GLOCALIZATION: How Followers of Jesus Engage a Flat World
(a book title by Bob Roberts, Jr.)
by Dr. Gary Becker

Recently I was introduced to this book, which is essentially a book about evangelism and missions. It reflects the thinking of many in our day about how we need to work toward the transforming of our world. Like much of what is being written today regarding church growth and missions, this book addresses some real concerns about how we should go about reaching out globally in a new world that brings with it new values.

The insights and challenges certainly are considerations we need to make in ministry today. Wikapedia defines Glocalization as, the term “glocal” refers to the individual, group, division, unit, organization, and community which is willing and is able to think globally and act locally.
 

I know this seems like a lot of technical stuff. The idea is simply that we need to understand the global culture and live out our faith in such a way that people see our faith and are transformed through individual and personal ministry.

The book references Acts 11 as the example of missions and states, The formula was simple: Go out and live it, and serve others. As you speak, lives are transformed and the church is established. He further concludes, We need to engage in life-on-life relationships if transformation is ever to take place (from Christian Book Summaries Volume 3 . Issue 47).

A value of this book is to challenge us to engage our culture and people in a responsible way. There can be no question of our responsibility to “engage in life-on-life relationships.” We have a responsibility to seek the transformation of people. This book has value but, like most books, needs to be read with biblical discernment.

My concern about this book and many of the books about missions/ministry today is that the emphasis is primarily on living our faith. Certainly we must be living examples. However, let us never forget that without the proclamation of the gospel any transformation simply results in a temporal transformation. True transformation requires a message declared.

The message must include the fundamental basics of the gospel including man’s need for a savior and message of redemption through Jesus Christ alone.

We must “think globally” and to be engaged in global relationships that lead people to see our compassion for the physical and spiritual needs of people. Global ministry must begin as we “act locally” seeking to see lives transformed by the message of Jesus Christ. However, we cannot be content with social transformation. The goal is spiritual transformation that leads not just to temporal change but eternal.


THREE BASICS FOR A TRANSFORMING MINISTRY

A danger in many of the books and messages relating to global transformation is the neglect of recognizing the biblical role of the church. Missions must include both the local church body accepting the responsibility to act locally and reach-out in a global ministry of evangelism.

I want to suggest three basics to maintaining a biblically balanced local and global ministry for the local church.

Biblical Exposition must be the foundation of the church ministry. Regular Bible teaching keeps the church on track. Transforming ministries need to “keep the most important thing the most important thing.” The great commission needs to be kept prominent in the teaching and practices of the church. We need to be careful that we do not replace biblical exegesis with either a social agenda or experience centered ministry.

Local Evangelism needs to be connected to outreach ministries demonstrating compassionate care for both those in the church and in the community. If we are not concerned about transforming lives locally how can we claim to be committed to global transformation? The local church is God’s priority for training people for transformation ministries. The church needs to keep a priority of not simply addressing social needs but exhorting the body to “do the work of evangelism” (2 Timothy 4:5).

Global Exposure is where the Great Commission begins. We live in a world that seems small or “flat” with access through travel. People have more global exposure through worldwide business and tourism. The exposure of most people has not been related to the understanding the global needs for transformation through the gospel.

Short-term mission trips have helped to increase the awareness of mission needs. Often college age students are first exposed to global missions through
these trips and then
are led to career missions. Church members exposed to the global missions ignite their passion for God’s Great Commission.

Opportunities for global exposure are readily available. Global exposure leads to a global vision and renewed strategy.

The church without a biblical foundation can easily become caught up in the transforming culture without truly seeing life transformation. Our cultural emphasis today can lead to a “social gospel” that neglects the deeper need of soul. When our ministry is biblically balanced the result is transformation that goes beyond the temporal social needs to the eternal spiritual needs.
 

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by Dr. Gary R. Becker, President

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