One of the alarming things we saw in Belize was the isolation of American missionaries and segregation of local churches. But to be fair, it is not so different from the U.S. I've come to believe that evangelicals worldwide are so afraid of false unity—ecumenicalism, unversalism—they have isolated themselves to the point of ruin, having become as competitive and territorial as the world around them.
When Jesus sent the disciples out on their first short missionary journey, he sent them two by two (not to get group hotel rates) but for mutual support and encouragement. Like Jesus, Paul exhorted believers to solidarity—calling them to like-mindedness and purpose: in a word, “koinonia.” (Philippians 2:1-2)
There is a simple, but profound lesson that we can learn from rice and beans—the staple of many impoverished countries, where a daily diet of meat is beyond their means (see July 8 blog post). Rice is rich in starch, and is an excellent source of energy; it also has iron, vitamin B and protein. Beans are protein-rich, full of iron and critical minerals. While each one affords tolerable nutrition, the two in tandem make a perfect protein not available in either ingredient alone.
As Christians, some of us are like rice; and some of us are like beans. If you are rice, you need beans. And if you are beans, you need rice. The Church will not fulfill its obligation to overpower the gates of hell and set the captives free (Matt. 16:18; Luke 4:18) until it is living the phenomenon of rice and beans.
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