It often feels like there is so little that one person - especially one relatively unimportant person - can do. But tell your friends. Write your state and federal representatives. Do what you can, and talk about it!

micahmorphosis.org and one.org have some great ideas.

A.M.

I.

On a walk around the convent, during dawn,
He heard birds.
The whip-poor-will, reminding, “a new day, a new day.”
The morning dove, “slow, slow, slow you go.”
Then, as he walked, the sparrows scattered into trees –
Stilling rabbits and the mind of man.

II.

Last night, while you slept,
dew settled onto the grass,
the trees stayed rooted, the flowers,
like dim lanterns, hung in silence –
Then you woke and began
the assessment of another day,
forgetting about dew and trees and flowers.

I was just thinking how good it would be if our political system focused on the problems and opportunities more than on political affiliation...

"This conference made me increasingly less interested in who is Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative, Christian or Muslim, and far more interested in the question of who wants to save lives and offer hope and human dignity."

I appreciate your concern for all people of the world and the world's resources but...why would an "evangelical" Christian pastor state he is "less interested" in whether a person is "Christian or Muslim." Should we be more concerned about their eternal destiny after their earthly journey? Isn't this the eternal perspective commanded by Jesus for us to have? We have the ONLY hope to offer and that is eternal salvation through Jesus not Allah, Buddha, or whoever!

It'll take a great deal more than "conversations" to undo the damage done to our world, and it will require a great deal more effort than selling "we are the world" CD's.
No, the effort involved will have to be a complete and total change of attitude, lifestyle, and idealism. What Jesus would call the "golden rule." That would mean that those very same Muslims you want to come to understand will have to put aside the very same biases the west has. The Buddhists will have to embrace the notion that not all is as it should be, and the Christians will have to surrender to the notion that they're not right all the time.

But ultimately, no matter what we do, we will fail as a species because the hobgoblin in this whole work-in-progress-lets-be-good-stewards is the very nature of man.
Man will foul this planet, he will foul this effort, and he will foul himself as well because that is who he is.
We can make the effort as a species, but it is doomed to fail from the start.

It's sad to me to see such a loving, postive post receive such stubborn, pessimistic responses.

I've always appreciated Gordon MacDonald, his writings, his grace, his renewal...I'm glad he was at the Clinton Conference...and I'm pleased he wrote these observations...BUT...can't you see the first dawning rays of the one world government? Funny that presidents and priests and pastors could very well be forming its vanguard.

L. Bryant says:
Should we be more concerned about their eternal destiny after their earthly journey?

I think this grossly misunderstands the gospel, though this view is not uncommon.

In the passage Gordon quotes at the end of his post, Jesus is quoting Isaiah. He rolls up the scroll and says "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing" (emphasis mine). There are four other "Today" statements in Luke (to the shepherds, to Zachius, and to the criminal on the cross), all emphasizing that the Kingdom of God is here, now. The Gospel is not merely a pie in the sky or a get-out-of-jail-free card.

Perhaps L. Bryant is saying MacDonald is ignoring the issue of spiritual truth, papering over real religious differences. But I say that he is being a true representative of God in demonstrating His care for the poor and oppressed, for embracing a concern for peace. Would the Jesus who lived a life of compassion for the poor and oppresed want his disciples refusing to work toward those goals with people who didn't meet our standards of holiness? I think not.

Maybe we could all work more earnestly toward all that Jesus calls us to, instead of finding reasons NOT to show mercy, act justly, and walk humbly.

As much as I have loved and respected Gordon MacDonald all these years, and particularly remember the effect he had on me 21 years ago when I heard him preach the Gospel at my home church in Michigan, I must agree with L. Bryant; there is an underpinning of "many ways" to God in this article on President Clinton's Global Initiative.

I am a conservative Christian who happens to like President Clinton and sympathizes with his failings, fully understanding how that puts me in a distinct minority. However I would be more inclined to get behind the former President in many initiatives he leads like this, if they had a salvation message in Jesus Christ attached. What I see in these truly good works hints of a social gospel that appears to be bereft of the Reason why these good works are performed, so the Name of Christ might be glorified and His Kingdom furthered. I will continue to support those initiatives that do both!

Whatever temporal advances might be gained through this gathering will only add to the illusion in the minds of the participants and some observers that man can do anything good apart from God.

If we could feed and clothe and meet all the needs of people in poorer areas of the world, and then not share the gospel of Christ (and Christ alone), those people will surely one day stand before the Lord with full stomachs, and lost souls.

Gordon...thank you! Since first meeting you in Denver years ago, you have led the way. Sitting here in Phoenix (down to visit my wife's 102yo mother before she steps fully into eternity) in a favorite coffee shop at 5 AM (so much for living on Rocky Mountain time...), I am extra encouraged that a man like you has the kindness and strength and courage to write what you did. I could not be more thankful that you were at this conference...in some small, but important way representing the rest of us who know Jesus would have been there at Bill's meeting of the minds and hearts. In fact, he was...in and through you, and even with that new Muslim friend you made. Tell us more...and thank you, again!!!

kudos to the commenter who mentioned the the whole of Jesus' commands being of the utmost importance. I am very guilty of attacking people I disagree with, so I hesitated to post this but I have to say that our "line-drawing" and saying that all this "save the world" stuff would be fine if someone would preach a salvation message along with it and if it didn't include those "other" faiths puts an undue emphasis on a Platonic idea of salvation that is not coherent with the message and context of Scripture.

It seems to me that the message of Jesus was inherently and fundamentally social and human, and most often was not accompanied by the "four spiritual laws" or an altar call or an invitation to baptism/membership. Perhaps we should simply serve those crying out in oppression, with whoever is willing to do the same, and let God handle the change of heart? I'm at the point that if a Buddhist or Muslim person were willing to share a passion for changing the world, Christianity as a whole is not in a position to exclude them because it certainly isn't a pressing need for most of us (yes, I definitely include myself) right now.

At this point in some of the comments, it would appear that evangelical Christians will not participate in efforts to renew and restore the world if it has to be done beside those Muslims, Buddhists, "Samaritans" (perhaps?)...surely this is not the case...is it?

my prayer is that we let doctrine take second place to action, which if action comes from a hope in Christ it will teach the world something about God anyway, without our didactically inclined eschatology.

I have deep respect for Gordon MacDonald has a man, a husband, a clergyman, a leader. His books and his example inspire me.

In my world, Bill Clinton is part of the problem, not part of the solution. I am not interested in politics, but rather honesty and a way forward. It is my assessment that the former president's foreign policy initiatives created more problems than they solved and lead us to the current state of troubles.

I admire Gordon's resolve to find solutions to these problems by working together. I am also heartened to see and hear others here speak of the Gospel as an important component of the world's need.

I am in Iraq at present. I can tell you that the world in the USA is nothing like here. What is necessary isn't more dialogue from former presidents with highly questionable motives and leadership. There must be tectonic shifts in the way the two worlds connect - and for the world here in the Middle East to end centuries of senseless violence. This transformation can only come from an awakening.

It can only come from the Spirit of God moving, replacing hate with love, fear with faith, and violence with forgiveness.

-Jim+

Thank you for helping us gain a broader perspective on our world and its needs. I am so thankful that you are able to love Bill Clinton and embrace what he is doing now! The good that will come from people at this meeting will be God's Redemptive power flowing through these people's hands/feet/mouths, etc. I hope all of us get involved in this way too. I think we too often forget the 2nd Great Commandment: "Love Your Neighbor as Yourself." It seems to me that the early church grew because they met people's needs and genuinely loved "others." They did not have to "get people saved," they simply "obeyed" God's commands! I would love to see Christians be more concerned about "Loving" people than "saving" them!

I look forward to joining our efforts within my local church with the likes of Clinton's Global Initiative. Just maybe, as a result of our "works" these folks who do not have a relationship with Jesus, may end up giving Him the glory and having their life Changed forever.

Thanks for the article.

Sean

Many Evangelical Christians today seem to want the end of the world to come quickly, so that Christ will come back and take us all away, ending suffering, poverty, war, etc. So it's ironic that this post's title is "Preventing the End of the World". How involved should Christians be in preventing or speeding along the end of the world?

Really, Christians and non-Christians alike do not have any control over when the world will end. We may be able to irrevocably change it for better or for worse, but that doesn't mean that we can end it. "...Like a thief in the night" doesn't mean we'll have an alarm system to find the thief. It likely also doesn't mean that we can be or should try to be the thief.
We are to "be fruitful and multiply", but we are also to tend to the "garden" that God has given us. Balance is, as usual, the key. Alarmism, either way, is not.

I also applaud Gordon's courage in writing this. Maybe humanity is a "lost cause" in many people's minds, but the Kingdom of God that Jesus preached about is a reality that is meant to transform the mess into a world that is visibly blessed by God. If conversation worked 2000 years ago for Jesus as he initiated God's Kingdom, why are we so skeptical of it today?

Wow. It's really amazing to see how quickly we draw lines of battle as Christians. Christ offered living water to the woman at the well, who would never have been spoken to by the religious elite. Here, we're saying that our commandment to love our neighbors depends on a few things first.... Jesus' parable about the good Samaritan was to get his audience to think of the furthest possible concept of neighbor possible. That crossed religious boundaries then, just like we need to tend to the needs of the world, the world's lost, and even people who worship a contrary God now... all for the glory of Christ and to be obedient to Him. Christ chided to religious elite for being "white-washed tombs". Are we not taking the same posture saying we won't support an initiative to minister to the needs of God's children unless we can give a token altar call? The gospel message is not simply a proclamation, but also an act, and the power of the Holy Spirit in signs and wonder. Presenting the hope of the gospel requires word, deed, and sign, or it's only a partial representation anyway.
Christianity is a "way", not an idea. When we require people to agree with an idea before we'll act in the "way" of Jesus, what hope are we really offering? We are to be salt and light. James challenges us all to "prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves."

On a personal note, those of you who want to consider how to make a difference on the individual level, I encourage you to sponsor a child with Compassion Internationa (www.compassion.com). Christ-centered, Church-based, and totally focused on rescuing children from poverty in Jesus' name.

Why can Christians not work alongside people of other religions? Is there a slippery slope toward universalism in any joint efort to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, etc.? Can we not be a witness WHILE we're working with them? I think seing the Christian life lived out in real-world circumstances will do a lot more toward evagelism than having tracts tossed their way from a safe distance.

Glad for the meeting, but I too feel a warning of how far do you go before compromise. Spend your millions telling the Good News of JESUS. Just feel a little caution here.

When reading these responses I'm reminded of all the outstanding evangelical relief and development groups that are truly wholistic in their approach- World Vision and Floresta come to mind. Let's remember that we have outstanding people to partner with who care about the physical and spiritual needs of the poor in a biblically balanced way.

"Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible." -- St. Francis of Assisi

"No one is to be called an enemy, all are your benefactors, and no one does you harm. You have no enemy except yourselves." -- St. Francis of Assisi

"Preach the Gospel at all times and WHEN necessary use words." -- St. Francis of Assisi

We must first do what is necessary to save the poor and hungry so that we may preach the Gospel. The very act of saving the poor and hungry is an act of proclaiming the Gospel. We must remember that the neighbors we're commanded to love include Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, et al -- so how can we refuse to work along side them?

"If Christians would really live according to the teachings of Christ, as found in the Bible, all of India would be Christian today." -- Gandhi

The best way to preach the Gospel is to BE the Gospel, not to speak the Gospel. Actions will always trump words.

For all his faults, Bill Clinton is trying to do something to better our global society. Why do we always think there has to be an ulterior motive to someone's actions of grace when we don't like that someone? How many other global leaders are taking the time to invite (even cajole) so many other world leaders from all walks of life to participate in discussions that impact all of our societies? Seems to me that we need to practice the art of grace ourselves.

Thank you, Gordon, for sharing how your heart has been touched and for reminding us that grace can be extended by anyone.

Amen, Mordecai. You said all that needs to be said.

None of this is surprising--the self-centered, sin-driven movement toward war with all its accompanying maladies of disease, famine and economic deprivation, the panic search for a human solution leading to one world tyranny, the increasing hate for Christ's disciples, and the ultimate deliverance in the return of the Savior--all taught by Jesus. We can no more "save" the world than the crew of Titanic could prevent the ship from sinking--but, we can man the lifeboats! To me, that would be a more profitable use of our time than singing "Kum Ba Yah" with Bills Clinton and Gates, Carter, Colin and Kofi, et al. Bizzare ideas, I know--but I got them from the New Testament.

so, Dennis...it would be better for us to just sit back and do nothing, proselytizing the minds and allegiances of people in our own culture to join our churches while the bodies of those in other cultures just die away? Is it possible that there are people who don't claim to follow Jesus who are actually doing it better than those who do? Is it possible that upon Jesus' return He may want to know why we just gave up on the other members of His father's creation? Maybe I'm just too liberal...

perhaps the poor, marginalized, and oppressed of society need the attention of those who would follow Jesus or even those who don't know they're acting like Jesus? maybe this is true despite what we may believe about the eschatological destiny of Creation?

People, the early church grew because the apostles devoted themselves to proclaiming the gospel. Read Acts.

Subversion:

With all due respect, you are not listening to what dennis is saying. He's not saying it's either/or, that's your straw man. No one says Christians should not be doing good works, but that good works in a vacuum are worthless unless also accompanied at some point with the Good News.

This post and some of the comments stand in juxtaposition to the story of Haugen and the young girl forced into prostitution in one of the Catalyst Conference posts below. If the good work of rescuing that girl had not been coupled with the gospel, it would have been a good story. However, the forgiveness and redemption and reconciliation that occurred only came about because of the full orbed message of the gospel and the kingdom.

The point of the Isaiah 61 passage is not physical oppression, it's good news to the spiritually oppressed.

I share the concerns of others that in joining with people like Clinton, Gates, Carter, et al., ultimately that message will be lost.

So subversion, it's both, not either/or. And that both part is being practiced in evangelical churches all over the world. Their politics may not be to your liking, but they're doing it.

They believe in the End of the World and while some sit on their hands, most know that they have no power to bring it about or to prevent it. It will happen in God's time, but it will be what most people neglect to look at in the Isaiah passage that follows where Jesus stopped: the day of vengeance of our God. That's for the second advent of Christ and it's coming. In the meantime, there's much work to be done. Good works and sharing the Gospel, the whole message, not the slice that makes me feel better.

"Preventing the End of the World?" Not a chance. You won't. To think that you might is anti-God, and it's anti-Christ. Truly.

I am all for trying to save the earth. My husband and I recycle along with the best of 'em. However, I won't stop driving our car or flying in an airplane because I know it doesn't matter. The world will end when Jesus returns, which means it won't end due to our own efforts. I agree with the above poster that we should be more concerned with people's eternal destiny rather than merely trying to improve their temporal situation.

Amen Gordon. Thanks for your willingness to engage with people of influence who in many cases the evangelical church has cut off or stopped listening to. I was reminded as I read your article, "all truth is God's truth." As well I was reminded that heaven is going to be a great place, but on this side of heaven we need to be the hands and feet of Jesus today in our world. For me that means touching the lepers of our day and talking with people who are different than us and with whom I won't always agree. Thanks.

Gordon,

I agree that as Christians we have to make every effort to help our fellow humans and attempt to alleviate suffering. However, there is still only one way to heaven. Jesus said "I am the way the truth and the life no man comes to the Father but by me..." That excludes Hindus, Moslems, atheists, and other belief system. We can love and minister to them and not verbally or physically attack them but it does not change the fundamental truth of Christ's message.

I am concerned that there is some fear at work here of "one world government," based on a prophecy whose filfillment will undoubtedly baffle us anyway, that is preventing the practical recognition that the way to become better citizens of the world right now is to become interconnected and to realize that the hunger and suffering of people around the world is deeply related to ours, materially and spiritually. That phrase has become a tricky piece of jargon used to dismiss really powerful and important initiatives like the one described here.

It is wonderful to read the concern for the people of the world in these comments. Maybe we should remember the Jesus's common-sense stand against suffering in the face of religious rules when he healed on the Sabbath. I wonder if that can be a useful image for us to take forward.

Hyperbole does seem to sell but to say that we are in greater danger today than ever is a bit far fetched. Does anyone remember WWII? The Cold War with a thousand atomic warheads aimed at us and a thousand aimed at Russia?

This article reads like Miss America contestants who suddenly discover world poverty, war and religious strife and wants to do something NOW. The writing is junior high level rhetoric with plenty of earth day earnestness thrown in.

If this is the deep thinking that will "save the earth" no wonder Evangelicals are not invited to such conferences. Mr. MacDonald was impressed with their "seriousness" but that is a problem of their narcissm. They and he really believe they can "save the earth" with 7.2 billion dollars and that is a serious misunderstanding of reality.

Mr. Clinton had many opportunities to do more good to change the world scene while President for eight years but squandered it with poor decisions and misunderstandings about how to deal with terror. He cannot make up with a few billion in donations what he missed when he controlled trillions of dollars in the US treasury.

Dear Gordon MacDonald,

I read your article with much interest. It seems you are touching on an issue that many Christian leaders are being confronted with in recent years. Is Jesus Christ, indeed, the only way of salvation--our only hope for eternal life? Your article left me wondering where you stand on this issue at this point in your life? Is it possible for you to write a follow-up article? Thank you for your time and consideration.