Check: From Hopelessness and Despair to Anger and Courage (by Shane McNary)
- Responding to Hopelessness and Despair: Four Causes for Hope (by Helen Paynter)
- Leading Prophetically
- Questions for Reflection
- 4 – Minoritization
- From Minority Status to the Fateful Embrace of Minoritization (by Martin Accad)
- Devotional Pause: Psalm 137 (by Gary Nelson)
- Cross-Check: An Active Presence Rooted in a Universal Identity in Christ (by Ehab el-Kharrat)
- Witness 1: Haitham – The Changing Nature of the Church in Iraq
- Witness 2: Elias – Palestinian and Christian in Lebanon
- Global Cross-Check: France’s Evangelical Christian Community (by Philip Halliday)
- A Canadian Perspective: The Treatment of the Original Inhabitants (by Gary Nelson)
- Leading Prophetically
- Questions for Reflection
- Conclusion
- Appendix: The Kerygmatic Approach within the SEKAP Scale
- Glossary
- Bibliography
- Contributors
- Index