Libya - A Field Ready for Harvest
Matthew 28:19-20 says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Is it our responsibility to go to the Muslims for Christ? What if the culture is so different from your own? Two hundred years ago, mission leaders began to dream of how the great commission of our Lord might be fulfilled and the Gospel spread to the entire world. Partners International has been called to serve in Libya. Furthermore Libya is country that is less than 3 percent Christian ("Libya"). Although the Bible talks about each of us being a missionary, it can be frightening to think of going to a different part of the world to share the Gospel. The Bible tells us that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. God’s call to missions is evident in Libya with Partners International.
Do you know the number of Libyan believers are few? They keep their faith a secret because of the potential hardships that they would face for practicing a religion that is not Islam? Basically, “97% of the population of Libya are Muslim” ("Libya"). In Libya, the people live very simple lives. The one-pot dishes that are made reflects this lifestyle. Their diet consists of fruit, vegetables, grain and milk. Since mealtime is so important symbolically, guests are often invited for the main meal. In fact, all meals are eaten out of a communal bowl (Dalton). “Islam is a religion founded by an Arabian named Mohammad. He received visions from God and he believed that he was to restore the ancient faiths of Christianity and Judaism” (...
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"Libya." World Map || Middle East and North Africa ||. World Map, 1995-2011. Web. 12 Mar. 2014.
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Christianity has its challenges. It places demands on us that set us apart from the rest of our world. The bible calls us a peculiar people, who navigate the challenge of living IN the world, without being OF the world. When we say ‘no’ to temptations that are enjoyed by the masses, we are labeled as self-righteous snobs, religious weirdoes, or worse. But we persevere, and we press toward that invisible line the Apostle Paul drew in the sands of time…for the high calling in Christ Jesus.
Out of the desolation of World War II sprang the Australian Committee for the World Council of Churches. This developed into the Australian Council of Churches which, in 1994, grew to be the National Council of Churches in Australia. The NCCA is 15 Christian churches, gathered from across Australia, who have embarked on a pilgrimage together . Each brings a widely diverse record of place, experience, and theology, but all share a mutual faith and confession in the Jesus Christ as God and Savior. All share a common future as they are confident that the future of Christians in Australia lies together, not in division. The aim of the NCCA is to deepen the relationship of member churches so as to communicate more visibly the unity willed by Christ and to rally towards the achievement of their mission of common witness, proclamation and service .
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What is culture, one might ask? According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, culture is the “customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group or the characteristic features of everyday existence (as diversions or a way of life} shared by people in a place or time” (Culture). Five major characteristics that define a culture include culture is learned, culture is shared, culture is symbolic, culture is all-encompassing, and culture is integrated. Culture depends on the human capacity for cultural learning that encompasses shared rules for conduct and that are dependent upon symbols. Cultures can be integrated by using “social and economic forces, core values, and key symbols” (Mirror for Humanity, 2002). This essay will elaborate on the physical geography and military history of Sub-Saharan Africa, an analysis of its weather, and an overview of the ASCOPE acronym.
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A casual look at the world today reveals the evidence that Jesus’s efforts were effective. Christianity is currently throughout most parts of the world, and ...
..., town by town, to brutalize men, women and children, the world refused to stand idly by”. This refers to the notion that when one state is suffering, that is when international relations has to kick into gear and help out. But was there an incentive for the international system to help Libya(oil maybe?). Specifically a unipolar superpower like the US. They didn’t help in Tunisia or Egypt, why Libya in particular? During the revolution, NATO backed the Libyan rebels and cause them to win vey battles during the civil war. US made a promise to continue to help Libya in its’ pursuit of democracy, but it looks as though Libya is going to have to figure this part of it fate on its own as most countries are staying away at the moment. But when the economy is up and running, and oil production is back at its peaks, What will the international system look like for Libya then?