My sister, Carmen, is on a summer mission trip to India. She is working with a group of other college students in orphanages, churches and leper colonies. Being that she was born in India and adopted before the age of one I can only imagine how this summer will impact her life and faith.
Earlier this week I was sharing stories from Carmen's journey with my friend Dan. He told me that he had recently been to India himself on a mission trip and said that sharing the gospel had never been easier or more difficult. Approximately 80% of those living in India claim Hinduism as their religion. Hindus freely absorb other religions into their own and will readily listen to you talk about your faith. In many instances, Jesus is placed on the same shelf as all the other idols. The challenge comes in the exclusivity of Jesus' claims. It is much easier to accept Jesus as a way, truth and life than it is to accept him as the way, truth and life. (For more information on India and how to pray, visit Operation World.)
Leslie Newbigin served for nearly forty years as a missionary in India and wrote in his book, The Gospel In A Pluralist Society, "In a pluralist society there is always a temptation to judge the importance of any statement of the truth by the number of people who believe it. Truth, for practical purposes, is what most people believe. Christians can fall into this trap."
Psalm 12 laments that "the godly are no more". We live in a highly spiritualized world and I think many would deny this statement as if godliness had simply taken on new forms. As fact and fiction becomes harder to navigate we need to maintain our focus. Not on a truth, but the truth. Psalm 12 reminds us that God will not leave us alone in our search but that he will himself guide and protect us on our way. The way.
012 I Will Rise Up
Where is the truth when everything is true?
When all the colors of the world have faded?
I hear them speaking in their lies again
As if they own the world that they have jaded
But you hear us, and you answer,
I will rise up
I will cover you
I will keep you in my arms
I will rise up
I will cover you
I will keep you safe from harm
Our God is faithful, He will keep his word
He is the promise to all generations
Rain in the desert, He has made a way
For every tribe and tongue, for every nation
And He hears us, and He answers,
I will rise up
I will cover you
I will keep you in my arms
I will rise up
I will cover you
I will keep you safe from harm
Your word is true, your word is perfect
The finest silver, the purest gold
Your word is true, your word is perfect
The finest silver, the purest gold, you say,
I will rise up
I will cover you
I will keep you in my arms
I will rise up
I will cover you
I will keep you safe from harm
Copyright 2005, Parson John Publishing (ASCAP), by Brian Moss
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