Lecture Series

So, this week a man named Andrew Walls came to Spring Arbor to give a few lectures. The topic was "Global Perspectives on Christianity." I was really interested, so I decided to go check it out. He spoke about the changing worldwide demographics of Christianity, past trends, future trends, the early church, and missionary work, both past and present. Here are some interesting thoughts, quotes, and points I gleaned:

A crusader goes elsewhere and makes people live Christian lives on his terms. A missionary goes elsewhere and lives a Christian life on other people's terms.

"The altars of Mammon are as gruesome as those of Molech." (comparing past and present idolatry)

Africa has quietly taken Europe's former place in the Christian world.

Already, North American and European Christians are substantially outnumbered by Christians in the rest of the world, and if trends continue, 2/3 of Christianity will be Non-Western.

The early church was culturally, geographically, and linguistically diverse; world Christianity has always been global, even before the "missionary movement" began.

"The only way a Jew could become a Christian was by becoming a Gentile Christian: a sad reversal." (explaining the disdain much of the world had for Jewish Christians eventually)

"When Anthony goes to the desert, he is not escaping the world: he is challenging the devil on his own ground." (during his explanation of Father Anthony and the beginnings of Christian Monasticism)

He also gave a very interesting analogy explaining the Trinity which has apparently been around for hundreds of years. It's a little strange, so bear with me, but it actually works pretty well:

We drink life in Christ just as one would drink a glass of milk. The Holy Spirit is the One Who has "milked" the Father for this life and brought it to us.

That is all.

Peace.