Glocalization

Book Review

Roberts, Bob Jr. Glocalization. How followers of Jesus engage in a flat world. Zondervan 2007
B.R. founding pastor of North Wood Church in Dallas/Fort Worth area. Has been involved in planting 100 congregations.

Comment. Henry
Changes in our world have created a reality that suggests that not only is our world shrinking but it has now become very accessible very quickly. Global and local have become ‘glocal’, combined. Hence the term glocalization. The author explains how the church can have a glocal ministry. What he is talking about is not theory. He has done it (glocalization). A challenging book not only for the church but for each believer.

September 11, 2001 is the date that the world became glocal. Glocal is a very important term of the 21st century. It would describe an Acts 1:8 church of this century. We are to be witnesses locally and globally. “Glocal is the convergence of learning and life.” (20) Some values of the glocal world are syncretism, survival, hedonism, pragmatism and collaboration.

“The primary story of the future will be the nonreligious follower of Christ.” (36) The focus must be the kingdom of God, kingdom activity in the context of community. See Matt. 25:35-46.

The significance of families, tribes and cities is discussed in terms of our roots. “The metaphor for the future is the city.” (61)

It is the goal of God that every nation glorify him. Genesis 17: 1-8. Abraham was given the promise to ‘be the father of many nations’. “Nations rise or fall depending on their relationship to the glory of God.” Arnold Toynbee

Today’s church needs the same missionary focus the early church had. “Go out and live it (the gospel0 and serve others. As you speak, lives are transformed and the church is established.” (79) Missions should focus more on development than charity. The church should be the first to respond to the difficult areas of tragedy in the world.

“There are no closed countries in the world today.” (105) They may be closed to some of our methods. Our methods must be honest and credible. Enter through the front door. Don’t sneak in the back door. Go to serve not convert.

Many books about church growth have been written in the West but the real growth has happened in the East. It always comes with a price. When working with non-westerners we must always work within their culture. “Serve not to convert but because you have been converted.” (139) When E. Stanley Jones asked Gandhi how Christianity might become accepted in India his response was:
FIRST, I would suggest that all of you Christians, missionaries and all, must begin to live more like Jesus Christ. SECOND, Pratice your religion without adulterating it or toning it down. THIRD, Emphasize love and make it your working force, for love is central in Christianity. FOURTH, Study the non-Christian religions more sympathetically to find the good that is within them, in order to have a more sympathetic approach to the people.”.

Preaching can never be separated from practice. The message must be about the kingdom of God, e.g. the Sermon on the Mount. Reaching the lost must have a glocal focus.

“There is nothing wrong with our going through tests (suffering) that will strengthen our faith.” (179) A dependence on the Holy Spirit is absolutely basic if we want to respond effectively to the challenge of glocalization.