56f4dda37787211c676912b29045bbaa - Evangelical Brazilian Diaspora

By Elias Medeiros

THE BIBLICAL WORDS

1. “Diaspora” (from the Greek

theme in redemptive history.

2. In the Old Testament the Hebrew words translated in the LXX as

diaspora), is a biblical word and a crucial biblicaldiaspora,

have been translated in the English Bible translations as : “removed,” “driven

out,” “scattered,” “banished,” “exiled,” “dispersed,” “outcast,” “exiles,”

“preserved,” “remnant [which were scattered],” even “horrified.”

3. In the New Testament the word:

“dispersion,” “dispersed,” “scattered.”

diaspora , has been translated in English as

PEOPLE IN DIASPORA

4. The Scriptures are filled with cases of people in DIASPORA. Genesis 1:28

“Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill

the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds

of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’” Being fruitful,

multiply, fill the earth, subdue it, and have dominion would also imply

voluntary “DIASPORAS.”

5. What happened when, after the flood, descendants of Noah decided to

remain in one place?

a. “Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. And it came

to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the

land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. Then they said to one another,

"Come, let us make bricks and bake

for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. And they said, "Come, let

us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top

us make a name for ourselves,

face of the whole earth." (Genesis 11:1-4. Bold added).

b. The problems are clearly stated: (1) let us build “a tower whose top

them thoroughly." They had brickis in the heavens; letlest we be scattered abroad over theis

in the heavens; (2) let us make a name for ourselves; and (3) “lest we

be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” First, it

demonstrates the arrogance of those building the city and the tower: “a

tower whose top

Second, it was man-centered–“let us...lest we.” And third, from their

sinful, arrogant perspective, it would be a disaster for them to be

scattered abroad. But God’s will and determination since the

beginning was for men and women to spread and subdue the earth.

Their plan here was standing up against the creator of the universe.

c. The Diaspora (the scattering) and the confusion of the languages from

a “plain in the land of Shinar” manifest both God’s judgment and

displeasure as well His loving grace with the descendants of Noah

after the universal flood. Instead of destroying the people, The LORD

stopped their arrogant project by using the means of Diaspora and

confusion of languages in order to fulfill His redemptive purposes

through the seed of Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3).

d. “But

sons of men had built. And

is in the heavens,” and “a name for ourselves.”the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which thethe LORD said, ‘Indeed the people are

one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do;

now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.

Come,

may not understand one another's speech.’ So

them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased

building the city. Therefore its name is called Babel, because there

the LORD confused the language

LORD scattered

11:5-9. Bolded added).

e. “But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower...” (Genesis

11:5). The LORD rules over and controls every human Diaspora.

Nothing in heavens and on earth goes on without God’s

superintendence. He sees everything. He sees not only in the sense

of knowing what is going on, but in the sense of sovereignly interfering

in everything. Everything that happens in the heavens and on earth

(including all Diasporas) is the Creator’s business. As Genesis 11:7-8

clarify, the Diaspora provoked by the LORD and the confusion of the

languages were means to restrain greater evil–“now nothing that they

propose to do will be withheld from them” (Genesis 11:6).

6. Therefore, do not be afraid of DIASPORAS. It was God’s purpose since the

beginning. We are the ones who continue with our Babel complex. We want

to be centripetal. Never centrifugal.

7. God has always sovereignly moved His people and the world in such

DIASPORAS. Some DIASPORAS happened due to our sins (as a curse) but

even so, the LORD used His servants to be a blessing for the nations.

Example: God called Abraham from the place of Shinar (Chaldea) and

blessed Him to be a blessed among a “cursed” people (the Canaanites cf.

Genesis 9:25).

8. In other cases the DIASPORA happened as the LORD determined and used

unpredicted circumstances to bless His people (Joseph and Jacob’s family

going down to Egypt–Psalm 80:1; 81:5; 105:17). In other words, God does

not send us the way we always expect and want. We cannot predict, explain,

and control the ways God is going to use and to deploy His servants. He is

sovereign.

9. We have examples in the Scriptures of DIASPORAS of whole nations. But

the fact remains: God blessed the nations through His people in DIASPORA.

Remember Abraham, Joseph, Moses, the Israelite young maid in Syria.

Consider 2 Kings 5:1-4:

“Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a

great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him

the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of

valor,

brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited

on Naaman's wife. Then she said to her mistress, ‘If only my master

of all the earth; and from there thethem abroad over the face of all the earth” (Genesisbut a leper. And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had
were

leprosy.’ And

thus said the girl who

Who could forget Jeremiah, Daniel, and other godly leaders whom the LORD

used in Diaspora?

10. In John 7:35 we read: “So the Jews said to one another, 'Where is he [Jesus]

intending to go that we shall not be able to find him? Is he intending to go

abroad to the people who are dispersed [

to teach the Greeks?’”

a. Characteristic of a voluntary active diaspora–“Is he intending to go

abroad...?”

b. Voluntary active diaspora with a specific purpose: “to teach the

Greeks?”

11. James, the brother of Jesus, wrote to Jewish believers living among the

nations: “James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the

twelve tribes which are

1:1).

a. “Which are” could indicate both “voluntary active diaspora” as well as

“involuntary diaspora.”

b. Were they in dispersion because they were already scattered when

they heard the gospel? or Were they scattered because they had been

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with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of hisNaaman went in and told his master, saying, ‘Thus andis from the land of Israel.’”diasporan.n. ] among the Greeks andscattered abroad [diaspora]/| : Greetings” (James
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answered and said to Him, "Are You the only

have You not known the things which happened there in these days?"

forced to leave due to their believing in the gospel? Probably the

former.

12. Peter also wrote to both Gentile and Jewish believers living among the

nations. We have, at least, two letters in the New Testament written

specifically for believers living in a Diaspora context: James and Peter. But

many (most?) of the books of the Bible were written while their inspired

writers lived in Diaspora. Moses wrote the Pentateuch while moving from

Egypt and before entering the “promised” land. Some prophets wrote their

prophetical books while living in Diaspora (example: Daniel in Babylon). Most

of the New Testament books were written from outside Jerusalem. Servants

of the Lord living and ministering in a Diaspora context.

13. Let us consider Peter’s statements: “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the
The word used in Luke 24:18 “Then the one whose name was Cleopasstranger [visitor] in Jerusalem, and
pilgrims of the Dispersion

Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia” (1 Peter 1:1). Peter, in his letter, uses two

different words in order to qualify those who are in DIASPORA: (1)
[parepidhm,m, oij diasporaj/j/ ] in Pontus, Galatia,
parepid,d, hmoj

land to reside there by the side of the natives;” (2) and

the sense of foreigners (sojourners)–“a stranger, a foreigner, one who lives in

a place without the right of citizenship.”
–pilgrims–“one who comes from a foreign country into a city orpar,r, oikoj–strangers in1
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14. In Ephesians 2:19 Paul uses the words

2:19).

some group of people (strange in the context of the covenant; or someone

without knowlege or without a share in).

15. Hebrews 11:13 “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but

having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced

confessed that they were

residing abroad (?)”] and pilgrims [parepid,d, hmoj] on the earth.” Theis the LORD's, And He rules over the nations”

SO, WHAT DO THESE THINGS HAVE TO DO WITH EVANGELICAL BRAZILIAN

DIASPORA TODAY?

18.

an example. But whatever is written below can be applied to all other

nations. After all every nation counts on the presence, participation,

influence (good or bad), and contribution of “diasporers” or “expatriates”

(short-term, long-term, or those who have already acquired a citizenship

status). The Diaspora is a worldwide phenomenon. There are millions of

North Americans, Hispanics, Africans, Arabs, Koreans, Chinese, Brazilians,

etc. living in Diaspora (in Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa, and so forth).
A Preliminary Remark: Throughout the following report I have used USA as
THE PROFILE OF THE THIRD EVANGELICAL BRAZILIAN DIASPORA

PARTICIPANTS

19. The 3

city of Fürth, South of Frankfurt, on November 7-11, 2006.

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20. We had approximately 70 participants–representatives from Brazil, India,

Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Great Britain, Spain, USA, Nepal, Syria,

Switzerland, Japan, France, and Germany.

21. The participants came from diverse denominational and non-denominational

backgrounds representing a variety of evangelical theological perspectives.

But all of them were committed to the ultimate authority of the Scriptures (the

Holy Bible) as their rule of faith and practice.

22. The participants of the Consultation defined “evangelical” as those who are

personally committed to and in communion with the Lord Jesus Christ, and

who take the Holy Scriptures as their rule of faith and practice.
rd Evangelical Brazilian Diaspora Consultation took place in the small
THE MOTTO AND A FINAL DOCUMENT OF THE CONSULTATION

23. The motto of the consultation was John 15:8: “By this My Father is glorified,

that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” Each speaker related

his/her topic to this passage of the Scriptures without distorting the context of

the Biblical text.

24. A document, voted and approved by all participants, was issued at the end of

the consultation (see the following webpage:

http://www.adiasporabrasileira.com/alemanha_2006.htm).

MY PERSONAL OVERALL IMPRESSION AND EXPECTATIONS REGARDING

THE EVANGELICAL BRAZILIAN DIASPORA IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY

25. The participants were very much aware of the necessity to ground all their

discussions (expositional, historical, strategic, experiential, etc) in dialogue

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with and under the scrutiny of the Word of God (the Scriptures) while at the

same time calling the participants to seriously consider the practical

implications and applications of everything presented and discussed.

26. One of the main strategic concerns had to do with the place, the role, and the

need to mobilize self-supporting and evangelical Christians living in the

Diaspora context to evangelize other non-evangelical Brazilians and non-

Brazilians, as well as to contribute positively in the context of the local

churches and in the planting of new congregations. The participants also

realized that immediate and adequate biblical and cross-cultural continuing

education is indispensable for everyone. Such God-glorifying-centered kind

of education will enable the Evangelical Brazilian “diasporers” to impact their

local communities as well as all other ethnic groups at their reach.

ISSUES THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION DURING THE DISCUSSIONS AND

PERSONAL CONVERSATIONS

27. First, the need for greater involvement of local churches and denominational

groups (Brazilian and nationals) within the context of these Diaspora groups.

For instance, there is a great potential for partnership between the

evangelical American churches (and denominations) and these different

evangelical groups in Diaspora. Imagine the impact that such endeavors

may, by God’s grace, lead to–both in terms of reaching out to different ethnic

groups within, let us say, USA, in terms of church planting, development of

leadership, transformation of communities for the glory of God and the

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positive influence within the country, as well as the impact towards the

process of church revitalization/renewal of the national churches and

denominations both at home and abroad.

28. Second, there is a great opportunity for educating the ecclesiastical ethnic

leadership in the context of the Diaspora itself. Evangelical theological

institutions (Bible Institutes, Colleges, Universities, Seminaries) can also play

a crucial role within such Diaspora. Those living in Diaspora will need such

education and training and the national denominations can greatly contribute

in this regard. As a matter of fact, some Theological Institutions are already

working towards the possibilities of offering such training (including degrees)

using the Portuguese, Korean, and Spanish languages, for instance.

29. Third, after participating in two international Diaspora consultations, after

considering the statistics, and after reflecting on the potential for the

“missionary” work through those in the Diaspora (Korean, Hispanic, Brazilian,

Filipino, American, etc), I have concluded that

Diaspora are one the most strategic “missionary” forces in the history

of missions

the early church were all living in the context of Diaspora. Peter and James

wrote specifically to the church living in the context of a Diaspora. The history

of the church throughout the centuries proves that thesis. The Reformers

(John Calvin, for example), the Puritans, and other evangelical groups lived

and influenced while living in the Diaspora. We should never forget that USA,

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for instance, owe much of their “progress” (educational, religious, economic,

ethical, etc) and biblical worldview to the 17

30. Fourth, the evangelical groups and denominations who remain apart from

and with apathy towards this

church will be missing one of the greatest moments in the history of the

Christian mission of this new century. We need more expatriate

“missionaries.” We will need more “self-supporting” missionaries. But the

reality is this: those evangelical living in the Diaspora represent the largest

self-supporting contingency of an already present missionary force spread,

located, and settled among, practically, all the peoples groups of the world

today (at least in all the main cities of the world today).

31. Fifth, we cannot dismiss or take lightly the problem of illegal immigrants. But

there is no better way to help any country than to reach out to all immigrants

with the transforming message of the Lord Jesus Christ. Even the forefathers

of USA, for instance, understood the correlation between conversion,

education, and citizenship; between godly living and the political, social,

economic, and ethical development of a nation.

32. Sixth, there is an urgent need for evangelical “diasporers” who occupy a

position of leadership (political, diplomatic, academic, denominational,

scientific, business, etc) to become aware of their crucial place and role of

building bridges and developing relationships and understanding both

between the “diasporers” and the national groups as well as between the

“diasporers” and their country of origin.

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33. Finally, let us never forget that our eternal citizenship which is in heaven

surpasses our earthly citizenship. It is not a license for illegality, but for

developing respect for all brothers and sisters in Christ. As we begin to

strengthen our brotherly love and respect within the context of the evangelical

churches (both national and “abroad”) as evangelical brothers and sisters, we

will be able to work together on other areas. As we worship together, work

together, and grow together in mutual respect and openness, we will be able

to make a difference in our societies as we clearly proclaim the good news of

salvation and transformation through the living and preaching (teaching,

witnessing) of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
evangelical believers in. After all Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Daniel, andth Century Puritan Diaspora.kairos moment in the history of the Christian
CONCLUSION

34. What is happening is greater, bigger, without precedence (due to the

technological developments, easy communication, and potential networking).

It is more powerful and strategic than most Christian leaders have ever

realized. What an opportunity for both evangelical “diasporers” and

evangelical nationals! I am not a prophet; nor a son of a prophet; and I work

for a non-profit organization, but we do not need a Ph.D. degree to discern

what is happening worldwide. My “prophetic” point is this: any evangelical

church or denomination that becomes indifferent to this historical moment will

regret later. The movement is not starting. It has already speedily taken off

and it will not stop nor slowing down soon. We are catching the plane or the

train already on the move. Let us embark together on this riding. There will

be many turbulence (theological, strategic, ethical) but the plane will land

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safely for the Glory of God, the edification of His church, and the salvation of

the unconverted.

Scriptures, then, are filled with reference to those who lived and made a

difference as “diasporers” (Abraham, Joseph, Jacob, Moses, Daniel, etc).

16. The history of the expansion of the Christian Church yesterday, today, and

tomorrow–past, present, and future–can not be explained apart from the

historical reality of God sovereignly ruling over the nations and over the

moving of His people everywhere.

“For the kingdom

(Psalm 22:28).

“He rules by His power forever; His eyes observe the nations; Do not

let the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah” (Psalm 66:7).

“The LORD has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom

rules over all” (Psalm 103:19).

17. The so-called “Great Commission” texts assume the participation of those

who are purposely sent to the nations (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15, 19-20;

Luke 24:45-47; Acts 1:8) as well as those who have been dispersed for other

immediate reasons (political, economic, educational, ethic, and so

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forth–Isaiah 49:6; Daniel 12:2). After all, the Lord rules over the place and

the time of our habitations (Acts 17:26-27). The expansion of the early

church in the book of Acts; the final gathering of God’s people spread

throughout the world and from among all the nations at the second coming of

Christ; and the grandiose worshipful celebration in heaven (read Revelation

5:8-10); all presuppose the significant role and ministry of every evangelical

Christian.
xen,n, oj, and par,r, oikoj (Ephesiansxen,n, oj–stranger in the sense of alien, alienated from something orthem andstrangers [xen,n, oj aliens, “those temporarilylet Us go down and there confuse their language, that theythe LORD scattered