On Religious Identity Inside Out Probing Presuppositions among Insider Movements by Dick Brogden

Dick Brogden has ventured a response to Rebecca Lewis’ article on Insider Movements from

aLewis: This statement implies IJFM 26:1 (available online at ijfm.org). He’s done us all a great service by allowing Lewis missiologists invented “insider movements” and to make a running commentary on his article so that this journal can help surface the assump- are promoting them as a new technique. In fact, these type of movements started to happen and we tions lurking beneath this continuing debate for or against the “insider” phenomenon. While are being forced to evaluate if they are biblically contention seems to surround the inappropriate validation of Islamic religion, finer nuances legitimate. When Paul and Peter stood before the Jerusalem council, they were reacting to events, and complexities emerge in this exchange. Rebecca Lewis then formulates a more comprehen- not introducing a new “creative missiological” sive biblical apologetic in the article that follows. This journal hopes this approach will encour- approach to the Gentiles. They were asking “If age genuine dialogue and reasoned exchange between what are increasingly divided camps. God is accepting these people by giving them the Holy Spirit, what should our response be?” We are forced by events to ask similar questions today. nsider movements are the current creative missiological rage.a According to I Rebecca Lewis, Insider movements can be defined as movements to obedient faith in Christ that bLewis: No communities are value neutral remain integrated with or inside their natural community. In any insider movement (Islamic, American, or otherwise). All families there are two distinct elements: and individuals are also fallen. History has 1. The gospel takes root within pre-existing communities or social networks, which shown that all new movements to Christ are become the main expression of ‘church’ in that context. Believers are not equally prone to syncretism, whether they remain gathered from diverse social networks to create a ‘church.’ New parallel social inside their own culture or adopt a foreign cul- ture. Believers who continue to study God’s word structures are not invented or introduced. eventually become less syncretistic. 2. Believers retain their identity as members of their socio-religious community while living under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the authority of the Bible.1 It behooves us to probe one basic presupposition of this ‘Insider Movement’ missiology, for if it is misguided, there is a danger of syncretism. We need to cLewis: I should clarify that I was not the inventor of the kingdom circles, but merely probe the assumption that pre-existing communities are value neutral and that represented them this way. God intends Muslims to remain in the socio-religious community into which they were born.b

Evangelical missionaries broadly agree on some aspects of Insider Movement Dick Brogden was raised in Africa as a c missionary kid, and has worked among missiology. There is general consensus, for example, that Muslims (Jews, Muslims in Mauritania, Kenya and Hindus, et al.) do not have to take on another cultural form of Christianity in Sudan since 1992. He is leader of Muslim order to become followers of Jesus. The ‘Kingdom Circles’ per Rebecca Lewis Ministries for the Assemblies of God in c Sudan, and is presently a Ph.D. candidate are sound, fair and accepted. The agreed-upon aspects of Insider Movement in intercultural studies. missiology are not new; they are indigenous principles repackaged. International Journal of Frontier Missiology 27:1 Spring 2010•33 34 Inside Out: Probing Presuppositions among Insider Movements Principle of God-Given Identity God to remain in such socio-religious dLewis: What is being presupposed is that networks. I would contend that there Jesus movements within any culture or religious and Community structure, no matter how fallen, will be able to The presupposition in question is are antithetical and mutually exclusive ideas, networks and religions.g transform it. That the gospel is the power of salva- simply this: Pre-existing communi- tion not just to the Jew and to the Greek but also to ties, such as Islam, are value neutral Biblical history is replete with exam- the Muslim continues to be an amazing revelation and God created Muslims to continue ples of men and women born into to us all! d within Islamic community. The religious communities from which eLewis: Neither the quote selected nor the Insider Movement can be broad; one God willed their escape: article referred to assume that “religions with proponent, Rebecca Lewis, states: • The Acts 15 passage is quoted their excesses and errors are God-endorsed.” The Scriptures seem to indicate that this rightly in defense of Insider only thing stated as God-given is the family and relationships identity, and the community a person Movements to show that community God sets a person into by their birth, no matter how fallen they are. God’s is born into, were determined in Gentiles (Muslims) do not stated intention (through Abraham) is to bless all advance by God. For example, Paul have to become Jews (Cultural these “families of the earth.” Families are blessed declares to the Athenians that God Christians) to follow Jesus. An attending truth, however, that is and redeemed when the gospel leads to relation- “made every nation of men…and ships being restored between father and son, determined the times set for them mother and daughter, not replaced by family-like and the exact places they should live” relationships with a new church community. (Acts 17:26). When we encourage fLewis: I agree with this statement com- believers to remain in their families pletely. NO culture or identity should be uncriti- and networks, and to retain their cally retained. They should be critically retained. birth identities, we honor these God- This Acts passage does Paul saw the faults of both Greek and Jewish reli- 2 given relationships. not teach that the birth gious systems (see Romans 1-3). Yet he admonished This is an unfortunate twist of herme- Greek believers not to adopt the Jewish cultural/ religious forms, but to remain in their own context neutics on the part of Lewis. This identity of Islam be and vice versa. His point was that God has the Acts passage does not forbid changing uncritically retained. power to save within both fallen systems. nationalities, socio-economic rise and gLewis: Paul argued that the Gospel had fall, or geographic change, nor does it the power to save the Greeks even if they kept stratify or blithely endorse culture. It eating food offered to idols,making it an issue affirms a sovereign God who created for their own conscience, not the conscience of the culture and language. It makes no often overlooked is that religious Jewish believers (Romans 14, I Cor. 8). Only those assumed leap that religions with all change was directly asked for. brothers who were “weak” still feared the power their excesses and errors are God- “Abstaining from things offered of idols if they ate food sacrificed to them. A person can remain within a socio-religious context while endorsed.e This Acts passage does not to idols, blood, things strangled looking only to God through Christ for salvation. teach that the birth identity of Islam and from sexual immorality…” So the Greek believers did not have to leave their (Acts 15:29) were all direct be uncritically retained; it teaches idolatrous socio-religious context (similar to Hin- socio-religious practices of the God’s sovereignty regarding birth duism today) and become Jewish-style believers in Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and geographically and the rise and wane order to put their faith in Jesus Christ and receive Cilicia. There had to be a turn- of earthly kingdoms.3f freedom from demons, sin, death and hell. What ing, a ceasing from these socio- 4h they did have to leave was worshipping idols The problematic area is not the geo- religious elements. and practicing immorality. Likewise, American graphic or social (family) community • Jesus expressly told Peter that believers continue to have material things while but the religious identification. The all meat was permissible to eat putting off the futile thinking that money will fix “God-Given Identity and Community” in a direct breach of his socio- our own or anyone else’s true problems. religious heritage (Acts 10). principle is applied across all socio- hLewis: Note that before the end of the It can be argued that all the New Testament era, all of these restrictions except religious contexts. If the principle is Apostles, even Paul, steadily sexual immorality had been lifted on the basis of sound, then God must want every- moved away from their socio- idols being nothing and a person being responsible one to remain in the socio-religious religious heritage of Judaism to before God to abide by their own conscience. contexts into which they were born. an inclusive identity centered Lewis’ point refers to monotheists on Christ. Temple visits faded, iLewis: While I agree that Christ-identity but it leaves room to apply this same Jewish socio-cultural practices became primary (and does in insider movements principle to other belief systems, such became marginal, and Christ as well, if we acknowledge that Christ-identity i as Canaanites remaining Baal worship- identity became primary. and Christian-identity are not the same), there is ers, American hedonists continuing in • Some religious practices are no biblical reason to believe that the Jewish believ- abominable to God. God does devotion to mammon, or a young girl ers gave up their kosher law-keeping ways except not want his people to con- when they were in cross-cultural contexts (e.g., born to a Satanist family, all willed by tinue in the religious contexts eating with Gentile believers).

International Journal of Frontier Missiology Dick Brogden 35 that are abominable to him. is full of self-righteousness and lacks jLewis: True, there are practices incompat- Deuteronomy 12:29-32 contains an understanding of sin as offensive ible with the Gospel, and untransformable (like several crucial truths: to the nature of a holy God. Islam the Aztecs ripping out people’s beating hearts, for a) Some socio-religious aspects places Mohammed above Jesus. Islam example, or the Americans ripping living babies from their wombs to preserve our “quality of life”.) are to be cut off and dispos- teaches that religious duty grants favor sessed (v. 29).j with God. Islam rejects the divin- kLewis: I agree. b) Christ followers need to be ity of Jesus and his sacrificial death. lLewis: All true, not the least of which is careful not to be ensnared by Islam, even in its gentler strands such the belief that specific religious practices them- how others follow false gods as Sufism, is an effort to unite with selves can save people. for there are wrong ways to God out of human strength. These m worship the true God (vv. Lewis: I did not mention Naaman, 30-31).k attitudes and understandings perme- which some would use as an example of a Muslim believer going into a mosque. However, bold wit- c) There are socio-religious ate everything Muslims do and are the basis for their religious activities. ness and perceptive witness, as Paul models when practices that the Lord hates speaking in the philosophers’ forum in Athens, l These attitudes and understandings (v. 31). quickly dispels any misconception that the believer • Naaman’s famous request to and practices are all aberrant; they are still thinks exactly the same. Paul said, “Let me q “bow down in the temple at all abominable to God. tell you more about the creator God that you have the hand of my master” is an What are not abhorrent to God are been worshipping without realizing it.” Likewise allowance (an exception), not an Muslim believers say, “Let me tell you more about endorsement for daily practice. the social practices of Muslims that the God of Abraham that we have been worship- Naaman himself quickly realized reflect God’s nature and are inherent ping but without full knowledge, and about His that his religious practice would in Muslim pre-Islamic culture. For plan for salvation through Isa al Massih.” have to drastically change. The example, honor and hospitality are nLewis: Let me be clear, I never said, fact that he asked for an exemp- Arab virtues, which predate Islam. “Islam is a God-given community.” What I tion reveals that he knew the Theses virtues are foreshadowed in said was that God places people in families and m practice to be wrong. the behavior of Lot, himself a Semite communities and this network of relationships is The presupposition that Islam is a and uncle to Ishmael, the father of the God-given and their God-given responsibility. God-given community is dangerous.n Arabs. Lot welcomes strangers into oLewis: The highest acknowledged Islamic The statements that follow need his home (hospitality) and then offers authority, the Qur’an, states that any questions explanation, verification and qualifica- up his daughters (honor) to protect his about its content should be cleared up by reading tion. They are stated here in opposi- the other scriptures (Old and New Testaments). hospitality. Lot loved his daughters; Therefore, Muslims have a right, within Islam, tion to the presupposition that Islam is their violation was his social and emo- to challenge centuries of Islamic interpretation spiritually neutral and that God wants tional demise. The Western mind finds and affirm the true role of Jesus as the Messiah those who were born in Islam to stay in his behavior inexcusable, but Lot was (whose status the Qur’an upholds). In other words, Islam while following Jesus:o caught between his two non-negotiable the Qur’an itself gives the Bible the “right of interpretation” or authority over itself. Who are we values, honor and hospitality. He had • Islam is antithetical to biblical outsiders to deny these insider believers the right 5 Christianity. to make an impossible choice. Honor or chance to reform their own Islamic religion and • Islam is incompatible with bibli- and hospitality reflect the image of communities, bringing them in line with the truth cal faith in Jesus. God; they are Arab cultural character- of scripture? These believers exist and they are • Islam was birthed in, usu- istics that can be retained even as Islam doing this already and do not need our permission. ally spread by and often is rejected. This is not a mere missiological idea. Let the gospel upheld currently by deception take its course among the Muslims and Hindus as and coercion.6 Muslims do not have to become it did among the Jews and the Greeks, like yeast in the dough. That process will reveal both the • Islam is a religion first and a Christian in an alternative culture mystery and the power of the Gospel. culture second; it is possible in order to follow Jesus. Society and p (though difficult) to make family are not to be shunned or inten- Lewis: Religions are not redeemed, people the distinction. tionally insulted. Christians in all cul- are, families are, communities are (“I will set apart a people for Myself.”) .The insider movements in • Islam as a religion is not redeem- tures are to live at peace with all men, 7 the early church within Judaism or Greek philo- able; Muslims are. “as much as it depends on us.” Muslims sophical socio-religious culture did not redeem those 8 • Islam can be denounced; who follow Jesus should make every religious systems, but did transform those within Muslims must be loved. effort to remain connected to family them. Likewise, the power of the gospel for salva- • Islam has a binding effect and society while being careful not to tion to all people groups will be revealed by the upon its followers; Islam is a affirm Islamic doctrine. In the end the transformation of whole families and communities spiritual bondage. that remain in the Muslim context as true follow- gospel does offend Islamic religion.r • Islam must be abandoned.9p ers of Jesus Christ. In fact it is already happening as fellow Muslims say, “Why is your husband now By definition, Islam cannot be a God- Great injustice to missiology is done when society and religion are lumped faithful to you? How were you able to forgive given community, for Islam is abhor- your step-mother? What is different about your rent to God as a false religion. Islam together. Missionaries must advocate relationship to the one true God?” 27:1 Spring 2010 36 Inside Out: Probing Presuppositions among Insider Movements for Muslims who follow Jesus to make I am claiming there has been a whole- qLewis: Though not everything you list every effort to remain in their society sale capitulation of terms. Some above is true, it is all irrelevant. All throughout even as they abandon Islamic religion.s missionaries have surrendered terms history, God has successfully redeemed a people for This requires delicate surgery on rather than working to correct misrep- Himself from among people groups with even more horrific beliefs and practices, like the Greeks with some points. Let the manner and resentation. Meaning is in people, not their widespread infanticide, slavery, and prostitu- modes employed in following Jesus be in letters or words. Some missionaries tion. Yet Paul recognized that many Greeks were neither religiously Islamic nor cultur- contextualize terms to accommodate coming to Christ, and receiving the Holy Spirit, ally Christian. If Western cultural Muslims when it is behavior, beliefs, and being morally transformed without convert- Christianity is fatally flawed, then and creed that are inflammatory. ing to purifying laws of Judaism. The same thing Islamic religion is no less so. Neither Weary of constantly contextualizing is happening today: some people groups are turning should be embraced. There are few terms, some missionaries have begun the to Jesus (through dreams, scripture and wit- cultures now under geographic control to change belief (opting for the path ness) for salvation and receiving the transforming power of the Holy Spirit without joining our of Islam that are younger than Islam. of least resistance) by affirming the religion (God-given though it may be). Islam is only 1,400 years old. Almost falsehood that Islam is a God-given every single culture now dominated by community.x There are instances when r the religion of Islam has a vibrant and Lewis: The gospel offends any solution to layered culture that predates Islam. life’s problems other than Jesus Christ. Islam has fed parasitically on culture for centuries. Missionaries must not sLewis: Unfortunately, what American be afraid of the hard work of distin- Christians will hear you saying is that Muslim guishing between Islamic religion and believers must abandon Islamic religious forms and t Islam as a religion take on Christian religious forms. Also, you seem host culture. to believe that religious forms are easy to separate is not redeemable; from cultural forms. Even in our own culture we Distinguishing God-Given have forgotten how many of our cultural forms Identity and Community Muslims are. were formerly religious (like the days of the week What I am essentially saying is that named after Viking gods, or the tree god of the theology must guide anthropol- Saxons adorning our Christmas celebrations, or ogy when determining missiology.u the egg fertility symbols at Easter, a holiday named after the goddess of fertility). But if you mean that Missionaries must seriously consider former religious beliefs must be purified by biblical the reservations of theologians who beliefs, I am fully in agreement. objectively question whether Insider words and forms are irredeemable. Today the use of the phrase “gay and Movements are straying toward t 10v bonny” on a blog guarantees misunder- Lewis: However, pre-Islamic cultures were syncretism. The probing questions animistic or pagan, so returning to them is equally of theologians like John Piper have standing by most. Missionaries should be careful with terminology, but merely problematic. Most of the “folk Islam” practiced been dismissed because he does not live today merely reveals the pre-Islamic culture/ among Muslims. I have lived among changing terminology is not the root religion. It is virtually impossible for missionary Muslims in the Arab world for 17 issue. The root issue is the meaning outsiders, often syncretistic themselves with secular- years. All of my neighbors and many assigned to the term. Many Biblical ism and materialism, to become the gatekeepers of y of my friends are Muslims. Both my terms are unavoidably inflammatory, which cultural/religious practices are acceptable or not. It is better to focus on preaching the gospel and love for Muslims and my disrespect and Christians are unfaithful to the teaching all of Christ’s commands, letting the Holy for Islam continue to grow. I am not Lord if avoiding of offense is the pri- mary goal in proclamation. Spirit guide insider believers. immune to emotion and proximity clouding my thinking. Theological For example, consider this hypo- uLewis: My opinion is that missiology must reflection is not invalidated by dis- thetical byline: “Missionary Reports be based on seeing what God seems to be doing tance or by its dispassionate nature; That Muslim Friend Converts to and evaluating that in the light of scripture (copy- rather theological objectivity and Christianity.” It is currently in vogue to ing the apostlic process in Acts 15). incarnational familiarity can be disavow Christianity, missionary, and v complementing strengths. Missionaries the word ‘convert’. Some missionar- Lewis: We Western Christians set ourselves up as “watch dogs” of syncretism in other move- themselves are not immune to the ies have moved from (1) agreeing that ments to Christ, but we often react negatively to “Stockholm Syndrome” (i.e., from God converts (missionaries do not) to their critiquing our own syncretism asking ques- being too close to the forest to see the (2) individuals are converted to Christ tions like: “Why do you allow abortion, divorce, trees). To reject the input of theo- (not to Christianity) to (3) claiming fornication, drunkenness, gluttony, and self- logians just because they do not live indulgent living in your churches?” We emphasize that conversion is not necessary. Why believing the right things over “obeying everything w among Muslims can be injudicious. such embarrassment with the term that Jesus commanded,” which must also be consid- “Christian” without any parallel embar- ered a form of syncretism. International Journal of Frontier Missiology Dick Brogden 37 rassment about the term “Muslim”?z o stay within the socio-religious context of Islam Muslims to date have not replaced their ordinal terms (Muslim, Islam) means to follow the example of the Muslim with new nomenclature; rather they Prophet. respond to the black eye given to T Islam by Muslim extremists by work- Some of the most outspoken crit- wLewis: I agree, but theologians also benefit ing overtime to redefine and clarify ics (as well as supporters) of Insider from being forced back to the Bible like the rest existing terms instead of discarding old Movements are Muslim Background of us, and perhaps the rise of insider movements ones. Despite embarrassment about the Believers (MBB) themselves.11 These help this to happen. As during the Reformation, terms “convert,” for example, then, the voices are too often dismissed as “brain- we may find some theologians re-affirming the truth conveyed remains. Conversion washed followers of narrow-minded and sufficiency of grace alone, apart from “the church” as is biblical and necessary. One can they know it, and others appealing to traditional colonial missionaries.” Those who were church interpretations. change the terms but the requirement birthed and raised under the essentials aa x remains. The discovery now appears of Islam should be listened to carefully. Lewis: People’s birth-community relation- ships are God-given, no matter how fallen that it is not really the term that is Many of them, especially from the Arab offensive; it is the belief and practice. their communities might be. Even cannibalistic heartland of Islam, speak strongly for tribes have been transformed by Christ. Avoiding My sister’s best friend and her husband nomenclature that overtly both connects extracting people from their birth communities were missionaries with a reputable, their identity to Christ and separates in not a matter of expediency, but a matter of conservative, large mission board in them from Islam.cc It was an Arab faithfulness to biblical principles, where the gospel Central Asia. Finding much Christian Muslim Background Believer in the is most effective when it is planted like yeast into terminology offensive, this couple context of Insider Movements who first the dough of a non-believing community. decided to discard all offensive terms, shared this Islamic proverb with me: yLewis: When the meanings are completely even biblical ones. They decided to live “Al Munafiqiin Akaab min al Kaffir” misconstrued, significant explanation is required, as “insiders” and embrace Islam as a (Hypocrites are worse than Apostates). like when the term “Son of God” is widely inter- social-religious context. They publicly preted by Muslims to mean sex between God and said the full ‘shahada’, joined a mosque I am claiming that biblical belief Mary. Clarifying the true meaning is the goal of and placed their children in Islamic indubitably includes radical allegiance all of us. to Jesus Christ. To be Muslim is to schools. The husband is now studying z generally base everyday life, habits and Lewis: In the Muslim country I worked in, to be an Imam. They no longer believe the term “Christian” applied to all the Europeans bb interactions on those of Mohammed. Jesus is divine. In C. S. Lewis’s book who visited for prostitution and drugs. To say “I The Abolition of Man he warns: To stay within the socio-religious am a Christian” whether as a foreigner or as a context of Islam means to follow Muslim convert meant much more about culture, You can hardly open a periodical with- the example of the Muslim Prophet. political allegiance, drinking alcohol, and sleeping out coming across the statement that There are exceptions such as Muslim around than it did about faith. A thousand years what our civilization needs is more atheists who remain Muslim but do of meaning attributed to a name is not easily ‘drive’, or dynamism, or self-sacrifice, not consciously follow the ‘sunna’ of expunged, so we must clarify that we are not or ‘creativity’. In a sort of ghastly asking them to become “Christians” (most of whom Mohammed. Allegiance and emulation simplicity we remove the organ and do not follow Christ) but disciples of Jesus Christ. demand the function. We make men of Mohammed is proclaimed from the without chests and expect of them simplest child’s book and the periodi- aaLewis: In the early church context, Paul virtue and enterprise. We laugh at cals of the brightest Islamic scholar. To repeatedly clarified that he was not preaching a honour and are shocked to find trai- stay within Islam is to retain alle- message of conversion to Judaism but of allegiance tors in our midst. We castrate and bid giance to Mohammed, to do as he did to Jesus Christ. Likewise, we must also clarify the geldings be fruitful. whether brushing one’s teeth, going to that it is not changing religions that saves, but a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. On Religious Identity: Integrating the Old and New bbLewis: It is important to clarify no insider movement that I know of involves any Western “We should also remain alert to the fact that a simple substitution of the culturally new for Christians becoming Muslims, nor has ever recom- the culturally old is neither sufficient nor possible when the mental and moral fabric of a mended such practices. society is torn; or when people must live in different worlds of discourse at the same time; or when they are faced with moral and social obligations which belong to different orders, ccLewis: I know many such MBB’s and love and when those obligations conflict with each other; or when they believe (or half believe) them dearly. They are like the first century Greek in different universes of power. If there is to be no wound, if people are to make clear moral believers who chose to become circumcised Jews in choices and do so in the faith of Christ, they must be able to integrate their worlds, to knit order to follow Christ, thus escaping their idola- together the new and the old.” trous culture of origin. There is nothing wrong with that choice unless they make it a requirement Andrew Walls, “Origins of Older Northern and New Southern Christianity,” in of salvation for others. Paul is abundantly clear on The Missionary Movement in Christian History, p. 75 this point.

27:1 Spring 2010 38 Inside Out: Probing Presuppositions among Insider Movements the toilet, or going on pilgrimage. It about the world preaching, because ddLewis: Dudley Woodberry’s article on is impossible to follow Christ in every God did not call you for yourself Reusing Common Pillars of Islam explains that detail of daily life and also follow alone but also for the salvation of Mohammed himself got his recommendations Mohammed. While people can have others.”13 All people are called to from early Christian sources, so we do not need witness to all people. Insider think- to be afraid if believers continue to fast, give numerous human mentors, there can alms, abstain from alcohol, and pray five times ing counters outward focus. Muslim only be one master; there is only one a day, etc., while depending solely on Christ for we can follow in all things who will Background Believers are not exempt their salvation. not disappoint or fail us.12dd from the Great Commission. They too are called to make disciples of all I am claiming that followers of Jesus the nations. To encourage a non- are defined just as much by what they diverse community from the outset is do not do, as by what they do. The eeLewis: Yes, and I would recommend that unconscionable. Missions is inclu- Ten Commandments have two “Thou we actually use the Ten Commandments and sive and cross-cultural. Inclusion Shall…” and eight “Thou Shall other such biblical commands as our guide to what and diversity are essential at the we are encouraging Muslims to do or not do, not Not….” Many biblical injunctions formative stages of any community coming up with our own lists. are framed only in the positive (John of Christ.gg 13:34-35); still contemporary apostles who in the spirit of Acts 15 lay out If the presupposition that Islam as a the religious practices that need to be God-given community is wrong, and ff abandoned are needed.ee yet missionaries persist in encourag- Lewis: Again, there are no value-neutral ing believers in Jesus to stay within societies even our own. However, both the Bible I am claiming this presupposition and history have shown repeatedly that the gospel Islam, then they are indeed unwisely that Islam is value-neutral, that God can go into pagan, violent, hedonistic, or legalistic advising Muslim Background created Muslims to continue within socio-religious contexts and, through several Believers and should not be sur- Islamic community, is tragic and generations, bring total transformation. My own prised at their sterility. There might exceedingly violent ancestors, the Vikings, unwit- wrong. Missionaries must not ask be quick results (curiously difficult tingly took in the seeds of the gospel by kidnapping Muslims to pass through another cul- to verify) but missionaries will have women from Christian regions, and the message of tural Christianity on their way to the done a long-term disservice to the Christ began to work its way through their society. Kingdom; but neither can missionaries Kingdom. Castrated geldings will encourage them to stay within Islam. never sire strong stallions. MBBs Can Muslim Background Believers not fully freed from the chains of stay within their social communities? Islam will never be able to free others Yes, where biblically allowed (all soci- similarly bound.hh ggLewis: eties are errant on some points). Can This paragraph misses the point Islam sanctions deceit in three entirely, as our own cultural expressions of they stay within the religious com- Christianity are very ingrown and that does not munity of Islam? No. Encouraging instances: reconciling friends, preclude us from being cross-cultural evangelists. Muslim Background Believers to pacifying a spouse or misleading an Likewise for the early Jewish Christians. One stay in the socio-religious context of enemy (Sahih Muslim Book 032, insider movement has spread into at least three Islam is to do them and the Gospel Number 6303). After 13 years in neighboring people groups and another is sending a disservice. It ultimately “remove[s] Sudan I have learned Muslims are believers into other countries. the organ and demand[s] the func- more angered by duplicity than by tion.” Islam in any form cannot lead to missionary activity. Muslims often eternal, spiritual life.ff tolerate missionaries; they never tol- erate deceivers. I have striven in this Insider movements mitigate against hh radical Muslim community to clarify Lewis: Where the believers are winning mission. By focusing on those others to Christ so boldly and quickly that it has and to use terms that have Biblical “not gathered from diverse social become a “movement,” it is offensive to call them origin (such as missionary, Christian, networks to create a ‘church,’” a “sterile” or “castrated” believers. church, and conversion) rather than disastrous unintended consequence to abandon those terms while retain- can result. A common missionary ing the behavior that those aban- mistake has been to relegate mis- doned terms support.ii sion (cross-cultural evangelism) to iiLewis: It is not deceptive to preach that second-tier teaching presented at It is vitally important for missionar- Jesus is not just the savior of the Christians but a later date. Richard Foster tells of ies to Muslims to have integrity of of the Muslims as well, indeed, the savior of the the calling of St. Francis of Assisi as spirit and speech that is unimpeach- whole world. What is deceptive is to preach that related by a messenger sent by pray- able. It is just as crucial for Muslim Jesus is insufficient to save unless people join our ing friends: “[God] wants you to go Background Believers, even as they expression of faith in Him. International Journal of Frontier Missiology Dick Brogden 39 conditionally14 remain within their hen Muslims come to Christ, there must be familial and social contexts, to have no trace of hypocrisy or misdirec- dynamic transformation to the extent that tion. Islam is not spiritually neutral. they leave Islam. God does not intend for Muslims to W remain within Islam. God does intend Wright, C. J. H. group (e.g., Islam) but seek God and find for Muslim Background Believers to 2006 The Mission of God: Unlocking the him. Paul clearly states that God commands live within their societies as proclaim- Bible’s Grand Narrative. Downers people everywhere to repent. The word used ers of the good news. IJFM Grove, IL: IVP Academic. is metanoein which literally means ‘to think Endnotes differently, to have a change of mind.’ This means as people encounter this living God, 1 Rebecca Lewis, “Insider Movements: References something really needs to change. This Deffinbaugh, Bob Honoring God-Given Identity and Com- change begins in the mind, but the whole “The Great Debates: Acts 15:1-41.” munity,” International Journal of Frontier Bible is full of evidence that a change of Bible.org. http://bible.org/ Missiology, Issue 26:1 (Spring 2009): 16-19. mind always translates into a change of out- seriespage/great-debates- 2 Ibid, 17. ward behaviour. Paul states that in the past acts-151-41 (accessed 24 3 The Geneva Study Bible notes the ‘God overlooked such ignorance,’ referring September 2009). focus is on commonality [all mankind from to the worship of images, but now time has Foster, R. J. one blood, one stock] not on separation. The come to repent. The questions this passage 1998 Celebration of Discipline: The People’s New Testament notes that set times poses are these: In which way do Muslims Path to Spiritual Growth. San are chronological; Athens had its day, but Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco. need to change their thinking (metanoein)? now its day is done. Wesley’s Notes speak What outward results will such a change Foster, Richard against a narrow interpretation and encour- have? Is it possible that the proponents of 1989 Celebration of Discipline. London: age us to look on all men as brothers and that Hodder and Stoughton. Insider Movements are in effect perpetuat- the assigned boundaries were geographical Gill, John ing the ignorance Muslims have been living in origin not religious. Jamieson-Fausset- “The New John Gill’s Exposition in, rather than bringing that ignorance to an Brown Bible Commentary states, “The of the Bible.” Crosswalk. end?” Reinhold Straehler, Quoted in e-mail apostle here opposes both Stoical Fate and com. http://www.biblestudy- to Dick Brogden, Khartoum, Sudan, March Epicurean Chance, ascribing the periods and tools.com/Commentaries/ 15, 2009. localities in which men and nations flourish GillsExpositionoftheBible/gilcgi 4 “Diabolical in this matter; and indeed to the sovereign will and prearrangements ?book=ac&chapter=15&verse=20 this is the case; the truth of the matter is, (accessed 24 September 2009). of a living God.” Matthew Henry’s Concise it refers to a practice among the Heathens, Hesselgrave, D. J. Commentary on the Bible states that this who fancied that blood was the food of 2006 Paradigms in Conflict: 10 Key sermon is to heathens who worshiped false the demons, to whom they sacrificed; and Questions in Christian Missions gods and were without the true God in the therefore when they sacrificed to them, they Today. Grand Rapids, MI: world saying: “The Lord had long borne took the blood of the beast and put it into a Kregel Publications. with idolatry, but the times of this ignorance vessel, and sat down by it, and round about Jenkins, Philip were now ending, and by his servants he now it, and ate the flesh; imagining that whilst 2008 The Lost History of Christianity: The commanded all men every where to repent they ate the flesh, the demons eat the blood, Thousand-Year Golden Age of the of their idolatry. Each sect of the learned and by this means friendship and famil- Church in the Middle East, Africa, men would feel themselves powerfully iarity were contracted between them; so and Asia, and How It Died. New affected by the apostle’s discourse, which York: HarperOne IVP Academic. that they hoped to receive some advantage tended to show the emptiness or falsity of Ladd, G. E. from them, and be informed of things to their doctrines.” Richard N. Longenecker 1959 The Gospel of the Kingdom: Scriptural come….” John Gill, “The New John Gill’s writes, “Contrary to the Athenians’ boast Studies in the Kingdom of God. Exposition of the Bible,” Crosswalk.com, that they had originated from the soil of London: Paternoster Press. http://www.biblestudytools.com/Com- their Attic homeland and therefore were not Lewis, C. S. mentaries/GillsExpositionoftheBible/ like other men, Paul affirms the oneness of 2001 The Abolition of Man. San gil.cgi?book=ac&chapter=15&verse=20 mankind in their creation by the one God Francisco: HarperOne. (accessed 24 September 2009). “All four of and their descent from a common ancestor. Lewis, Rebecca these prohibited practices were a common And contrary to the ‘deism’ that permeated 2009 Insider Movements: Honoring part of the heathen rituals in which these the philosophies of the day, he proclaimed God-Given Identity and new believers once participated.” Bob Def- that this God has determined specific times Community. International finbaugh, “The Great Debates: Acts 15:1- Journal of Frontier Missiology, for men and ‘the exact places where they 41,” Bible.org, http://bible.org/seriespage/ Issue 26:1 (Spring 2009): 16-19. should live’ so that men would seek him and great-debates-acts-151-41 (accessed 24 Longenecker, Richard N. find him.” (Richard N. Longenecker, “Acts,” September 2009). 1981 Acts. The Expositor’s Bible The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 9. 5 D. J. Hesselgrave, Paradigms in Con- Commentary, Volume 9. Grand Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1981, 476) “The flict: 10 Key Questions in Christian Missions Rapids: Zondervan. point of this passage is not to emphasize that Today (Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications), Straehler, Reinhold people should remain in where they were 86-87. Hesselgrave quotes and agrees with Quoted in e-mail to Dick Brogden. born into, but to show that people should not Edward Perry’s exclusivist statement that Khartoum, Sudan. March 15, 2009. boast about their particular socio-religious

27:1 Spring 2010 40 Inside Out: Probing Presuppositions among Insider Movements

religion is made up of indivisible wholes and publicly known since the publication of jjLewis: Samuel Moffett’s History of that all religions—human schemas—draw his journey in Paul Gordon Chandler’s Christianity in Asia reveals both the strengths of men away from the God of Gospel faith. book Pilgrims of Christ on the Muslim Road: Eastern Christianities and their fatal weakness, Perry states that “since the Gospel alone Exploring a New Path Between Two Faiths. lack of scriptures in their own languages. brings men to this God [one true and living In August 2009, I read a letter by Mazhar God], all other faith systems and claims defending himself for his involvement lead men away from him.” Religions are in Insider Movement practices. Though kkLewis: No one is suggesting that insiders systems of Satan and are used to predispose he does not claim to be a theologian and do not need to learn from the Bible or outsiders. adherents to disbelieve in the Christ of the prefers the term “incarnational ministry” In fact, in speaking with two insider believer Biblical Gospel. to “Insider/C5”, Mazhar, a supporter of leaders last week, I found that they had gone 6 Christianity has been spread and Insider theology, does criticize missionar- through over 10 systematic biblical training ses- upheld by coercion in some contexts; that ies from the West for pushing agendas sions with outsiders. is beyond the scope of this paper. The onto MBBs and states that MBB voices primary difference is that the NT makes should be the loudest in the debate.kk no allowance for coercion; the Koranic text 12 It should also be noted that it is repeatedly sanctions evangelistic violence. difficult, if not impossible, to follow Christ Christians are ordered by their Lord to without the input of others. This applies abstain from coercion by a progressive mono-culturally and cross-culturally. revelation from OT sanctioning of violence Richard Foster writes: “…The knowledge of to NT prohibition of it. In the Koran, the the direct, active, immediate leading of the Muslims’ Lord orders otherwise. Histori- Spirit is not sufficient. Individual guidance cal Christian violence directly disobeys must yield to corporate guidance. There progressive Biblical revelation; Islamic must also come a knowledge of the direct, violence is obedient to the text. active, immediate leading of the Spirit 7 “Even those parts of another reli- together” (218). Foster even calls Jesus an gion which might appear to be lofty and outsider to his own people (220) and speaks uplifting prove to be parts of a whole that of a glorious, heaven-sent, unified commit- ll is under the judgment of God,” notes Hes- ment to reject cultural religion and to hold Lewis: Paul did not withdraw these selgrave, quoting Hendrik Kraemer (1962). on to the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ—in believers from the synagogue because it was Hesselgrave, 90. reference to Acts 15 (221). Richard Foster, impossible for believers to follow Christ in a 8 “Conflict therefore must ever be an Celebration of Discipline (London: Hodder synagogue context (as that was happening in essential element in the life of the church and Stoughton, 1989), 218-221. other cities) but because the majority of that so long as this age lasts.” G. E. Ladd, The 13 R. J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline: particular synagogue rejected his message. Both Gospel of the Kingdom: Scriptural Studies in The Path to Spiritual Growth (San Francisco: before and after this event, the apostles continued the Kingdom of God (London: Paternoster HarperSanFrancisco, 1998), 223. to preach in synagogues. Press, 1959), 121. 14 Acts 19:9 (NKJV): Paul “departed 9 “God is about the business of from them and withdrew the disciples” from transforming the world to fit the shape of the synagogue in Ephesus. He did not wait the gospel.” C. J. H. Wright, The Mission for expulsion. He intentionally, preemptively of God: Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narra- left the religious gathering place of his day.ll tive (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2006), 534. When Muslims come to Christ there must be dynamic transformation to the extent that they leave Islam. Making the On Religious Identity: Sorting and Sifting gospel relevant is the wrong question.jj “Problems arise only when we use the terms “African religion” and “Christianity” as though 10 A warning to Insider Movements, drawing on the tragic history of the “hidden they were self-conscious, self-explanatory alternative systems, adopted as a whole, like suits Christians” of Japan (kakure kirishitan), Philip of clothes that can be taken off and changed. Actual religious experience, actual lived religion Jenkins tells of the inevitable tendency of is not like that. There is a case to be made in theory (less easy to demonstrate in practice) isolated movements to become ingrown and for regarding Islam as such a self-contained, self-consistent system; but Christianity, of its syncretistic. The movement “strayed far from incarnational nature, offers no such analysis. It does not make sense to try to separate out the mainstream…and many of its practices from unified experience what is “really” Christian and what is “really” African, as though the made it look almost like a Shinto sect…. identification of one set of aspects somehow invalidates or undermines the other. African They knew nothing of the wider church, Christianity is a new development of African religion, shaped by the parameters of pre- believing themselves to be the world’s only Christian African religion as was the Christianity of the Jerusalem church of the Acts of the true Christians.” Philip Jenkins, The Lost Apostles rooted in the religion of old Israel…African Christianity is also a new development History of Christianity: The Thousand-Year of the Christian tradition produced by the interaction of that tradition with the life and lore Golden Age of the Church in the Middle East, of Africa, as complex and distinctive in their way as those of the Greco-Roman culture that Africa, and Asia, and How It Died (New York: determined so many of the features of Western Christianity.” HarperOne IVP Academic, 2008), 36. 11 Mazhar Malouhi is a Syrian Andrew Walls, “African Christianity in the History of Religions,” Muslim Background Believer (MBB), in The Cross-Cultural Process in Christian History, p. 116

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