Belgium is a complex country. This is simply because over the centuries it has undergone so many radical changes of culture and leadership. For a concise summary of the political history Click Here. This is in significant contrast to the UK where there has been hundreds of years without invasion. The mindset is therefore quite different.
The current political view from the outside appears to be one of division. One country with 3 very different federal regions: Flanders, the Flemish speaking north/west and Wallonia, the French speaking south/east (with a bit of German thrown in too). Lastly Bruxsels, the cosmopolitan capital and central seat of European government. The flemish & french sides of the country have regular political differences with a significant minority often shouting for independance from the other. The resulting attitude is a paradox – one of compromise yet still wanting to remain very committed to personal values.
Relationally the Belgian is more likely to hold very deep, committed friendships with a few trusted people rather than be open to everyone.
These aspects of character mean that evangelism has become both culturally and personally uncomfortable for a lot of people. This along side the nominal Roman Catholicism in the nation makes for quite an interesting mix!
I also find the Belgian State to be paradoxical in that it is completely secular in it’s political stances with education and relational values. Yet it is the government that traditionally maintains and pays for much of the work in the Roman Catholic church. In recent years a few radical Cardinals have made headlines by standing against the states “political correctnes”, particularly with views on the gay community and the church.
The Bible is not a common book in Belgium. In contrast to the UK where many households have at least one copy, under the pre-second vatican environment (pre 1966) it was illegal to have a copy of the bible. Only priests had that privilage, and then only in Latin. So the word of God had never been heard or read in their mother tongue. To this day this is still a significant hurdle to jump.
Whilst the Roman Catholic church is still the states ‘official’ church, it is now very poorly attended.
As far as ‘evangelical’ Christian witness goes – the ‘reformed’ churches (Baptist / Methodist / Penticostal / Lutheran etc.) were considered sects until fairly recently. They currently gain recognision under a combined ‘synod’ that allows them to be called church, but they are still quite few in number. The Pelgrim is one of just 29 Baptist churches in the whole country and only 25% of these have a Pastor. To be an independant congregation like the UK house church movement that has grown into Pioneer / Vineyard / New Frontiers and the like, would be to be seen as a sect. As such, offerings would be heavily taxed and no freedom to witness legally.
HOWEVER !!!
In our time in Belgium that we saw real change. The body grew - with new believers, not transfers. We found a heart in people to see Belgium minister among the rest of Europe. We believe that the vision that was left will see new congregations planted and that as people continue to search & hear the word – faith will grow ! (Romans 10v14-17)
