Friday, May 04, 2007
Hi guys, here's an article i received in email (yeah i like to subscribe to lotsa stuff). it's about a persecution that took place recently in Turkey. if u search keywords u probably can read more about it. Here's a bit of the story cos it's really long: (go to http://www.opensourcetheology.net/node/1236 for the full story.Last month, three believers were brutally murdered in Turkey. The Protestant church in Smyrna, nearby where the killing occurred have written “a letter to the global church from the Protestant Church of Smyrna,” which is reproduced in its entirety below.
My question to the “emerging church” is does it feel addressed by this letter, as part of ‘the global church’?
I think this is a relevant question because many emerging church questions and responses seem to be concerned with re-engaging with a westernised church, society and culture. Consequently, from within the emergent-church culture, episodes such as this one in Turkey can seem both “out of left field” geographically and culturally and, even more starkly, may be viewed as “the inevitable result of confrontational evangelism” (some might say, evangelicalism).
Thus, my question is does the emerging church feel addressed by this letter, as part of ‘the global church’? And if so, what is it saying to the emerging church?
Dear friends,
This past week has been filled with much sorrow. Many of you have heard by now of our devastating loss here in an event that took place in Malatya, a Turkish province 300 miles northeast of Antioch, the city where believers were first called Christians (Acts 11:26).
On Wednesday morning, April 18, 2007, 46 year old German missionary and father of three Tilman Geske prepared to go to his office, kissing his wife goodbye taking a moment to hug his son and give him the priceless memory, “Goodbye, son. I love you.” Tilman rented an office space from Zirve Publishing where he was preparing notes for the new Turkish Study Bible. Zirve was also the location of the Malatya Evangelist Church office. A ministry of the church, Zirve prints and distributes Christian literature to Ma latya and nearby cities in Eastern Turkey.
In another area of town, 35 year old Pastor Necati Aydin, father of two, said goodbye to his wife, leaving for the office as well. They had a morning Bible Study and prayer meeting that some other believers in town would also be attending.
Ugur Yuksel likewise made his way to the Bible study.
None of these three men knew that what awaited them at the Bible study was the ultimate testing and application of their faith, which would conclude with their entrance into glory to receive their crown of righteousness from Christ and honor from all the saints awaiting them in the Lord’s presence.
On the other side of town, ten young men all under 20 years old put into place final arrangements for their ultimate act of faith, living out their love for Allah and hatred of infidels who they felt undermined Islam.
Angel wrote.
x2:05 PM
Friday, May 04, 2007
Hi guys, here's an article i received in email (yeah i like to subscribe to lotsa stuff). it's about a persecution that took place recently in Turkey. if u search keywords u probably can read more about it. Here's a bit of the story cos it's really long: (go to http://www.opensourcetheology.net/node/1236 for the full story.Last month, three believers were brutally murdered in Turkey. The Protestant church in Smyrna, nearby where the killing occurred have written “a letter to the global church from the Protestant Church of Smyrna,” which is reproduced in its entirety below.
My question to the “emerging church” is does it feel addressed by this letter, as part of ‘the global church’?
I think this is a relevant question because many emerging church questions and responses seem to be concerned with re-engaging with a westernised church, society and culture. Consequently, from within the emergent-church culture, episodes such as this one in Turkey can seem both “out of left field” geographically and culturally and, even more starkly, may be viewed as “the inevitable result of confrontational evangelism” (some might say, evangelicalism).
Thus, my question is does the emerging church feel addressed by this letter, as part of ‘the global church’? And if so, what is it saying to the emerging church?
Dear friends,
This past week has been filled with much sorrow. Many of you have heard by now of our devastating loss here in an event that took place in Malatya, a Turkish province 300 miles northeast of Antioch, the city where believers were first called Christians (Acts 11:26).
On Wednesday morning, April 18, 2007, 46 year old German missionary and father of three Tilman Geske prepared to go to his office, kissing his wife goodbye taking a moment to hug his son and give him the priceless memory, “Goodbye, son. I love you.” Tilman rented an office space from Zirve Publishing where he was preparing notes for the new Turkish Study Bible. Zirve was also the location of the Malatya Evangelist Church office. A ministry of the church, Zirve prints and distributes Christian literature to Ma latya and nearby cities in Eastern Turkey.
In another area of town, 35 year old Pastor Necati Aydin, father of two, said goodbye to his wife, leaving for the office as well. They had a morning Bible Study and prayer meeting that some other believers in town would also be attending.
Ugur Yuksel likewise made his way to the Bible study.
None of these three men knew that what awaited them at the Bible study was the ultimate testing and application of their faith, which would conclude with their entrance into glory to receive their crown of righteousness from Christ and honor from all the saints awaiting them in the Lord’s presence.
On the other side of town, ten young men all under 20 years old put into place final arrangements for their ultimate act of faith, living out their love for Allah and hatred of infidels who they felt undermined Islam.
Angel wrote.
x2:05 PM
