Mission: Holy Incarnation

We’re in the Misseo Dei business, the mission of God. If we simply imitate the culture, we miss God. If we disengage people, we miss the boat.
If I’m not engaging non-believers, those estranged from Life in the Kingdom, not only are they missing out on the Gospel, but so am I. For Abraham heard the Good News that all the people of the world would be blessed, not just the church people (Gal 3). Israel would be a light to the Gentiles (Acts 13). The ‘called out’ would reveal God’s wisdom to the world (Eph 3).
The Word of God put on flesh. The Light of the world shone among us. Heaven came down. The Kingdom of God breaking into the tribes of men, even into us . . .
Holiness moving into the neighborhood. Spirituality in working clothes. Bringing the distinctive and engaging Christian life into the midst of others, . . . into a group of volunteers in a rainforest or on a former landfill, in a Music with Mummy class, or with rock climbers.

"I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.' " Acts 13:47

Charlie* has dreadlocks. He’s not a volunteer, but a conservation contractor. Not much money in that. On weekends, a Trance music DJ. A calm, peaceful, de-churched person, more skeptical of Christianity than world religions.
I met Charlie while volunteering and had about a two hour conversation while microweeding together in a rainforest. It was mostly, if not all, a spiritual conversation. I did a lot of listening and respecting and a couple times I was really preaching right there on the ground in the rainforest while micro-weeding.

Highlights from Charlie’s words in the conversation:
"I reckon you're going about [church planting] the right way--being an example first, before talking . . . tough road, though, because of all the JWs and Mormons, [etc.] who only want to talk."
"People in my line of work [ie conservation], frankly, tend to be anti-religion . . . hard not to hate Jesus b/c of his church. That's just the way it is . . ."
At quitting time, Charlie said, "Give me a ring when you start your church and I'll come have a listen."

What was my part in the spiritual conversation? I listened actively and with respect, curiosity, and a sense of pleasure. It really wasn’t hard. I explained why I’m in Bushcare. If God created all this, he must care about it. I also believe he made me to care about it and for it. Genesis 1 and 2.

. . . no man to cultivate the ground . . . Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground . . . Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. Gen 2:5, 7, 15.

It’s a power and a responsibility to care. This made sense to Charlie.
He asked me about “Seven Years of Tribulation” in the Bible. I said, “I take Revelation to refer to the Roman Empire’s immorality and violence and to reveal God’s ultimate judgment of it and encouragement to Christians who suffered by its persecution.”
Charlie was surprised at and seemed to really like my answer. “I have never heard that before!” he said.
I got back into impassioned preaching because of a couple of questions and comments he made. Toward the end I said with a bit of a laugh, “It’s like church out here!”
Charlie and I are still in touch via text messaging. Pray that we can be an example and that he can truly hear the Gospel.