I grabbed this from Janessa's note on facebook. Thanks Janessa!
Here are some interesting statements from Richard Peace who taught at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
People "are suspicious of evangelism because they feel that it is irrelevant to what they understand to be the 'real issues' in the world today - such as hunger, racial hatred and war," and, "It has often been said that the reason there are so many social problems is that 'not enough people care.' True enough. But often people do not care because they cannot care. Their own problems are so deep and so consuming that they can only be concerned about themselves. Such people can begin to care only when they start to cope with these personal needs. This becomes possible when they find new life in Christ. Evangelism is therefore the foundation for social concern, in that by finding Christ, individuals are freed enough from their own needs to be able to reach out to meet the needs of others."
Thoughts?
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4 comments:
I think this quote is helpful and worthy of reflection. It is a great reminder that transformation comes through God and His work through His people!
But I also have seen evangelism come through service, thereby interweaving the two.
My only hesitation with Dr. Peace's thoughts is that it makes evangelism a means to an end, an end other than worship of God. I mean, I understand he is likely trying to influence the people overly focused on social justice to think more about Jesus' mandate to make disciples, but one can do this by focusing on the glorious work of Christ and the implications of such work. I do not believe we must be in a position to try to show how evangelism will help other social causes (in light of the current social movement). Evangelism, compassion, mercy all flow from a transformed life, with the ministry of the Word being primary in a life filled with compassion.
Maybe I am off-base...would love push-back or feedback. Please help me think through this...it's such a crucial issue today.
Janessa, thanks for fuel for reflection.
Danny, your point that evangelism and mercy flow from a life transformed by God hits the center of my reaction to Dr. Peace's points.
By all appearances, conversion in itself (the sought response to evangelism) doesn't produce caring that leads to action in the area of social concern. I believe this caring comes through studying Scripture and acting on conviction about what Scripture tells us to do; and, I think it comes from discipleship, from being spurred on by each other, and from living life with folks in such a way that we 1. become aware of the needs around us, and 2. are challenged to show God-given, Spirit-impelled love to that neighbour in ways that are congruent with what we see in Scripture (and I'll add to that idea, "life in the Kingdom of God").
The other thought I'd like to raise again is that caring doesn't come through conversion (the sought response to evangelism) per se. We each could probably quickly think of a dozen people who would not identify themselves as "born again" Christians, but are all about the business of caring. I think this is part of God's amazing graciousness to us in this world, that He dispenses His grace and mercy to His creation through people who have not confessed Him as Lord. We do not deserve to know such lavish kindness from God. That said, while what I've read of Dr. Peace's thoughts in these quotes is helpful, I'm not yet compelled by his case for evangelism on the grounds that caring comes from it. If, as I think it would be fantastic for him to do, he were suggesting that discipleship and evangelism->conversion are pretty inextricably linked to each other, I think our like-mindedness has more overlap than I, at the present moment, perceive we do. Here's the overlapping thought that resonates for me: evangelism offers one an invitation to live life in the Kingdom of God, confessing Christ as Lord in repentance, living in glad and loving submission to Him, and in joyful love and deference to each other for His service and worship--in that we find conviction and passion in our hearts to see justice and mercy lived out, as we eagerly seek palpable evidences of God's plan of redemption in this life as a taste of the hope of the eternal life to come.
Yeah I would probably agree with both of you on this issue. I would also agree with him, though it seems a little lacking in really drawing everything out. I began to actively work on justice issues after becoming a born again christian, however, there are millions of american christians who are in strict evangelical cirlces, many born again, probably, who don't seem to care about people different from them(go to the Bible belt where I'm from or study civil rights history slavery etc,) so it's not as simple as he makes it, or at least his statement seems reactionary maybe. People becoming born again is the starting point for social concern for invdividuals many times or it should be, but not without the whole counsel of God and his teaching on the poor etc. We know this because we have all been alive long enough to see the lack of concern and are at least moderately familiar with american history.
If the way that he is promoting we approach evangelism and justice(although right minded in signifcant ways) would actually result in what he is saying, as simply as he seems to suggest, then American History and race relations(minorites and whites even white evangelicals) etc., I suspect, would be a bit different.
Also, I'm not sure what people he's talking about who are afraid of evangelism. I think there are those who are afraid to do evangelism(has nothing to do with social justice, just fear), those who don't believe its necessary, and those who do. I don't think any signifcant portion of Christians don't do it because there afraid it will take away from the real issues. If he's talking about actual liberal christians they generally dont believe in hell or dont believe many people go there anyway so theres no delimna. Another group emergents/emerging whatever, may fall into the category he's talking about so his comments are relevant in that sense although they won't find it convincing at all. Perhaps he means those he sees heading in the emergent direction or something. Idk.
I think that evangelism is a command to be carried out in a spirit of love and led by the Holy Spirit.
From the word, we can tell that the same God who asks us to reach the world on His behalf through his empowerment is also deeply concerned that we embody justice.
I definitely think justice means breaking through lies with truth. Sometimes this means telling those who have been oppressed and taken advantage of that they are made in God's image and dearly beloved by our maker. This sounds a lot like spreading the Good News.
I think in many ways they are one and the same thing. Bringing justice means making disciples and making disciples involves the works of evangelism, justice and mercy.
Hooray for a little John 3:16 meets Isa 42 action.
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