For me, these Biblical convictions regarding secrecy in missions developed in 1998, and I wrote these articles in 2000. I still completely think everything in the articles is true, and I completely agree with myself. And yet, I think the content of the articles is, in and of itself, utterly inadequate.
   How so? Largely, as I see it, I would explain the inadequacy in terms of the distinction between symptom and cause, or between roots and branches. Is the philosophy of secrecy in missions unbiblical? Yes, I think so. Will addressing the topic of "secrecy" itself significantly resolve the problem? No more than cough drops will cure pneumonia.
   Indeed, our modern theology of persecution and suffering is woefully inadequate. Indeed, the arguments on behalf of secrecy are Biblically weak. Indeed, trusting God and His Word is far more valuable than the "cleverest" of human ministry strategies. But with these observations I haven't really struck deep into the root of our condition.
   Getting right to it, one brash way to state my point would be this: I don't think that Christianity, as we generally know it today, is sufficient to survive, much less thrive, amongst most Muslim background populations. Our "missions" are inadequate because our Christianity is inadequate.
   What do I mean by that? Well, consider the larger context of the so-called "missions" of the New Testament. What do we know? Briefly, some things I see in Scripture are a Holy Spirit-empowered group of apostles (and prophets, pastors, teachers, and evangelists) who, among other things proclaim (note: proclaim) the gospel broadly, boldly, powerfully, publicly, and from house to house. I see the rest of the church also manifestly empowered by the Holy Spirit, full of unspeakable joy, dedicating themselves to the apostles' teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. I see the joy and freedom of the gospel so overflowing from them that they rejoice in suffering, persecution, and the plundering of their property for the gospel's sake, and that even when they are scattered by persecution they share the good news wherever they go. That is what I see in the church as modeled for us in Scripture.
   An overidealized picture of the early church? Well, the NT church definitely has faults; yes there were many problems; yes the church will never be perfect. But not all faults and weaknesses are equal. My opinion is this: the NT church was far from perfect, but it was also a million miles away from us today.
   Here's a key phrase that summarizes much of what I sense whenever I read Acts, "Everyone was filled with awe." (Acts 2:43) The church was in awe of a Mighty, Awe-some God. They had a big God, an amazing God, an awe-inspiring God. Basically, I don't think we've got their God, I don't think we've got their Christ, I don't think we've got their gospel.
   What do I mean by that? Indeed, there is one God, one Christ, one gospel. Thankfully, hallelujah, I do believe that the God we worship is the same God. The Christ we know is the Christ of the NT. The gospel we know is, to a large extent, the gospel they knew. But do we know this God like they did? Do we stand in awe of this Christ? Are we struck with the earth-shattering profundity of this gospel? I don't think we've got their God.

"A well-known book is called `Your God Is Too Small'; it is a timely title. We are poles apart form our evangelical forefathers at this point, even when we confess our faith in their words. When you start reading Luther, or Edwards, or Whitefield, though your doctine may be theirs, you soon find yourself wondering whether you have any acquaintance at all with the mighty God whom they knew so intimately." - JI Packer, Knowing God, 20th Anniv Ed, Pg 83

"The most critical issue facing Christians is not drugs, racism, morality, MTV; but dullness. We have lost our astonishment. The Good news is no longer Good news, it is okay news. Christianity is no longer life changing, its life enhancing. Jesus doesn't change people into wide-eyed radicals anymore; he changes them into "nice people". Take surprise out of faith and all that is left is dry and dead religion. Take away mystery and all that is left is a frozen and petrified dogma. Lose your awe of God and you are left with an impotent deity." - Mike Yaconelli (Dangerous wonder)

   Ouch. "The Good news is no longer Good news, it is okay news." "Though your doctine may be theirs, you soon find yourself wondering whether you have any acquaintance at all with the mighty God whom they knew so intimately." That's what I mean when I say we don't have their God, we don't have their Christ, we don't have their gospel.
   I think much of modern evangelicalism is propped up on stilts of institutionalization. The machinery is all in place, and so well established, that for our "worship services", Bible studies, programs, and events you can show up, push the "do Christian stuff" button, and if you want, tune out your heart. Bow head, say prayer, stand up, sing song, sit down, man talks, check watch, stand up, sing song, sit down, you're dismissed. Heart burning with passion for God: not required. Hunger and thirst for understanding of His Word, and for the transforming power of His Spirit: not required.
   But take note, I'm being critical of modern institutionalized Christianity, not of modern Christians. Why? Because my limited survey and experience tells me that most of my evangelical brothers and sisters around the world, in the depths of their heart, feel as I do in the depths of my heart. They want more of this God.
   I say to people, "You know, I read Acts, and the vitality of the NT church, and there's just something different there. Something we don't have, something I hunger for." And something often bubbles up within them, partially I think a sense of relief, as if something they felt and believed secretly, sub-conciously, in their inner being has been confirmed. I think we ALL (believers) are attracted to what we read of the church in Scripture. Whether "radicalness", "passion", "zeal", "God-centeredness", or whatever you want to call it, there is a sense of excitement and desire that we long for. But like a marriage in which the romance has long since died, we've given up hope, and resigned to simply "make do with what we have." There's a spark in us that longs for that old romance, oh wouldn't it be nice, but it is quenched by the overwhelming sense that it cannot be regained, and we'd best just dutifully accept whatever we've got left. That's just how things are.
   I consider the gospels and Acts to be the New Testament fulfillment of the Song of Songs. The love between bride and groom in Acts is not a theoretical, intellectual love. It strikes me as a passionate love. Some may say that "passionate love" is not the most mature form of love. Perhaps, but is there anything about our love for God today which is somehow more "mature" than the zealous love of the early church? If so, I don't see it.
   I think we want it. We want a gospel that sweeps us off our feet. We want an awareness of Christ that "blows us away." We want to be submerged and engulfed in the awesome sense of an awesome God. And yet, somehow, it's elusive. Shall we just accept the smoldering embers in place of the burning fire? I for one continue to hold out hope that God Himself does not merely "accept" the dieing off of the old flame (Rev 2:4-5), and thus I continue to pray that He might graciously pour out such grace.
   All this I've written elsewhere regarding revival, the Great Commandment, unspeakable joy, and such lovely things. But now we're talking about it in the context of "missions." Frankly, I just don't see the 21st century version of evangelical Christianity as sufficient to make inroads amongst the empassioned and enormously pressured followers of Islam. I can imagine 1st century Christianity making inroads amongst 21st century Islam, but I can't imagine 21st century Christianity making inroads amongst 21st century Islam.
   We have piles of tools, and steps, and structure of how to run a Bible study,... but can we look a guy in the eye who is going to be rejected by his family, lose his job, and put his life on the line, and with a genuine tear of both joy and sadness, say with utterly solid depth of sincerity, "Yes, Omar, Christ is worth it. This gospel I'm giving you IS worth it." Personally, I don't think that the modern evangelical atmosphere is the least bit conducive toward developing that depth of conviction. But without it, we can take all our missiological textbooks, and all our training notebooks on "how to lead a Bible study," and how to "do church," and "group dynamics," and throw them in the garbage bin. The atmosphere of flippant Western evangelicalism isn't going to help Mohammed or Hussein desperately cling to Christ while their whole life is being overturned. A well choreographed "event" doesn't do justice to those who desperately need some genuine substance.
   If Mohammed has lost everything to follow Christ, and he comes to our church, is he going to find what he needs to make it through another day? Shallow Christian cliches aren't of any help to him. "Well, it was really moving to hear your story Mohammed. I hope things are better for you this week. Sorry, gotta run." -- isn't going to help him. I just think that we don't have it, people. We don't have what it would take for them. Our current standards for what it is to be in awe of God, our current standards for what it is to hunger after Christ, our current standards for what it is to be the family of God, it's enough to get most of us by as happy Christians in our current surroundings. But for Libya, for Iraq, for Pakistan, I think this Christianity of ours is utterly insufficient.
   To put it another way. There's a lot of talk about "church planting movements" amongst Muslim peoples. It sounds really nice. But slow down for just a few seconds and actually stop and think about what that might look like. Do you want to see an active, vibrant fellowship of Christians from Muslim background worshipping the true Lord and really spreading the gospel across their nation? It sounds good, but let's be honest, you either have to: 1) lower your expectations and be content with a handful of believers here and there who are generally quiet and not too bold about their faith, or 2) add a whole lot of corpses to the picture you are imagining. Either lower your expectations for the spreading of the church, or add corpses.
   Now, somebody tell me whether silly, frivolous jokes from the pulpit, whether "stand up, sing songs, you may be seated", whether "Oh dear our Bible study has gone over time, sorry to keep you", whether this kind of Christianity would have sufficient rock solid foundation in the majesty of Christ to uphold a community of believers surrounded by the fires of persecution. If you can imagine it, help me to see it. I can't.
   The only way I can possibly picture a surviving and thriving congregation of God's persecuted people, joyfully living for Him while being built up in the flowing blood of the martyrs, is to picture hearts set wildly ablaze for God. I don't see in such a situation much concern for the things that we spend much of our effort on - such as how well choreographed the Sunday morning "service" is. My only hope is to picture a people with an overwhelming awe-some sense of the awe-some God who sent an awe-some Christ to die an awe-some death and rise in mighty, awe-some power.
   In other words, it seems to me that the thing the unreached Muslim world needs in order for the church to be firmly established and spreading there, is precisely the thing we don't have to offer. And that, in my opinion, is a big problem for the current "missions movement." I'm not sure that I know of any Western missionary (or otherwise) who has to offer what the church of the Muslim world would need. That's a problem.
   It's not going to happen. As far as I'm concerned, Christians soaked in flippant 21st century evangelicalism don't have what it takes to help establish a thriving church anywhere that death and suffering for the gospel are to be expected. Do I mean that anything is impossible for God? Of course not. God could use even us. But He would have to do a massive upheaval in our lives before we were of any help to the persecuted church.
   Others may come to their own conclusions, but as for me, I say, "I don't got it." I don't have the burning zeal, I don't have the sense of awe of God, I don't have the blazing heart to joyfully live for Christ in the face of suffering and hardship. I WANT to preach the gospel to Muslim cities. I WANT to do that. But God would have to do a mighty work of transformation and empowerment in my life to bring about such a thing. But in any case, I continue to pray for myself and for the brothers and sisters around this world, that God would set our souls aflame with love for Him.
   I suspect that I am not the only one who has been motivated towards "missions", at least in part, with the unspoken hope that by setting foot on the mission field, free from the shakles of the domesticated domestic church, I might suddenly find a new experience of Christianity welling up within and around me. I find I'm not wholeheartedly given over to Christ at home... maybe by stepping onto the "mission field", the devotion and focus required there would release in me the kind of Christian life I've always wanted to have. The kind that reading the New Testament fuels in me. Insofar as we have such motivations, I think we testify against ourselves, that we secretly hope that riding an airplane will force or bribe God into giving us what He hasn't already given us.
   I'm in favor of trusting God for miracles, but I'm not in favor of presumption. We could appoint a 8-year old boy as pastor of our local church and say that God in His power is able to work through this boy if He wants. Yes, but unless God has made it clear that He does want to do such an unusual thing, then "trusting God" for it is not faith, it is irresponsibility. Likewise, God could use me, or you, to establish His church in Saudi Arabia, but an honest assessment tells me that most of us have no more zeal, empowerment, or authority to establish the church in Saudi Arabia than the 8-year old boy in our Sunday school class has to pastor our local church.
   The God who filled the early, persecuted church with an awe of Himself is still the same God we worship today. In faith, I believe that His church can and will exist and thrive in the Muslim dominated countries. But it'll take a mighty miracle. It'll involve a measure of Biblical Christianity that most of us have never known. Oh God have mercy.

His,
   Zach