Clear and present danger

I'm in a place where it's not advisable to publish my whereabouts, who I'm with or what they're doing. I'm not being over-dramatic. There is a 'clear and present danger', to borrow a phrase from the US constitution, to the mission activities here. Even when we were in Kosova doing street outreach, the police were present each time we were in the two town centres for our protection (see above picture). The threat is far more real where we are now.

So, what's it all about? The answer is both simple and complex! The simple answer is that there is a growing threat to Christians, and especially to Christian mission, in this part of the Balkans. Huge investment from countries to the east of here is being made with an underlying message which undermines religious freedom. The more complex answer is the history of the Balkans. Its legacy is a complex weave of cultural, ethnic and religious identity. Any presentation of an alternative narrative is seen as a threat to the status quo and therefore must be rejected, which includes violent options for some. An added complication is that the history of Christianity in this area has been characterised by very unchristian actions, so understandably any Christian mission is, at best, treated with suspicion.

So, why bother? Well, Good News shouldn't be selfishly locked up. Indeed, the last words of Jesus gave clear instructions to go into all the world with this Good News, the message of God's love for all humankind. The early Christians faced similar threats as they travelled the ancient world, ironically in the same part of the world where we are now, with the same message. The wonderful team we have met here are committed to living and working with this clear and present danger. Please pray for them.

We move on today, to Greece and the first place the apostle Paul stepped into Europe with this Good News. Retracing his steps is something I've been looking forward to all sabbatical. 

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