So what is up with the world missions?

It seems that the greatest missionary work of the last 50 years has almost gone unnoticed.

-Since when did 40% of South Koreans start to claim they are Christian?
-Since when did 25% of South Koreans say they regularly attened church services?
-Since when did South Korea become the second leader in the world for sending out evangelical missionaries?
-Since when did 60-80 million Chinese start attending a Christian church?
-Since when did Chinese Christianity become one of the few religions in China projected to very rapid growth over the next few decades. (At least doubling in 5%-10% maybe 15% if current trends hold.)
-Since when did Christian conversion in Africa outpace the historically established Islam?
-Since when did (the 'non-evangelical') Reformed Protestant Christianity become so popular in Asia? (Certainly the Calvinists weren't twiddling their thumbs like many try to claim they do. Over half the world was evangelized by Reformed Protestants.)

The centers of the Christian world will change rapidly over the next few decades. Out of Europe, perhaps the US, and into the Third World and Asia. They will no longer be Geneva, Wittenburg, Westminister, Moody Bible College (Jokingly of course), and Rome but Seoul, Beijing, Rio De Janero, Johannesburg, Mexico City, and Nairobi.

In all of this there is one trend of this growth. It is not by imperialism or british colonialism. This kind of evangelizing has hurt Christianity. Much of the good evangelism was done despite British colonialism. Missionaries that would go and actually live among the people were the most sucessful. Missionaries that would actually culturally become those people. Christianity cannot be spread by force and imperialism unlike other religions *islam*cough*. Furthermore, it is not primarily in the work of foreign missionaries. The growth is from the churches that are already over there. It is the work of the churches, that were planted which have taken root, to convert their nation. We must be ever ready and willing to help.

Christianity in these places has not become a foreign religion but a religion to them of both soil and culture which was meant for them in particular. Christianity is able to appeal to all people. Not to make all people Westerners. We do not need to impose a western culture as the norm in these missionary areas but we do need to ensure that the Gospel itself remains consistent no matter what cultural lens is applied. We need for these churches to see that real christian culture is at times complementary to their own.

Asia:
The Christian religion is booming in areas of eastern Asia because it is seen as much more homegrown. This is because these people view Asian Christianity as complentary to the strong Confusician philosophies that grips their culture. These philosophies include family acting as units and absolute respect being due to authority.

In this, they know they have fallen short of this respect toward the Lord of heaven or the highest ruler who is over all. They know that he has a right to call them to judgment of the Law. They must also know that God has the right to abundantly pardon them through Christ who by fulfilling this judgment upon His family. They must finally know that this is a family of faith and according not to geneology but according to God's promises. The chief being "All who shall call upon* the name of the Lord shall be saved."

* Greek is closer to making an appeal rather than just a half heated request. It is something that one would do when they call upon a doctor in a time of need. It is not just saying a sinner's prayer. It has the distinction that one is also relying upon this appeal by submitting oneself to another's help and authority. Paul calls upon Caesar to hear his case is another example the meaning of call here.

Lets look at Africa Next. Part 2