Tico Tuesday, March 21st

This past week I had the opportunity to participate in a couple excellent trainings. The first was a week-long conference with Biblical Worldview expert Dr. Darrow Miller. I interpreted for him a couple mornings plus was able to sit in on part of another morning session, though I would have loved to have attended every talk all week. He talked about the need for Christians to adopt and live the biblical worldview. How Christianity isn't just about making converts, but bringing God's kingdom here on earth, how we need to be people of the Book and know and live the whole counsel of God. He gave a fascinating explanation about the impact the Reformation has had on the world and the role of the marital covenant and value of family. North America was colonized through marriages and families. South America was colonized by men who came alone (and then had relations with the indigenous women here). And now look how different they have been! He also discussed the destruction of the family and the lack of dignity towards women and how they are affecting the world on both micro and macro levels. I was very challenged by all this and more.

Dr. Miller gave a great explanation on the need to abolish the separation between the sacred and the secular (that division is why people tend to put missionaries on pedestals). I also loved his analogy of how Sunday church gatherings are like halftime in a football game. The players come in off the field, refocus, strategize, listen to the Coach, regather strength, and get ready to head back out onto the field for the rest of the game. Like I was saying last week, we can't just sit complacently. Christians are God's team, his workforce, his hands and feet in the world, and I don't think I have ever felt more of a need to repent for corporate sins the Church has committed. It has been such an enormous, powerful force, there are innumerable things in history attributed to followers of Christ. I'm not saying Church has been perfect: It has committed atrocities in the past, and it is doing a lot of good today, but I think there is so much more we can and should be doing. We are to be known for our love, not for being bigots and/or hypocrites. Speaking of not being bigots, the other seminar I went to was about homosexuality and the Church. I'd love to tell you more about that too, but this is plenty long enough already.
May God use us to be salt and light in this world and may we do everything out of love for him and others,
Carrie