It Matters Where We Start
On Diasporic Jews and Mission in Acts
Welcome to “Global Witness, Globally Reimagined,” where we dream about mission in a postcolonial world. Every Thursday, I share one thought that has spoken to me in the week, some resources that I trust will be helpful to you, and three exciting quotes about mission to give you something to think about. I pray one of these will energise you in the coming week.
1. Thought I Can’t Shake Off
The phenomenon of the Jewish Diaspora is central to the story of the discipling of the nations that emerged as the vision of Jesus the New Testament. Migrant Jews (or, if it makes better sense, diasporic Jews) shape the story—and our reading of it—in significant ways. The reaching of the nations is already a key theme in Acts long before the sending of Barnabas and Saul (and John Mark) in Acts 13 on what we call Paul's first missionary trip. Diasporic Jews were already acting on the vision of God to have a global (multinational) fellowship of brothers and sisters–followers—of Christ.
The gospels have pointers to this—the base of the ministry, if we can call it that, was in Galilee of the Nations and not in Judea. Some believe that Barnabas and John Mark (and his mother) were Peter's relatives from abroad (Cyprus and Cyrene, respectively) who later became key players in taking the gospel to the nations through the Jewish Diaspora in Antioch, Rome, and Alexandria. Of course, the explosion that happened at Pentecost in Acts 2 has extra significance because, as Luke puts it, "there were devout Jews from every nation on earth in Jerusalem on that day" (Acts 2:5). The diaspora was back in town in large numbers and then the Spirit was poured out. Without a doubt, many went home saying, "Something strange happened in Jerusalem this year. We heard Galilean disciples of this man, Jesus of Nazareth, speaking great things about God in our language." It almost appears that Acts 2 is not only about the Spirit being poured symbolically upon all humanity but also the setting up of the reaching of those nations through a coming together of the Galileans and the Diasporic Jews. Straight after Acts 2, the Diasporic Jews take the story to the nations and by Acts 15, Gentiles are welcomed into the fellowship, as Gentiles.
The dispersion that begins in Acts 8 simply follows the many such scatterings of God's people that had happened down the centuries. God's people were scattered, and they carried God's Good News along. In Acts 11, God was keen to convert Cornelius, a Gentile, through the ministry of Peter but by the end of that chapter, unnamed diasporic Jews, escaping the persecution in Jerusalem, were converting many more Gentiles in Antioch. Thus, before Acts 13, the migration of (common) followers of Christ is the primary means for taking the gospel to the nations. The intentional sending of Paul and Barnabas ought not to override this migration aspect of the work. They are both diasporic Jews and they seek to reach other Jews first wherever they go, though they end up speaking to Gentiles. It will change our understanding of God’s work among the nations if we see the theme of migration at play in Acts 2, Acts 8, and Acts 11, long before Acts 13.
2. Resources I am Enjoying
Podcast: Co-Mission, Alex Brito, Planting | Mosaic Multicultural Church
This episode of the Co-Mission podcast welcomes Alex Brito of the Mosaic Multicultural Church in London. Alex stories the joy, strategies, and challenges of pioneering a multicultural church in a diverse city like London. He begins with a profound reflection on his family and racial background, conversion experience, migration to England, and his ministerial engagements, which, altogether, have culminated in the rollercoaster journey of planting and leading a multicultural church in London. Alex's story is laden with clues and insights for pioneering, engaging with, or transforming into a multicultural church as we carry out God’s mission today.
3. Quotes I am Pondering
First, the integrity of mission is rooted in the nature of the Gospel and the nature of the Church: the Gospel is for everyone (Romans 1:16) and, in the oft quoted words of Emil Brunner, "The Church exists by mission, just as fire exists by burning." — Tite Tienou
Christianity is a religion intended for and is suitable for every race and tribe of people on the face of the globe. Acceptance of it was never intended by its founder to denationalise any people and it is indeed its glory that every race of people may profess and practice if and imprint upon its own native characteristics, giving it a peculiar type among themselves without its losing anything of its virtues. And why should not there be an African Christianity as there has been a European and Asiatic Christianity? — Lamin Sanneh
… churches should consider meeting peoples’ needs as an integral part of the Church’s mission to bring shalom to the world irrespective of people’s disposition to the gospel message. — Benjamin Isola Akano
I pray that you will be faithful in whatever God calls you to do this week.