A Movement is Beginning.
Will You Accept the Call?
"A Worldview that Looks Like Heaven"
-Gail Stathis, EME Ministries
Living in Greece has changed the way I look at the world. I grew up in Missouri and was certain my worldview was right, balanced, and broad. Having become a Christian as a child everything was defined by the church I was part of and my Mid-western life patterns. Those understandings of God framed how I lived daily life, faced challenges, and made decisions. There was never a question that my beliefs needed to be evaluated by God’s truth. The worldview I embraced was absolutely correct and there was no room for any assumption of wrong belief. But, almost from the first day I moved to Greece, over 40 years ago, it was clear my worldview was very limited, anemic, and needed an overhaul if I was going to be effective in the vision for my life.
From the initial shock of learning that if I came outside my apartment simply to clean the stairs I must do it in a skirt or dress, to having my car blocked and beaten on because I was a female driving, demanded introspection of how I was going to approach the world I was living in; how was I to interact with daily life and not color my every reaction with “but that is not how we do it in America.”
The truth is I had to look at the world through eyes of Greek life for this was my home now. In many ways, it seemed my view of the world needed to be erased, and a new framework imprinted. For example, I now lived in a country where being on time was relative. If you are within 15 minutes of the appointed time you are on time. My Middle America view screamed at this. I struggled with anger and judgment.
Another area of culture clash centered around hospitality. Certainly, I was hospitable and loved having people for a nice Sunday lunch, but after two hours it was enough. Within the first week of my life in Greece, I realized if you invited someone for lunch, be prepared that they might stay through dinner and dinner might be expected at 10 or 11 p.m. And that would be followed by more conversation. Some visitors would even ask to have a ‘lie down’ after lunch so they would be rested for the remainder of the visit. As the wife, it was expected that I would host and certainly be prepared to present lovely meals while the men sat and visited. I was accustomed to participating in conversation between the sexes, but that was not always the case in my new home. Sometimes it was expected that I would leave the room where the men were meeting or sit quietly in the corner. (This thankfully is a custom that is changing.)
My prayer life began to change as I realized I was not living and serving in a country to replicate my American life, but I was sent to live and give truth, eternal truths. I needed God to change me. Struggling with comparison issues it became apparent I would never be an effective servant of Jesus unless I changed my heart and mind to love the people and even their life patterns which were very different from what I had assumed was the norm all over the world. At its root, Christianity is a life experience: a life-changing, personal experience of the risen Jesus Christ, the King of a Kingdom not of this world.
My prayer life began to change as I realized I was not living and serving in a country to replicate my American life, but I was sent to live and give truth, eternal truths.
That had always been relatively easy to say, but now in Greece I was learning there were requirements to this life as a Christian I had not previously encountered. It went beyond being a church go-er. This was like having a new road map in my life, one I had not traveled before. I wasn’t always certain where it was leading but there was no question, if I was to live in Greece with peace and joy I had to enlarge my view of how to live in a different part of the world.
New Patterns, Patience, Major Shifts, and Prayer
Some of the new patterns were so simple but seemed to be at times insurmountable mountains. Patience. I must have patience. It required me stopping and taking time to evaluate what was cultural and not contrary to the Word of God and what was a blatant contradiction. Forcing my way into a conversation between the sexes was offensive, but my Western mindset often became offended. After all, shouldn’t my opinion have value? Applying this adapted worldview that was in reality more in line with the Bible than that previously held was hard. It did not happen overnight.
Living in a country where people all assume they are Christians because they are baptized as babies created new obstacles to my assumptions that sharing Jesus would bring multitudes to the truth. The difficulty I was facing was religion in a different form. Culturally the title ‘Christian’ is embedded from birth. So, what do I do about being a witness when people already believe they are Christian? This is not confined to Greece, rather it is also a stumbling block in other Orthodox countries. But, I think perhaps, it could also be a hindrance in the U.S. when someone embraces the idea they are a Christian for example, merely because the parents were or the country is called Christian.
The truth is, I am still working on this in my life. My worldview is still a work in progress. Whether Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, England, Tunisia, or a host of many other countries, culture forms how daily life is lived. And, it looks different in almost every place. The wonderful thing about this is God is always at work to help us know Him to be the best representatives of who He is into the world we live. The difficult thing is I do not believe we change our mindsets easily. But, looking at the world from Greece has brought me to the place to stop and listen and wait to see what is God’s thoughts about the life I live in the place I live or journey to.
Yes, God is calling us to radical life in Him. He is calling to a major shift of how the Church has lived in this world. And, with any shift there will be some confusion and possibly damage. As my view of the world in almost every arena adapted while living in Greece some tearing down and building new structures has happened.
There is a saying “people all over the world are just the same.” This is only true from the vantage point of taking time to work through cultural, generational, and other differences that form attitudes and behaviors with which we live.
Greece is a “gateway” country, the crossroads between Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, as well the road for seekers of freedom from Asia. The intermingling of masses of people from different countries and cultures, demands a worldview that is based in Heaven. The girl from Middle America has changed quite a bit, and living in Greece has afforded the expansion of seeing the world in different colors, with a multitude of attitudes and reactions and general view of how to live life.
God is at work and is determined to have a people that have Heaven’s worldview. I am working on it. Let’s do it together. Let’s not miss what God is doing wherever we live or travel.
Without a doubt everyone seems to understand that since the days of the pandemic, the world has entered a new season. As much as many would like to go back to how things were before, most things will never be the same again.
But this is not a bad thing. This should not discourage us. God is at work and is determined to have a praying missional church.
Approximately every 500 years there has been a major shift in the world. These shifts have brought schisms, struggles, but also new ideas and opportunities.
The Church is in an epic season. Don’t miss what God is doing. God is calling Believers to be His radical church. The life of faith was never meant to be for only Sunday gatherings, rather to be Sunday to Sunday, praying and going, living and giving. Daily.
At its root, Christianity is a life experience: a life-changing, personal experience of the risen Jesus Christ.
As the Church made up of individuals looks at the world today, certainly there is a movement beginning with a minority that will no longer be comfortable just to listen to inspirational speaking and lovely praise music, but will want what only God can do.
Philippians 3:8-10 declares it is not our lists, not many of the things we count daily as important. No, the goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection.
Tepid Christianity will not change the world. But, knowing Him. Having fellowship in all of life will change everything.
Each one should become a missionary of prayer; that all may know Him.
Looking at the world from Greece; a country that has not had any major awakening since the days of the Apostle Paul, I have come to realize it is not programs, work efforts, but it is prioritizing prayer. God has spoken: “if my people who are called by my name…” Often this passage passes our lips with only lip service, but to go into the days ahead it must be a lifestyle of prayer.
Yes, it is hard work at times requiring discipline to look beyond the circumstances that surround us. But, one name for Christian is “Disciple.”
I believe if we obey and trust Him, as we wait, we will see God Alive!
As the Church made up of individuals looks at the world today, certainly there is a movement beginning with a minority that will no longer be comfortable just to listen to inspirational speaking and lovely praise music, but will want what only God can do.
Gail Stathis
