m'yeh, I would disagree with this assessment, not because I think the author's perspective is invalid, he probably has some empirical evidence to back up his viewpoint, but rather that churches may be involved with the world, just not the CTC.
My church has a three fields...one used to be Russia...till that door got shut, and the other was Mexico. When Russia was shut to us we started focusing on a church/school for deaf children and their families, and local christians in Guatemala.
Granted, it's not fancy, it's not glamorous, and it doesn't have eye catching sermons that would bring Ghandi to tears, but it does make the lives a few deaf children a little better.
The third field has all the glamourous, hoo-ahh mission field stuff we support as a church which is Compassion International...yeah baby, there you'll find the testimonies that will bring you to tears...literally, because how could anyone with a Starbucks in their hand not feel a twang of pain for a child who could eat like American kid for a day on what that twenty-minute coffee costs.
The only thing is we're not involved with the CTC.
As interesting as the CTC is, and don't get me wrong, I loves me some Christian international cooperation, sometimes...a partcular group isn't all that it sees itself to be as much as they think they are. We're all working towards a common goal...perhaps, a pew research poll on what churches in America are doing internationally would be a good thing to initiate to see exactly what churches in America are doing internationally.

Scot,
thanks for this. i've been wondering recently if our lethargy/apathy regarding global missions has another factor involved, namely, oversaturation. i've been to countless missions conferences, had missionaries come and speak at church, hosted many in my home over my lifetime, and i find the barrage of information from hundreds of missionaries and organizations frankly overwhelming. i've been thinking that if one church could get on board with one missionary in one city and really go for the gold, we might get more commitment from the church and the missionary. this situation is analogous, in my mind, to our barrage of catastrophic event news coverage. when we see the world's devastation on such a regular basis, our response must be limited, knowing that the next catastrophe is right around the corner. in missions, the next missionary is on his/her way to the church as the previous is still packing up his/her kiosk.

just my thoughts :)
mike

I think both prior comments have some weight. I think that many churches are involved in international missions but that involvement is more defuse and less organized because it is less likely to be denominational organized. And even those churches that are denominationally focused with their missions are probably unlikely to have sent anyone as a denominational representative to Cape Town. It is pretty non-denominational.

I think statements are important, but not so important that it actually stops people from working.

I believe what the CTC has done and produced is a good thing, and I believe that there aspects that challenge us all.

Yet, I also believe that there are many churches here in the west that have a heart for sharing the Gospel in word and in deed, and have been doing so for scores of years, like the church of which I am a part and much of this work in the 2/3rds world. I would venture to say that the reason some of the 2/3rd world church was even represented and able to attend the South Africa gathering is because of the work which churches and denominations like our (Evangelical Free) have been doing over the past 50+ years.

I agree there is much more to be done, and I am sure there are the "lazy" within the church of the west, but let's be careful not to lump everybody in the same boat, and just because I didn't attend, or sign, or put into practice the ideas of the CTC does not mean that we are not involved in the very aspects which the CTC desires.

Thanks for this introspective post Scot, as a South African I find it refreshing.

As a member of a Southern Baptist church we haven't been neglecting the CTC, but it is a document that already reflects stuff that we're doing. Over the past half century Southern Baptists have been out in the international mission field planting churches and spreading the Gospel. Has it been perfect? Probably not but name for me a missions movement that is.

I am thankful for those who desire to reach the world with the Gospel. We need this to happen.

Scot's points above should be taken into consideration. Maybe the greatest problem facing American evangelicalism is that in our fascination with the next great leader or model we've forgotten that if the Gospel isn't preached it is all for nothing.

American churches are deeply content with devoting a very small percentage of their financial resources to reach all nations. Your heart will only go where your money goes. " Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also..."

The deeply loved system of institutional church consumes 75 - 86% of the "giving" to buy crowd oriented gatherings with expert driven faith expression. It is claimed that the Bible highly espouses this system.

A new document - another very expensive conference gathering pedestalized experts will not change anything. The system is set in cement. The jack hammers have to come out first. The power for the jack hammers is in black and white in the Word. The saints are blind to what the Word says, even those who can dissect it in Hebrew and Greek.

Good article Scot. But let me put it the only way I know how.

While the American church is not the world's greatest hope, I see American evangelicalism as L-A-Z-Y, F-A-T, self-absorbed, self-satisfied, fractious, generally unimaginative, in some cases too hip for its own good and unwilling to take risks. These characterstics make it real difficult to think or do for anybody else. Some of it is just plain sin.

To me, this just makes me very sad, that Christians are living thier lives for themselves, in their comfortable lives and never experiencing what a life lived in radical obedience to God is like.

I was like this not to long ago, but then received some good solid teaching on Christ's view of the lost, and of just what exactly missionary work is. Now i am a full time missionary, currently finishing up a spell in South America, and i can say that it has been the greatest, most exciting and fruitful time of my life. Living on dirt floors, 16+ hour days, no showers, sickness. But seeing the Gospel preaching to those who are hopeless and seeing thier whole lives change through the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is unforgettable.

I do wish more people cared, but not just about the well fare of those in the countries, although it does start with that, but for yourself, stand up, take a hold of your faith, support someone until it hurts, love someone with everything that is within you, and abandon yourself to Christ. Your life will never be the same. There is a great cost, but when you see the power of God moving and peoples live's being transformed, it makes everything worthwhile.

Scott,

An interesting (and provocative) thesis.

I agree that American Evangelicals don't care (much) about Global Missions. I am regularly frustrated by that disengagement and write/ speak on it regularly (on my blog yesterday, for example). My article on "Why Missional Churches Don't Do Global Missions" is not as erudite, but contains some of the same ideas.

However, it is also fair to say that the lack of acknowledgment of the CTC does not mean that many are not passionate about global engagement. I just returned from Central Asia with a group of pastors from 4 denominations and networks to connect them for global mission engagement. To my knowledge, none of them have heard of CTC, no one in their network or denomination was involved with Lausanne, yet all ARE involved in global missions.

I am a believer in where Lausanne “stood” in Cape Town and where it is “going” now. Yet, the good folks at Lausanne struggled (or made mistakes, depending on your perspective) in regards to engaging some of the mission leaders in the West in the lead up to Cape Town. (I am not referring to attendance at Cape Town which was, rightfully, balanced by global region.)

Thus, I think that there are many who are pressing on with global engagement, but are not connected with the CTC or Lausanne.

So, I agree-- many don't care much about global missions. Yet, I think that CTC is not the best barometer of that engagement.

But, keep holding up the banner of God's global mission.

God bless,

Ed

There are literaly thousands of churches-most small to medium size-that are deeply engrossed in missions-both local,national, and world wide. I have been in 4 churches ranging from 100 to 1000 (in Chicago and PHoenix) and none of them spend on themselves what is quoted here. 3/4 give 10 percent of the top to missions BEFORE they do their budget which includes their missions support. Please do not lump us all into some cliche about Americans. We are not how the media portrays us or even the Christian press. In our small little life group alone we have had 4 sets of missionaries-all friends of various families come and share and raise support in a group that has had 3 men out of work for over a year. Our church has no debt, we have simple buildings, so simple church, and we support a number of local, us and foreign missionaries and always will.

I agree. Where your money is, there will your heart be. CT has run several articles on how self-centered churches are with their huge staffs and myriads of programs to keep members happy. Ours actually has a minister of sports!

I think it all comes back to leardership. Most churches will follow the pastor, but few pastors seem to care about global missions. I'm a Southern Baptist and hear regularly that the foreign missions part of the national conventions are always the most poorly attended.

For me this is a good time for American Evangelicals to step back from bulldozing their view of the Bible down the throats of foreigners. The American Evangelicals need to learn proper discernment of Catholic, Coptic, Syrian, Orthodox Biblical beliefs so as not to bulldoze those legitimate biblical beliefs.

I keep trying to put my finger on what it is that bothers me about this article. After re-reading it several times and seeing the posts, here are a couple thoughts.

The article, intended or not, impugns with broad brush strokes where a broad brush seems inadequate at best and inappropriate at worst. I can point to church after church and person after person who give, serve and pray for missions.

Do you know percentage wise how much support that goes to the mission of Christ, comes from the US? Can we do more? Yes sir, but to paint us broadly as arrogant, uncaring and selfish seems off to me.

Just because a church does not discuss the CTC and respond does not equate to the conclusions you have made Scott.

Leonard
LJ has done articles on normal church budgeting complete with graphs compiled from figures from thousands of churches. It does not matter if the church is big or small, one staff or 50 staff members. The system is the same. They show on average 14% goes outside the door of the church. This figure may not include capital campaigns that gather tens of thousands and millions of dollars outside the yearly church budget, and always primarily for the needs of the givers. There is much more talk about missions being a priority than actual percentages of $ going to reach all nations. The church I used to be in was big on talking missions. For them 25% went out the door. Now it's down to 18%.

David Platt, in his book "Radical..." also gives figures that are worse than 14%. Google "church giving to missions" or other such words and you will find more stats on this. Look at your own church giving budget charts so see if they will show this figure to you. The dollar amount may seem high but the percentage is VERY low. Exceptions to this are very few because the system of being dependent on hired staff, a weekly Bible lecture for every saint, and a special building to house it all demands this percentage.

Don't be upset with me. I'm just a messenger about reality. There is a very simple way to do church life, documented in scripture for 100% of giving to go beyond the giver. There is just no ego and a lot of cross in this dynamic.

Ok, I read the article as well as some of the responses. I'm a Swiss-Canadian, born in Switzerland and live now in Canada for over 20 years. I'm not as much concerned about CTC, as I am about these 4 points raised by the author. As a former church planter in Austria (.5% Evangelicals as per Operation World), I experienced a diversity of agencies and nationalities. Sure there were American missionaries, but many more from other countries around the globe. Does the church in North America really give 10% of its resources to global evangelism? Resourcces is not just money, but as well as people. Further we should focus on areas where the Gospel is LEAST known, namely Middle East, North Africa, West - Central Asia and Europe. Perhaps we should check how much we spend on Christian CD's and concerts in comparison making known Christ in these stated areas. We would be surprised how little we give and willing to go to these places. Let us start love our Muslim neighbours here and then go into these places.

Not sure you can chalk this one up to tribalism- groups of Christians sign documents pretty regularly with little to no fanfare, even within modern evangelicalism. A quick Google search brings up something called the Manhattan Declaration and the Civility Covenant from the last two years. There have probably been others.

This might be the insularity Scot refers to, but the prevailing issue is probably marketing- I doubt most mainstream American churches knew the CTC even happened, let alone that it was something that required a response- hence the "why isn't anybody paying attention to this?" dynamic Scot addresses.

No offense, but as big a deal as maybe it felt like at the time, the CTC was probably more of a tempest in a teapot.

Christoff, I think you'll find the typical church in the US giving 10% to missions, but most of that goes to local efforts with very little going overseas.

I have two major problem with the CTC: First, its mission resembles every other therapeutic church whose belief centers on the idea that the ministry of Jesus was to cure poverty, make the blind see, and the lame walk.

Second, the authors of the CTC never articulate how to serve those in need. They simply declare a heartfelt desire to do, well, something, anything.

Documents like the CTCs are nothing more than exercises in moral preening. I pray for the day when one of these confabs actually set some policy stakes in the ground and puts time, money, people, and organization behind it.

Blessings,

Michael

Most churches in the U.S. -- both denominational and independent -- are losing members and attendance, so we're focused on the missionary work we need to do in our own communities. For two centuries, American churches sent reps around the world. What do we have to show for it? Vibrant churches in Africa, South America, and even Russia . . . and an increasingly unchurched and immoral society right here at home. The author of 1st Timothy said that a person can't lead the church if he isn't already a leader in his own family (1 Tim 4:4-5). How can American churches lead in other parts of the world if our own congregations and neighborhoods are in shambles?

Thanks for the link. You ask "why more people aren't paying attention to this brilliant and important work." I'd say: Too little publicity! I tried to follow what was going on in Cape Town at the time and also to read impressions later. Most were just subjective personal remarks like "Wasn't it nice to see so-and-so there!" But very little specific results have been circulated.
The Swiss delegation was deliberatley younger generation, but that tends to mean less influential, because they're not well known. I can't speak for the US.

As an American evangelical who has served as a missionary in Africa for 28 yeas, I agree that American evangelicals don't care much about Global Missions. However, I don't agree completely with Scot's assessment of the reasons why. I would like to suggest that the intentional and sustained attacks against American missionaries by "the world Christian movement" has contributed significantly to the state of affairs as addressed in his article. For years, the American church has had it pounded into it that "nationals can do it better"; that American missionaries are ugly Americans who are culturally insensitive and arrogant; and that Americans are no longer wanted, needed, or welcome on the mission field. (Of course, American money is a different matter.) Could it be that the American church doesn't care because we're tired of hearing how bad we are? Even Scot's article contributes to this anti-American atmosphere. Once again, it's the American church that has fallen short. Once again, it's American evangelicals who are the problem. Is this really helpful?

Evangelicals in America may have overlooked or under-emphasized the CTC. But it's far, far worse here in Ghana where I live. I've heard absolutely nothing about the CTC or anything related to it here in Ghana. Ghana has a vibrant evangelical population. Ghana is on the same continent as Cape Town, South Africa, and has many connections to SA. But the TLCGE and the CTC have been grossly overlooked here in Ghana.

Perhaps it's time we stopped attacking American evangelicals and American missionaries. Instead, we should focus on encouraging all Christians everywhere to awaken to the world and the obligations and challenges we face in Global Missions.

Respectfully,

Rick Whitcomb
Agape Gospel Mission
Accra, Ghana

This article plus the many comments give much food for thought -- Thank you, Scot! I am a South African missionary teacher (Currently in Finland) who has traveled to, visited, worked and/or ministered in 20 different countries. I enjoy the flavor of cross cultural mission work around the globe. I would like to add that the only financial support I receive for my ministries, comes solely from American friends who are also mission minded. Due to their family or church commitments; they are unable to go forth and win the lost for Jesus, so they willingly support others who can go forth and minister to the spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically wounded. We can be missionaries right at our place of work or in the communnity we serve.
God bless you all and may we continue focusing on spreading the love of Jesus no matter where we find ourselves.

The comment above about publicity is what strikes me the most, though clearly there are elements of truth in many of the observations. No less than five members of the Denver Seminary community--our president, faculty, board, etc. were in Cape Town, and once the global link was hacked and we weren't able to use that as a site, we heard virtually nothing more. The document was never circulated in our midst. Yes, there was one invitation to go to the website and download videos or materials, but we are so saturated with websites that I almost never take the time to initiate such surfing. Alas.

I question whether the response to or the publicity around the CTC is an accurate indicator of the level of commitment to, support of, or participation in God's redemptive mission of love to the world. My observation and experience is that there are actually more evangelical followers of Christ involved in global mission than ever before and with a better spirit of following the indigenous Church's leadership rather than arrogantly telling them what they need from a western mindset. Personally, I am about to embark on my third global teaching ministry at the invitation of indigenous leaders. Along with thousands of others, I do this at my own expense of time and money. In the invisible landscape of kingdom work, we are only misled by equating publicity, blogosphere activity, or responses to the latest "statement" as metrics to the true growth that God produces.

Speaking as an African am heartened by the "Cape Town' statement and tried to follow the event as much as time could allow

ALAS! that this discussion is taking place makes me wonder why America needs to endorse everything. Of course tremendous support from various denominations in America like the rest of the world meant that it truly is a global event, we thank God for the unity that was reflected and also reinstated the need to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth.

However, that it did not feed locally in America seems of little consequence to myself as a very educated middle class African living in Africa! There are some good churches in America doing excellent work and I personally have interacted with some Southern Baptist missionaries over the years who devote their lives to living the gospel and return to America in their retirement! Jesus our Lord reminds us not to declare what the 'right hand does" and if America did not herald the event locally so let it be I for one am not judging the self indulgence etc..... I am glad that the church did come together and can we leave it at that

Maybe the discussion should really be about how the American church alleviates the education and health issues that America's poor continue to face and how Jesus Christ has been made real in people's lives who had denied or not heard of him and how we as human kind can truly walk in the world as overcomers of the world!!

To ask why we aren't paying attention to the CTC is to engaging in a form of spiritual "naval gazing". What we really need to ask is, "How can we get the american church to start paying attention to it". Some churches just may not be aware of it. How do we get the message out in a way that is relevant to the church?

Unfortunately I agree. I think most people who are here are pretty familiar with the CTC which isn't reflective of the general population.

Not to self-promote, but the organization I work for focuses on creating global awareness not only with the teams that go into other communities, but also making both parties aware that the work that they do also helps us help new/other communities. People only seem to be aware of what they choose to be aware of.

I think that's the result of being in this culture though. Perhaps it's the duty of the rest of us to bring others into awareness?