Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. Acts 19:8-10
“One of the greatest obstacles to community, city, and country transformation is the privatisation of faith. Faith in Jesus is profoundly personal but it was never meant to be private — it is a public faith that should benefit everyone.
God is giving His Church a fresh confidence and courage to express faith in the public square. It’s a faith that outworks itself in the civic soul, strategy, and structures of our communities, cities, and countries for the benefit of all people.
A few years ago I reached a point in my faith where things simply couldn’t continue in the same way. I had attended so many Christian conferences, read so many Christian books, and purchased every possible Christian product.
I felt a little like you do when you’ve eaten too much Christmas dinner or when you’ve bought the big super value bar of chocolate from the supermarket for a movie night and midway through the film you realise you’ve only got a couple of squares left and feel rather unwell. I felt that if I consumed any more Christian resources the unthinkable was going to happen. I know it sounds strange but that is how I felt about my faith.
My faith had become self-centred, self-focused, and self-indulgent. I had reduced my faith to a relationship between Jesus and me and a concerted effort to take as many people as I possibly could with me to heaven when I died. I sensed God was calling me to change my focus and de-privatise my faith; to take that which I had made private and to make it public.
Our faith in Jesus is a profoundly personal matter, but it is never meant to be a private matter. As Jesus said, “You are the light of world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). Real faith cannot be hidden; it is clear for all to see.”
Matt Bird in Transformation: What is God doing and how do we join in? (Leicestershire: Matador, 2017) opening to chapter 1.
Around the world today, many local churches function as though they are private country clubs whose resources aim only at serving members. They should be equipping headquarters for mobilizing people who make faith public. If this thinking resonates with you, read this book!
The Apostle Paul seems to have encountered a similar situation in Ephesus. The Jews appear comfy and self-absorbed in their synagogue. Luke reports that for three months Paul tried to reason with them. Why start there? Almost certainly to mobilize a team, however, they did not want to sign on. So he, and likely a few traveling companions following his standard pattern, made faith public. What happened? It only took two years for the gospel to spread through all of the Roman province of Asia minor.
Matt Bird keenly points out that perhaps the reason that our deeply personal Christian faith is not spreading in places around the world is because we have made it private. I concur. Perhaps our greatest act of generosity might be to make faith public, as Matt repeatedly states, by discerning what God is doing and enthusiastically joining in!
God is up to something big this week. I’d appreciate your prayers. Jenni and I peeled away to pray over the weekend at a peaceful retreat (picture above). There I felt God remind me that He is with me.
Today I fly to Southern California for a two-day event on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, the Global Generosity Roundtable. A total of 42 men and women will convene from the UK, Australia, South Korea, and the USA. Each one serves as a Christian financial professionals, practitioners, and professors. When we gather, each will speak for about ten minutes. Shortly an e-book will be available for free distribution as each participant contributed a three-page piece.
I’m hosting this event with Ross Piper and Tim Macready of Christian Super, whose desire is to help Aussie Christians live purposefully with financial health and understanding. Matt Bird will also be there. And since we don’t want the impact limited to Australia, we’ve asked Matt to comment at key points in the meeting to help us discern together how God is working so that we join in collectively.
Thanks for your prayers for more than fruitful meetings. Join me in asking God by the Holy Spirit to catalyze a global movement through this group of influential participants.