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© 2005

May 24, 2007                      CHRISTIANS IN FRANCE
The Christians in France have made remarkable progress the past few years. The greatest thing that could happen in any mission field has happened to us. The men in at least three congregations have taken control of their own affairs and their choices as autonomous Christian congregations have been interesting. One of the areas in which the French Protestant churches have made shipwreck of any semblance of following the meek and lowly Jesus and his examples with which he drew the disciples to himself with cords of love is the professional pastor system. Slowly after the winds of change swept the religious world during the reformation, all of the reformers managed to keep a substitute for the Priest which the people thought they had gotten rid of. A man still reigned over a congregation complete with a distinctive costume of dress and a religious title which set him apart from the laity. This was not Christian. Even with some sort of governing board loosely called presbyters, deacons, or even elders, strong minded, well to do men managed to stay in control and call the shots for the local church. As a result most of the men of the congregation quickly vacated and they were left with congregations of women. European men, American men, any men who are men will not do a system like that. It is not Christian Once all the men take control of a congregation, one of their first acts as Christians is to boot the foreign paid professional left by a missionary who seems just too much like the ruling pastor of the past. Interesting!

In keeping with these efforts, the annual Retreat of Asçension was held for Christians in the Ardeche Mountains and it went very well. It was attended by a large group of French speaking Christians. All twelve “Non-Professional” speakers put their hearts into their preparation and did an excellent job with their assigned texts. The theme was, “Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love in faith and purity. … I Tim. 4:11-16. All of us old professionals snipped and snorted at the gates, pawed the ground, and wiggled around in our chairs while the young men showed us how it was done. It reminded me of when I coached junior high football in California and we somehow got way overmatched. We were ahead 40-0 in the 2nd quarter and I called back to the school to suit up the 5th and 6th graders and get them to me. To start the 2nd half my big bad tackle didn't want to come out. When asked why not he said, “I like to beat up little kids.” Sometimes we old pros in the church don't want to come out when it is time. I have never been so proud of young men in my life as these young Christians in France.