Heaven’s Answer to Earth’s Dilemma is one of the best I’ve ever read concerning the great reformation that has started to touch the church worldwide. This is an important book for all to read, especially church and marketplace leaders. 
Ben Gray convincingly argues that, rather than functioning as an institution that scarcely exists outside its own walls, God intends for His church to be an ‘apostolic company’ that fulfils His creation mandate by living out the gospel in every sphere of society; marriage, family, work, tribe and nation.
[Heaven's Answer] reveals how we might live and breathe in a real hope that goes beyond that of seeing the restoration of apostles, to, as Ben says, the release and deployment of an apostolic company (the church) of grace-filled believers to accomplish their God-given assignments in all of life. 
Heaven’s Answer to Earth’s Dilemma is a thoughtful look at the current condition of the church with practical and solid recommendations for moving forward. Ben’s insights on the role of work are a fresh contribution to the current faith and work material published to date. 
| His kingdom has come - where? |
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‘Muslims pray everywhere', he said. ‘The only time I see Christians pray is once a week when they go into a building, and one person from the front prays, the rest bow their heads and some go to sleep. We Muslims all pray together. To be a Muslim, I can take my faith anywhere in the land, wherever my camel takes me. There is no limit, we can pray and worship Allah everywhere.
‘To be a Christian is to go to a church, I must settle down in one place and go to a building each week and all that goes with it. For a nomad like me, that's an admission of failure. Real nomads don't live in settlements only those who have failed or have grown too weak to be a real nomad. Therefore Malcolm, until you can tell me how I can put your church on the back of my camel, your God does not interest me.' That's a tragedy of misunderstanding that's still being played out across the globe today. To this nomad camel herder of Africa, he had not been shown a true picture of what or who the church of Jesus Christ is. He had a concept of a church placed in the context of a building with meetings and religious activity and not one existing in relationship to spheres of authority and influence in creation (Eph. 3:9-11). Being part of a gathering of believers was just one aspect of a much larger picture that had never been painted for him - as it isn't for countless millions around the world. You see, he had not grasped that Christianity could exist on the back of his camel. What a wonderful sense of freedom - completeness, would be his, if he was able to realize that he, in Christ - the church unlimited, could go any where his camel took him. The same is true for all of us. My Vocations 4 Life training is all about releasing people, including a nomad of Africa, to realize such freedoms, this rich inheritance that is ours in Christ. Friend, God knows your limitations and He knows where your energy is most effectively spent and that maybe you are like many of us, you need balance in your life. Daily you are being observed by the world therefore it helps to know what the world is seeing. It's always good to remember LIFE gets in the way and messes up the perfect picture of you daily embracing being a kingdom person. God can work in the worst and messiest of circumstances if you have a willing heart to engage and connect with God and His kingdom in the midst of the mess. Next time I will share with you about a young friend of mine Rebecca, and her God intervention. |