How did this happen? David Van Biema of Time magazine attended one of our seminars to learn about tentmaking. I am very thankful because he learned of Christians doing tentmaking with full integrity rather than undercover.

Though many feared the worst, David Van Biema has written an excellent article-well researched, fair, accurate, and even gracious at points. While not a Christian, he demonstrates a very good grasp of Christian missions thinking, motives, and development. Numerous Christian leaders have acknowledged it is a good article. Ralph Winter called it "surprisingly accurate and fair-almost friendly."

Major insights:

• Christians consider the gospel their "most precious gift." (It is! Incredibly, God loves all humans even though they have rebelled against his absolute claim upon them, and offers them full pardon. In fact, he loves us so much he has provided the only just way of reconciling by giving his own Son to die in our place. Further, he brings us into intimate relationship with himself through faith, not merit (Rm. 4:24-5:1). And he supernaturally changes us by his Spirit so that we are able to love and serve him. All of this does if we will only surrender unconditionally and trust him. Christians cannot believe such news and remain silent.)

• "Many [Christians] show exquisite sensitivity, sharing their Lord only with people whose intimate friendships they have earned." While open about their faith, they do not press it on others, but share Christ on their friends' terms. Some people accept this message as the result of street evangelism, but most need to watch the message in action and process it before making a decision.

• Christians have delivered "sometimes heroic humanitarian efforts" and have been "in the forefront" of all kinds of development despite any objections of using aid as a "cover" for proselytizing." (In fact, throughout the Church's 2000 years, Christians have led in all kinds of human compassion, rescuing abandoned infants, burying the dead during the black plague, starting hospitals . . .)

• Since the late 70's missions has shifted focus from Latin America and Africa to "unreached people groups" roughly concentrated in the "10/40 Window" between the 10th and 40th latitudes, including the Muslim Megapeople. Christians realized that one-third of the world had never had a chance to hear the great news of Jesus.

• Among religions, "Islam is the most ferociously opposed to the straying of its flock." Shari'a law, though not binding, calls for the death penalty for those who leave Islam and persecution is common. Some have been killed by fundamentalists or family members. Christians want something better for people who have so little freedom of thought, speech, or assembly.

Major issues:

• Is it legitimate to stretch the truth with "unnerving ethical elasticity," even "lying about [one's] identity" to gain visas to countries which exclude religious workers? Nowhere does the Bible require cross-cultural witnesses to be supported or to be members of a missionary agency. Such ethical compromises undermine the trust of the local people, as well as sacrifice long-term progress for short-term gains. There are good alternatives.

• How far can Christians go in contextualizing the gospel before it becomes deceitful camouflage? Can they present their faith as a kind of Islam, invite Muslims to "Jesus mosques," and publicly recite the Muslim creed? On the other hand, it is inappropriate to pull Muslims out of their context and community into Western ones. The issue is Jesus.

• Are some Christians guilty of religious arrogance combined with political ignorance in spreading their faith? Sadly, anyone who has watched knows that there is some truth to this charge. Do they stir up reaction, alienate authorities, sacrifice the long-term for short-term, and hurt their cause by overly pushy, illegal activity? Is not natural, relationship-based sharing much more appropriate and effective?

These are legitimate issues currently being discussed within the Church. Van Biema raises them with remarkable grace at numerous points. He has listened closely and carefully. We ought to do the same.

Let us thank God for this article. It could have been very destructive. David Van Biema and his whole team are to be commended. But let's also pray for God to protect and empower Muslim-background believers and tentmakers (we've heard of two being negatively impacted already), to give Muslim leaders wisdom and desire for justice, and for Muslims who read the article to see the value of Christian professionals who work with integrity.

This article underscores how crucial Global Opportunities' work is. GO constantly advocates and trains Christians to practice full-integrity in tentmaking, to integrate work and witness, to reach their natural network, and to do effective relational evangelism. Many more tentmakers are needed. GO must grow to meet the need.

We invite you to join us through going, giving, and praying.

Dave English

GLOBAL Opportunities