World Crisis: People Want AnswersBryn Jones

Restoration Magazine - May 1975There was a time when the popular tabloid newspapers like the 'Daily Mirror', and 'The Sun', favoured cartoons of religious freaks holding aloft placards with such slogans as, 'Prepare to meet thy doom', or 'The end is near', It was considered good for a laugh. However, of late no-one laughs. In fact the role has switched; it is not the preacher that is cast as the prophet of doom, but the scientist, sociologist, politician and economist.

It is becoming clearer to all thinking people that we are in a deepening global crisis not to be laughed at. Glancing at various article headlines in 'Time' magazine, February 17th, 1975 issue, I noticed features presented under such headings as 'Strained Alliance'; 'Last chance for Kissinger's Step by Step'; 'Darkness without Exit (in Vietnam)'; 'Growing spectre of unemployment'; 'Hard times in the board room'; 'People are looking for answers.'

Such are the growing pressures of our generation's problems that previously stable institutions, secure standards, and settled governments are 'shaking', and indeed crumbling, under the strain. Our national life staggers under the escalating crime wave in Western society, the widespread disintegration of home and family life through divorce and marital breakup, and the insidious erosion of moral standards through T.V., magazines, films, and pseudo-experts in the fields of psychology and sociology. What country can confidently plan ahead for its educational health and industrial projects when inflation still spirals upwards? What family can smile at the future while prices of food, electricity, gas, coal, mortgages, rents, rates, petrol gallop away?

Years ago we would have turned to our political parties for answers, but the successionof broken promises, discarded manifestos, and corruption proceedings (such as the 'Poulson Affair', followed by the 'Stonehouse Affair' in this country, and the tragic 'Nixon - Watergate Affair' in the U,S.A.) have shaken what little remaining hopes some had in the politicians, A recent report in 'Time' on the 'WORLD FOOD CRISIS' further emphasises the global crisis. It significantly commenced with the words, 'For nation shall rise against nation.,. and there shall be famines and troubles; these are the beginning of sorrows.' Mark.13,8.

The article drew attention to the critical state of food supply and demand. The world's

reserves of grain (in store, in transit and in the field awaiting harvest) have reached a 22 year low, equal to about 26 days' supply compared with a 95 day supply in 1961. Nearly half a billion people are suffering from some form of hunger; 10,000 die of starvation each week in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The ever increasing population explosion adds further pressure to the overloaded food demand. World population grows at the astounding rate of 200,000 people per day, or 75 million a year. The conservative forecast for the next 35 years reckons that the present world population of 3.9 billion will double to 8 billion.

Realising this causes leading experts to predict a horrific future. Dr. John Knowles, President of the Rockerfeller foundation recently stated, 'We will see increasing troubles, not declining troubles; we will see increasing famines; pestilence and the extermination of large numbers of people.' At the same time economist Robert Hellbroner notes that even, 'hungry poor states might soon get the nuclear arms with which to terrorise wealthy countries,'

Whilst governments and international agencies battle with those problems and experiment with new food grains such as 'miracle wheat and 'sea bed farms' • the unpredictable changing weather patterns coupled with the cooling of the earth now taking place have generated a great deal of scientific argument and speculation.

The weather experts unanimously agree on only one thing - that the world's prolonged spell of exceptionally good climate has probably come to an end, therefore mankind will now find it harder to grow food.

Is there an answer?People ask, 'Is there an answer to this troubled world picture with its horrific predictions ofwhat lies ahead; is this the inevitable future for man? Everywhere people are looking for answers.

The great thing is that not only is there an answer, but it is becoming increasingly visible.While society and the government of man is Shaking God is simultaneously moving acrossthe world with a renewal of life by the Spirit. He is preparing the church to be the manifest answer in a world of dilemma. The kingdom of God will prove itself to be the only alternative to decaying world institutions and systems; it is God's unshaken answer to man's trembling heart.

Paul writes, 'Now He has promised, saying, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.' And this expression, "Yet once more," denotes the removing of those Things which can be shaken, as of created things, In order that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

Therefore since we have A KINGDOM WHICH CANNOT BE SHAKEN, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.' (Heb.13.20-29)

The reason the world system cannot hold together is because of the nature of man who has created its system, structures, wealth, governments; his heart is greedy, selfish, hateful.This has given rise to a world-wide striving against each other, the stronger getting richer, the weaker becoming poorer.

Following the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost, God displayed to the world a community of people so related in love and harmony that they manifested the nature of God's kingdom in society by their everyday living. Their life style so utterly contrasted with that around them. They had not merely renewed or re-vamped their Judaism, but they expressed a radical new way of living together.

Luke reports concerning the infant church, already over 3,000 people, that 'they...continually devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching,' (Acts.2.42). Not that they mentally subscribed to a set of doctrinal truths in order to belong, but the apostles were 'teaching them to observe all things' Jesus had taught them: concerning a relationship with God’s righteousness a relationship of loving care and. concern for each other with special regard for the weak poor and needy, and right behaviour and correct attitudes toward society. They did not merely believe that the teaching of Jesus constituted the best code of ethics yet introduced, but rather they practised day by day the principles of kingdom life. The world very soon viewed the church as an alternative society to their own way of life.

It's happening todayWherever I go these days I hear terms used that convince me we are living in a time of major restoration in the church. Words such as discipleship, authority, submission, home, family, apostolic and prophetic ministry, fellowship, have all taken on new depth of meaning, and express the over-all concept of kingdom life which 'the Spirit is saying to the churches.'

Throughout the country thousands are now seeking to live in a new and deeper way of commitment to Christ and to each other within the community of believers. The great divide between Christians is giving way before the surge of love and life of Spirit filled believers, and a new sense of togetherness is emerging. God has used many ways and means, and will continue to do so in bringing His people in to a manifestation of the one God in one church as one kingdom of love.

It is not an easy task to bring true unity from long-standing disunity. However the major advances already made in so short a time assure us of God's desire and ability to achieve this.

Such groups as Fountain Trust, Festival of Light, Spree 73, Capel Bible Week, Come Together presentations, Big Praise, and now the new musical presentation, If My People (to name a few) have all played their part in crossing the denominational lines and shepherding Christians into a new, positive, visible expression of their one faith and love in the Spirit.

How tremendous that in these days of world shaking God's kingdom is being established and growing in the earth as the immovable, unshakable, strong, unifying answer to the need of the hour. The first great surge of the Spirit at Pentecost also brought a whole new emphasis on the homes of people as the heart of their assembling for fellowship. After all, that ought to be the placewhere we first work out our salvation. God has worked it in us, we work it out in our relationships as husband/wife, parents/children, neighbours/ friend. By bringing proper order into our homes, creating a happy atmosphere, enjoying healthy mutual pursuits, practically handling the ups and downs of living together, produces testimony to the on looking world of a better way of living which has Christ as the centre of family life.

Let us take the great opportunity given to us as the people of God to use our homes to influence the world about us. Where you know of other Christians in your vicinity reach out your hand of friendship to them, seeking to get to know each other without bothering about denominational labels. Why not invite them to tea or for an evening together? Learn the joy of fellowship in the kingdom of God in a new way, not simply through 'meetings' but by enjoying fellowship as the early church did: 'they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart.' (Acts 2.46)

But the impact of our lives under the rulership of King Jesus does not end in the home.You are where you are by the purpose of God; you are a fulfilment of the parable Jesus gave concerning the wheat and the tares. He said, 'The field is the world; and..the good seed... are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one.' (Matt.13.38) God has sown you into your community to demonstrate His kingdom by the very way you live.

Impact in industryWith today's industrial unrest, spiralling costs of living, the dark spectre of redundancy,and unemployment getting nearer as new materials become scarcer, many out of fear grasp and press for more, thereby increasing and hastening the reality of their fears.

The inequalities and injustices of the industrial scene are not something the majority ofChristians understand, because it is unfortunately true in our generation that the vast majority of Christians have come from middle class backgrounds, and even those from working class areas soon adopt middle class attitudes. Consequently the cause of industrial unrest is over simplified in the minds of believers: 'People are just selfish and greedy'...'lt's all due to trade union pressures.'...'l reckon it's all because of communist interference.' While there is an element of truth in these views, they by no means touch the major reasons of the structure of society itself.

Injustices develop rapidly in a society that encourages the making of wealth at the expense of others. The 'workers' feel no incentive to self-sacrifice when they hear of 'board room banquets', all-expenses-paid marketing trips, an executive force that shows no actual monetary pay rise and yet can double their income well beyond the social contract through perks of free housing, telephone and car expenses, allowances for entertaining clients and secretarial help.

When the wage earner learns that some directors can be paying less tax than he does, by employing accountants that can find every way to minimise tax payments, and that large foreign interests are milking the profits of the company with minimum reinvestment, he starts demanding his pound of flesh. The death of the small family business, and the emergence of the large multi-national combines, has helped to depersonalise and devalue the worker/employer relationship.

In the end, the average employee gets the impression that he is no more than a blob in a very soul-destroying, unfulfilling, non-creative job. He reacts by a philosophy of 'Do as little as is required for as much as you can possibly get.' Now, over against this backgroundthe son of the kingdom sees beyond the faceless management and does the job as unto the Lord. Or, as an employer, he tries to understand the fears and anxieties of his employees, and to develop worker/management joint board meetings. On-looking industrialists and trade unionists will sit up and take notice of this kind of new attitude and approach to work, if the sons of the kingdom succeed at it by the grace of God.

Shall we opt out?With an impending global struggle evident it would be easy to opt out of life's pressures just to survive by forming a community apart and in isolation from the rest of society. But the greater challenge is to live as a community in the midst of society so that across the town or city our relationships with each other deepen and express a loving care through practical sharing, as very much part of the scene. The early church lived

this way in the midst of bustling city life, and as the world observed it, it liked what it saw of this kingdom life. Luke tells us that they 'found favour with all the people,' Wherever Christians are clearly working out the principles of kingdom life the unconverted sceptical world will take note and want to know more.

I know of a growing number of places here and overseas where this is so. What we are saying is not material for a theological sermon to a bored and tired congregation, but a vibrant, living expression .of the kingdom of God in practical terms.

The finaleThis end-of-the-age development is seen by the prophet Isaiah 2:2,3. 'In the last days, themountain of the house of the Lord will be established as the chief of the mountains, and will be raised above the hills (figurative terms for kingdoms); And all nations will stream to it. And many peoples will come and say, Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that He may teach us concerning His ways, and that we may walk in His paths, for the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."

The nations will want to learn why crime is non existent amongst God's people, why we are not plagued with debtors, and why divorce has a zero rating among those living the kingdom life of God, and how everyone - poor and rich - are cared for. On issues like these they will want to know the ways of God. People at large will see that the kingdom of God is not some pie-in-the-sky dream of the drop-out, but the Holy Spirit at work in human lives today.

The freak with his placard announcing 'The end is near' will give way to the people whoselives cry out, 'There is an answer today; there is peace instead of unrest, love instead of hate, security in place of fear, joy in place of sorrow.' Why Because THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS COME.