Has it ever happened to you that the people you desire to be a witness to, to love and share hope with and encourage actually end up farther away from Jesus? I have a couple of friends, who might even read this, who have gone from Christian to atheist in the time that I have known them. Do I create atheists? Or do I just like people with atheist tendencies? Have I failed my friends? Have I failed Jesus? Has Jesus failed my friend? Has the church failed? Is this just part of their journey?
Anyway this leads me to the question of how we count? If in a given evangelistic effort you have one or more decision to follow Jesus but during the same effort there are double the number of people pushed away, or negatively impacted, was it a success? To what degree should I be concerned about the possibility of negatively impacting others perceptions, thoughts or feelings toward Jesus or Christianity and how should I address that concern? How does one wrestle with the reality that what one person might experience as a message of hope another might hear as ignorant and dogmatic damnation? How do we count the social and communal cost of some evangelism tactics or presentations? With that being said I am not suggesting that we should water down or sugar coat truth... although what exactly the truth is beyond Jesus might lead even us into discussion and disagreement, hence denominations, never mind talking with atheists...
John 14:5-6a
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life."
How does it change things that we believe "the truth" to not be a fact or a tract or a law but a person? What does it mean for a person to be "the truth"? How does that truth relate to other truth? Is all truth Jesus? or God's truth? How do we discern truth? And finally in relation to evangelism how do we express truth? or our understanding of it anyway?
It would be my conviction that love and humility are required for all discussions, and actions, of truth. Love of truth and each other and humility to recognize both personal and human limitations. I believe these ingredients will minimize evangelism blow back; they may also give people the freedom to become agnostic or atheists as they seek and pursue truth... Do we love people enough to give them freedom? We believe God does.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Faith Outreach
I got a letter recently from a SAC young adult doing a YWAM Discipleship Training School in Thailand. During her time there, she went on what was called a faith outreach. They got on a bus with a destination but with no plan. Upon arrival they prayed for direction and guidance, and stepped out in obedience, as they felt led, uncertain of where they were going or what would happen. That week they met a family who had never heard about Jesus and through their contact with this family the whole household has come to faith and put their hope in Jesus. The school will be returning to visit and follow up with the family in a few weeks as part of another outreach.
What would happen if we gave God our time like this? even just a day, an afternoon or hour... Why is it so difficult for us to step out like this at home? Let's be more intentionally available and create open time for God to direct us.
Luke 10
1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two[a] others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. 5 “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
Is it possible that this could be our testimony? Sent out with nothing, making incredible kingdom impact...
What would happen if we gave God our time like this? even just a day, an afternoon or hour... Why is it so difficult for us to step out like this at home? Let's be more intentionally available and create open time for God to direct us.
Luke 10
1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two[a] others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. 5 “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
Is it possible that this could be our testimony? Sent out with nothing, making incredible kingdom impact...
Monday, January 10, 2011
Priority Evangelism
If you could be involved in just one person deciding to follow Jesus in 2011 who would it be and why? Would you pick Marilyn Manson or some similar anti Christian celebrity? Would you pick a politician like Kim Jong-il the leader of North Korea? Would you pick someone with a talk show like Ellen or Oprah? Or someone closer and less globally powerful like your neighbour? or your parents? kids? or spouse? Would you pick the homeless man or woman in downtown Abbotsford? the drug addict? or prostitute? Who would you prioritize? How would you prioritize?
My wife used to or perhaps still does pray for the salvation of celebrities like Marilyn Manson. For better or worse I have never done this. I think it is interesting to contemplate how we prioritize evangelism. Missionaries have often prioritized the "chief" or tribal leader in a community with great success. Mission organization currently often prioritize "least reached" people groups. Many Christians argue for a priority for the poor whereas others clearly prioritize those homogeneous to themselves. I find it interesting to contemplate Jesus disinterest in pursuing those in power and repeated choice of the lowly person: fisherman, outcast, rebel, poor, sick, adulteress etc. In fact when Jesus had opportunity to engage with those in power such as the Chief Priests or Pilate or Herod he is mostly silent. Paul on the other hand almost seeks out those in power to preach to, although finds his way to them through condemnation and by being arrested rather than seeking audiences specifically. However, while Jesus spoke very little to Pilate, Paul is bent on taking his message to the emperor. Do we seek disciples among powerful leaders? or insignificant fisherman? How do you decide how to prioritize your evangelism? Is Jesus vs. Paul a false dichotomy?
My wife used to or perhaps still does pray for the salvation of celebrities like Marilyn Manson. For better or worse I have never done this. I think it is interesting to contemplate how we prioritize evangelism. Missionaries have often prioritized the "chief" or tribal leader in a community with great success. Mission organization currently often prioritize "least reached" people groups. Many Christians argue for a priority for the poor whereas others clearly prioritize those homogeneous to themselves. I find it interesting to contemplate Jesus disinterest in pursuing those in power and repeated choice of the lowly person: fisherman, outcast, rebel, poor, sick, adulteress etc. In fact when Jesus had opportunity to engage with those in power such as the Chief Priests or Pilate or Herod he is mostly silent. Paul on the other hand almost seeks out those in power to preach to, although finds his way to them through condemnation and by being arrested rather than seeking audiences specifically. However, while Jesus spoke very little to Pilate, Paul is bent on taking his message to the emperor. Do we seek disciples among powerful leaders? or insignificant fisherman? How do you decide how to prioritize your evangelism? Is Jesus vs. Paul a false dichotomy?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)