The Trends (Part 2)

Slavery and Injustice

There are arguably more slaves today in the world than during the height of the African slave trade in the 18th and 19th century. Today at least 12 million people are victims of forced labor. At least 1 million people are trafficked across international borders every year, 80% of them are women and children and are part of the global sex trade, and annually 1.2 million children are trafficked into some form of forced labor.

At many levels in our world corruption, injustice, and exploitation still operate at a widespread level. The powerful and evil prey on the weak and poor. Those with out a voice or a place at the table of power and influence, are often run over by the systems of the world from corrupt governments, to wars, to unfair trade agreements, to corporate greed run amok. Who will be a voice for the voiceless, who will stand up for the meek and oppressed? Possibly the Sprit filled community of God's love?



Environmental Issues

This can be a controversial one for many of us in the West. But, no matter where you stand on the issue of global warming, it is clear warrant in the Bible that we are to care for God's creation. The reality is that in many places in the world this is simply not being done, and regardless of whether we as westerners are to blame (or we feel like we need to clean our consciouses) environmental contamination causes suffering and imbalance throughout our world. That is to say nothing of the growing ground swell of concern, anger, and frustration from the developing world and postmodern generation (some of them distinctively Christian voices) crying out for something to be done. Can we be relevant in the world, if we continue to ignore one of the world's greatest fears, especially if it resonsates with biblical theology?



World Migration

In the states we are currently highly attuned to this trend. At the same time, Europe is facing a major change in its demographics as millions pour into the continent from Africa, Asia, and even Latin America. The world is truly on the move. Immigrants leave their countries of origins for a number of reasons, these namely include: economic motives, fleeing war or instability, and fleeing religous or political persecution. Also, millions of people live as refugees in a state of idefinite waiting and insecurity. Moreover, 11 million people are officially stateless, that is they have no legal claim to citizenship in any country.

While some see this trend as a major burden on the world, others might see it as a major opportunity for the gospel. Certainly, the Bible has much to say about immigrants and refugees (after all Jesus lived as a refugee and immigrant also), and is a salient point of how God's people can offer mercy and grace in the world. What is more, the flow of people both Christian and non, allows for the wider spread of the gospel and often the opportunity for it to penetrate cultures in unique and creative ways (Romanian evangelical churches in Spain or Penetcostal Mexican churches in the USA) as the gospel continue its unstoppable march from everywhere to everyone.



The Rise of Islam

Here is another trend that as Americans we are keenly aware of, although Islam has held considerable sway over world history before. Still, the rise of radical Islam and its onslaught of terroism of violence in our modern context has created instability and fear throughout the world. This is to say nothing of the strong growth of Islam in the US and Europe, its missionary advancement (both peacefully and violently) in Africa and Asia funded by the various Gulf states, and the continual persecution of Christians and other non-Muslims in most Islamic nations. Clearly, there is considerable friction between Islam and the various cultures and societies that exist in opposition to its homogenous and all encompassing worldview.

How do we as Christians live in this type of world, offering love and Christian witness, but also truth and justice? How do we love our Muslim neighbors?

Despite the sometimes gloomy news often coming from the Muslim world, one story that is almost non-existent in the media, is the amazing and steady growth of Muslim background beleivers. While numbers and facts are hard to guage and closely guarded (for security reasons), suffice it to say, that most of the news coming out of the Muslim world is one of dramatic growth, miracles, faithful service, and actual sightings of Jesus.