"Parochialism: “Narrowly restricted in scope or outlook; provincial”
I often tell our people that, “a local church is not a local church.” While we certainly should be concerned across the street, we need also to think about around the world.
Stuart Briscoe writes that parochialism is a scourge:
The vision of John recorded in Revelation 5:9 tells of the throne of the Lamb of God being surrounded by people from ‘every tribe and language and people and nation.’ This is a fulfillment of the promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3, “All peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” In between these bookend statements, there is ample evidence that right from the beginning the church was both local and global – -some call it glocal! Call it what you will, there is no doubt that the resource-laden church in the West and the comparatively impoverished church in the developing world are all part of one body, the church of Christ. They belong to each other. Parochialism is a scourge; a worldview is imperative. Both must learn to share and encourage, to instruct and support – – the West from their abundant resources while carefully avoiding loading David with Saul’s armour; the developing world from their rich store of experience of fundamental spiritual dynamics and brave commitment, which the West all too often lacks. This requires more than a casual interest in international affairs on the part of many believers. International affairs are happening where our brothers and sisters live – -and many die. It demands more than a ten-day mission trip . . .
