Keeping It On My Radar: Christianity's Center Moves South

Ever since I read Philip Jenkins' "The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity", and Padilla and Scott's "Terrorism and the War in Iraq: A Christian Word From Latin America,"  I found myself especially drawn toward anything in the media related to Christianity's "center" shifting from Northern to Southern hemispheres, as well as giving ear to what Christian leaders from the "South" are saying... about our faith, about the future, and about the "North."

I quickly came to realize that my brothers and sisters in the South possessed a unique perspective and ethical authority for addressing, lets' say, the woes of mainstream American Christianity, in a way that stings and awakens us to our dangerous predicament (e.g. runaway consumerism, subtle arrogance).

As the months have whizzed by, however, I've noticed how quickly the North-to-South phenomenon has seemed to drop from view.  But why?  Is it simply because we "Northerners" are unconsciously insulating ourselves from the critiques and pleas (and sometimes the rebukes) our Southern brethren are sending our way?  Is it because we are far more bigoted than we dare admit, allowing our angst over illegal immigration or some other "legitimate" issue divert our attention from our own failures?

Are any "voices" from Christianity's Southern hemisphere still managing to break through?  Is anyone out there still listening?

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Comments

[Dana Ames]

Hey Chris-
good thing you're keeping it on your radar... I'm surprised, but not too surprised, at the lack of comments.

I think it's D:all of the above...

Dana

[Chris]

Thanks, Dana.

There are several things I'm wanting to "keep on my radar" -- kinda forcing myself to deal with important realities that I might otherwise be tempted to dismiss.

Thanks again for the encouragement.

Blessings,

Chris