L4: Day 2 Monday

In L3 Cape Town 2010 we studied Ephesians – each of the 6 days featured an exposition on one chapter. Here in L4, we have six days though the book of Acts.

There is too much to summarize, but the focus today is the Holy Spirit, and there is a strong Pentecostal flavor. I imagine cessationists would feel a bit awkward at the teaching today.

In three of the talks, there is a focus on revivalism à la Acts 2. Tied to this has been the (unintentional?) featuring of megachurches as a result of revivals. As movements spread primarily through microchurches, I’m personally feeling a bit of a disconnect. And I think Luke’s emphasis on the Holy Spirit is a bit different than revivalism. Yes the HS manifests in sensational ways, and everything in Acts seems to be happening in movements today. Well, except institutional megachurches.

There was also an example from one of the speakers to make sure that by 2033 (2000 years after the resurrection), every person has an opportunity to experience Christ. I think this is laudable, but it also continues the human tendency for goal setting by using prominent dates. I wonder what God thinks of our plans. They seem to motivate and provide a sense of urgency, but…

Today I also had lunch and dinner with Trinity Evangelical Divinity School students, alumni, and faculty. In many ways, the relationship between Trinity and Lausanne is intertwined and the two share a similar ethos.

In the evening session, Vaugh Roberts gave a beautiful defense of traditional views of marriage. Interestingly, the Seoul Statement also includes a strong statement on biblical sexuality as between one man and one woman in marriage. In Cape Town, there was a survey for participants on different theological views, and I remember being shocked at how many American attendees were affirming homosexual practice as normative in God’s design. The American view was in stark contrast with the Majority world view on sexuality which is much more traditional. In many ways, I think the Western promotion same-sex marriage is an example of neocolonialism.

So far, the non-Western flavor of the event has been clear. There is more emphasis on integral mission, reaching the unreached, less cerebral and more experiential faith, and on affirming God’s goodness in human sexuality within traditional marriage. American evangelicalism can sometimes feel a bit odd in the global scene.