The Key to Insider Movements: the “Devoted’S” of Acts by Kevin Higgins
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Proceedings of the ISFM 2004 Meeting: Insider Movements The Key to Insider Movements: The “Devoted’s” of Acts by Kevin Higgins his paper seeks to contribute to the ongoing conversation among missionaries about Insider Movements, movements to Jesus that T remain to varying degrees inside the social fabric of Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu, or other people groups. Ours is a highly controver- sial topic, and emotions sometimes run high, no matter which side of the contextualization “aisle” we find ourselves on. While many of us differ (even strongly) on many points, we can do so knowing that we all serve the same Master and all desire to see the gospel of Jesus Christ received, welcomed and embraced by all nations, tribes and tongues! And in this we can rejoice! I write as a “thinking practitioner” who has worked among Muslims in North America, East Africa, and South Asia. In South Asia I have been honored to be a part of an emerging movement to Jesus that is gaining significant momen- tum among four people groups. In my role I have made many mistakes and will continue to make more. But my mistakes have always driven me back to the Scriptures and prayer, to further reflection and readjustment. So are Insider Movements just a missiological fad? Are our conversations about these movements simply about the appropriateness of certain prag- matic, tactical approaches to contextualizing the gospel? Or are they actu- ally conversations about the nature of the gospel itself? I believe that the debate about Insider Movements actually is a debate about the gospel, one as potentially earth-shaking as the Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican, and Anabaptist reform movements of the 16th century. Those Involved with Global Teams as movements were driven by the recovery of basic, foundational biblical truths a missionary since 1990, Kevin such as justification by faith, a gospel of grace, the priesthood of all believers, developed a work in a majority Muslim and the place of the Bible in the life of the church and of the believer. And country that has resulted in creative evangelism among eight language they forced church leaders to re-evaluate church practice and doctrine. groups and emerging people movements Similarly, I see Insider Movements as fueling (and being fueled by) a rediscov- in four of those. Kevin now serves as ery of the Incarnation, of a thoroughly biblical approach to culture and reli- Executive Director of Global Teams, recruiting missionaries, training, and gion, of the role of the Holy Spirit in leading God’s people to “work out” the coaching pioneer missionaries. gospel in new ways, and of an understanding of how God works in the world International Journal of Frontier Missions 21:4 Winter 2004•155 156 The Key to Insider Movements: The “Devoted’s” of Acts Kevin Higgins 157 within and beyond His covenant people. And we may be forced to he question of whether “Insider Movements” are re-evaluate some widely held ideas an appropriate goal of mission effort is actually and practices of our own. part of an older missiological conversation. Scope and Approach T This paper cannot address every The question of whether Insider their culture, including the religious life facet of what I see as an emerging Movements are an appropriate goal of the culture, as is biblically faithful. reformation. Nor is it my purpose of mission effort is actually part The Holy Spirit, through the Word and here to defend or develop that thesis. of an older missiological conversa- through His people will also begin to Rather, I will focus on two basic tion. In the second half of the 20th transform His people and their culture, issues that must be addressed in the century, thinkers such as McGavran religious life, and worldview. discussion of whether catalyzing and Tippett began to popularize the Such movements to Jesus will “Insider Movements” is an appropri- idea of “people movements.” One develop “church” forms, leadership ate aim of mission effort in the first assumption of the people movement structures, and theological work. place. We will consider those ques- concept was that people in many The specific forms of community, tions from two perspectives: parts of the world made decisions leadership, worship, and theological together rather than as individu- 1. “Insider Movements” in the discourse that develop within such als, and that such “togetherness” Bible? Does Scripture provide movements will emerge as lead- included tribal, caste, and other ers within the movement discover any models and dynamics of 1 healthy, vital movements to types of unity. biblical functions and express them Jesus? This question forces As I use it, the phrase “Insider by adopting and adapting existing us to articulate and address Movements” encompasses not only cultural forms from within their valid concerns about how such these earlier descriptions of people culture and religion. movements to Jesus develop movements but adds “religion” to on a foundation that is the above list of aspects of “togeth- Part I: Jesus Movements grounded in God’s word. erness” or unity. In other words, I in the Bible 2. Can a “movement to Jesus” be suggest that followers of Jesus can Now, I want to begin to address our an “Insider Movement”? What continue to embrace at least some of two major issues. First, what are the is the relationship between their people’s religious life, history, models and dynamics of a healthy, the emerging Jesus movement and practice without compromising vital movement to Jesus? (and its biblical worldview and the gospel or falling into syncretism. discipleship) and the worldview, Every movement to Jesus is in some religious life, and cultural Indeed, I will attempt to show from way an Insider Movement. Every context inside of which the the Scriptures that, at least in some movement to Jesus is inside of some movement is “moving,” so to sense, the gospel can actually fulfill culture or some aspects of a culture. speak? This question forces us or complete certain aspects of the In addition, movements to Jesus, no to articulate and address valid religion of a people group. The exact matter what culture they are “inside,” concerns about how such move- nature of such fulfillment will vary are movements that bring families, ments to Jesus develop within greatly from context to context, tribes, groups, and individuals into a the cultural and religious and more specifically from reli- saving relationship and new experi- framework of their particular context. Here we need a bibli- gion to religion. ences of community in Jesus. cal theology of culture and of Now, let me offer a summary of the But what exactly would that look God’s involvement in it. above points to serve as a working like? How do we know there is a definition of the term “Insider movement? What biblical model Insider Movements: Movement.” or models can we discover that describe healthy movements? Can A Working Definition Insider Movement: A growing number the dynamics of such a movement be of families, individuals, clans, and/or Before addressing those two major described in such a way that we can friendship-webs becoming faithful dis- questions, we need to be sure what use the model to assist us in our own ciples of Jesus within the culture of their it is we’re talking about. I know of ministries among the unreached? Or people group, including their religious no generally accepted definition for to avoid “killing” such movements culture. This faithful discipleship will an “Insider Movement,” so I will try (by failing to develop them fully or express itself in culturally appropri- to define how I use the term. Let us by inadvertently squelching a key ate communities of believers who will begin with some background. dynamic and thus not allowing an also continue to live within as much of emerging movement to blossom)? International Journal of Frontier Missions 21:4 Winter 2004 156 The Key to Insider Movements: The “Devoted’s” of Acts Kevin Higgins 157 I believe the Book of Acts provides “devoted” refers to passionate and and example of the apostles and their such a model, and gives us clear consistent prayer by people within writings.3 descriptions of the dynamics of such the movement as well. Prayer is both This “devoted” includes a commit- a movement. I refer to these dynam- a sign of an authentic movement, ment not only to right apostolic ics as “keys” and see at least some and a source of the spiritual vitality doctrine, but also to right apostolic of those keys in Luke’s use of the unleashed in such movements. ministry. It is not only the message Greek word proskartereo. The Second “Devoted”: of the apostles that we’re to learn Usually translated “devoted” in our The Apostles’ Teaching and embrace but also their method English Bibles, this interesting word and Fellowship of ministry. How did they commu- is used in a number of other ways. The English text of Acts 2:42 nicate the gospel, plant churches, For example, in Acts 10:7, proskarte- might lead us to assume there are and build leaders? Being devoted to reo refers to the devotion of one of four “devoted’s” in this one verse. the apostles’ teaching and fellowship Cornelius’ servants to Cornelius However in Greek the word pros- means seeking to do apostolic work and could be rendered as “service.” kartereo is only used twice. First, the the apostolic way. The word can also have the sense of This also implies that Insider “continuing with” or “staying with” Movements will not be isolated someone or something, as in Acts from—and independent of—other 8:13 where Simon is said to “continue movements to Jesus.