Mini Gospel
5 min read
1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Command the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter Canaan, the land that will be allotted to you as an inheritance is to have these boundaries:”
— Numbers 34:1-2
The boundaries for Israel were very specific. The boundaries of the kingdom of God are to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).
God never meant for Israel to take possession of the whole earth, just a certain part of it. And yet, God’s purpose for Israel was to bless the whole earth by filling it with the glory of God (Genesis 12:3). That has been God’s purpose for His people from the very start (Genesis 1:28; 9:7).
Throughout history, God has delighted in using underdogs to carry the power of His gospel to the ends of the earth. The people of Israel were underdogs. So were the pilgrims of Great Britain. So were the South Koreans. And it’s interesting that when those people get big (by God’s grace) and proud (because of sin), God’s power in them diminishes.
At lunch the other day, someone was commenting about how he overheard a sister saying that she might leave the church because Pastor David was no longer here. Half-jokingly, we were commenting that maybe the sister worships Pastor David rather then Jesus Christ. Half-jokingly, I said that is why I thank God for my incompetence.
Maybe we should pray for God to suck out all the idolatry in GCC by raising up powerful, charismatic, and entertaining leaders and speakers in Jehovah’s Witness and Mormon congregations in the South Bay.
Does “big” always lead to “proud,” or does “big” always attract “proud”? And I think that’s an important question to ask, because historically, God never uses big and proud to fill the earth with His glory.
Like, how is it that South Korea, the land of megachurches, could lose an entire generation of young people? They have become experts at growing small cities, but I wonder if they will do anything differently to reach the next generation.
It makes me think that in this day and age, “mini” is the new “mega.” And “mini” versus “mega” has nothing to do with size, but a posture of the heart. Do relationships matter more, or does performance matter more? Does family and community matter more or do programs matter more? Does obedience matter more or does comfort and “spiritual entertainment” matter more?
The Spirit of God will always choose the former. The spirit of me-myself-and-i will always choose the latter.
Father, Be merciful to us. Forgive us for our idolatry. Speak into our hearts with Your Holy Spirit, and may Your word be etched upon our hearts. Protect us from the evil one. And may we proclaim Your gospel with all clarity and boldness. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
