Dr. Doug Shaw - blog
  • Blog
  • Subscribe to Blog

Overview of our Changing World

2/15/2018

3 Comments

 
You need to know where you are before you can plot a path to where you want to go, and where you think you are is always an approximation of a higher truth (that is, an approximation of where you really are.) For these reasons, two things are crucial for us as we attempt to understand culture, change, and worldview. Daily input from God’s Word is critical for us, as is surveying the perceptions and opinions of others. So, we keep asking the Lord for discernment about what we are seeing, hearing, and reading about our changing world. 
 
There is growing backlash to the international push for multiculturalism[1] over the past two decades resulting in an overwhelming emphasis on nationalism. Brexit, the U.S. election, and both China and India’s focus on nationalism are examples. How long this shift will continue is not clear, but it has implications for many arenas of students’ lives and how we minister to them.
 
With China’s new non-governmental organization (NGO) law that went into effect last year and the new religious practices law set to go into effect in February 2018, China is making clear their concern about the impact of Western influences in their culture, and they are doing something about it. In addition, they are taking steps to minimize the threat of Islamic influences in the western part of China (affecting Hui and Uighur people groups particularly). Westerners in China who want to share their faith in Christ are being asked to leave—regardless of their legitimate reason for being in China. As the economic expansion rate of the past decade slows, it will be interesting to see the effects on students coming to the U.S. to study.
 
In similar fashion, India over the last two years required some 40,000 Western financed NGOs to leave India. Many were Christian groups seeking to help the poorer classes. Recently, some Indian leaders announced that India was no place for Christianity (and only for Hinduism). The percentage of international students from India who what to study in the U.S. continues to increase.
 
Other countries are struggling with refugee crises and economic woes. These and other factors are impacting the number of international students coming from their countries to the U.S.
 
Should we be worried with all the changes outside of our control? I think not. It is the Lord who raises up kings and takes them down (Dan 2:21). The Lord expands the nations and causes them to dwindle (Job 12:23). Like Archippus was told in
Col 4:17, we need to simply fulfill the ministry that the Lord gave to us—to serve and disciple the students the Lord sends to us.
 
Principles cited in this blog: Our world is changing fast; many of the changes are nationalistic which could impact students coming here and the openness of those cultures to outside influence; we are not worried because we are focused on what the Lord has given us to do
 
Application for ISI ministry: Keep aware of international changes in cultures and nations, but stay focused on what the Lord has given us to do because the nations are his
 
Next blog topic: Focus on China
Doug Shaw with Derrah Jackson



[1] Multiculturalism—the presence of, or support for the presence of, several distinct cultural or ethnic groups within a society.
subscribe to blog
3 Comments
Sabu Joseph link
2/17/2018 06:34:30 am

The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Jesus Christ died for ALL. ALL people, ALL Nations unto the ends of the world. The biggest need of all human hearts are not money riches, wealth, fame or popularity, but the deepest need of every human heart of ALL OVER THE WORLD is FORGIVENSS .

To have forgiveness for me and then to extend the forgiveness to others who offended me.

The good news of forgiveness, writing off of our wrongs by al loving god and setting us free - Freedom is cherished by all - and all Nations. The good news enters all cultures and all nations and will produce goodness, truth and beauty.

In all countries where the gospel spread it produced forgiveness and freedom and service for fellow men ( in education healthcare, social transformation, freedom, equality, order , beauty and human flourishing of godliness.

God loves all people . LOVE God and LOVE one another.



Reply
Larry
2/19/2018 06:12:34 pm

Love the data. Love the 2 summary points at the end. Keep 'em coming!

Reply
Peggy Pollard
2/21/2018 04:53:19 pm

Thanks Dr. Shaw. This helps me be more aware of the important privilege we have to be here to have a positive influence on our internationals, so they can influence their countries with Christ's love and truth. Let's keep our focus on Christ as the Holy Spirit uses us to love the ones we are given to befriend here.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Subscribe

    Archives

    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly