Friday Finds
Some Snippets:
From the bookshelf:
I’m currently reading
Logic of Evangelism by William J. Abraham, and
Finding Common Ground: How to Communicate With Those Outside the Christian Community…While We Still Can by Tim Downs.
I’ll have a post on these a little later next week.
Questions for Evangelism
Vanguard church writes an article called Appreciative Inquiry Evangelism. The question introduces a series of yet to be written posts about evangelism that is cast a little differently than sin/salvation.
What if we saw people not primarily as sinners, but as image-bearers? How would our evangelism look different if we appreciated all people, affirming their past and present strengths and successes? What if we valued people as human beings first rather than as merely possible candidates to become Christians? What if instead of seeing people as inherently flawed that we saw them with inherent potential?
And…What if our interaction with people helped them explore and discover those potentialities and possibilities that God wants to flourish in them? What if we could introduce them to the Redeemer of all things, Jesus Christ, who wants to restore us to our image-bearing glory? What if we framed the gospel around a desired destiny rather than a defeatist depravity?
It raises some great questions and seeks to speak to some of the richness of the gospel — its good news because its also an invitiaton to step into God’s destiny for you — You have been created to do good works that have been prepared in advance for you to do (Eph 2.10)
MMM. . . . That’s a good question
Over at their blog, they raise a question: What is Gospel to you? The best quote there is:
My “best” attempts at evangelism have been “dimmer-switch”-based. That’s a new phrase I picked up from TheOffRamp.org, describing how people probably already have some interaction with God before I ever start a conversation, and if in the course of time we turn up the dimmer switch and shine that light a little brighter into the crevices of our lives, then we’ve done our job.
When you consider evangelism as seed sowing, this is an interesting metaphor.
The Terminal
Presbyterian Global Fellowships blog has an article looking at the metahpor of a “terminal.” It’s a good read.
It struck me that the church is a lot like an airport terminal. The purpose of the airport terminal is not to get a lot of people to stay in the terminal as if it was their final destination. The purpose of the airport terminal is to help people make connections so they can get somewhere else (to another city, to somewhere else in the same city as the terminal, to meet a loved one, or to an important business meeting).
Another definition
Paul Siems, an Evangelical Lutheran pastor, posted this definition on his blog:
Evangelism is the communication of Life
Evangelism is both proclamation as well as an invitation to join God’s work. Communication is a two way street, so some response of the listener might be implied. I look forward to how he’ll develop the fullness of that definition.
Have a great weekend folks.
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A lot of things to think about Chris,
I have found in my own personal evangelism and discipleship that being positive and treating people with love and kindness is what needs to be done to build and maintain relationships.
Then through our witness and love, we pray for God to open doors for us to share the gospel.
But…
I have evangelized to many people and I know only one gospel. It is convicting and some do not agree with it or enjoy hearing it, because it reveals the truth about them, which is that they “are” a sinner. That’s the gospel. Jesus had to die for us because we have sinned against the Father.
So I don’t think that it should be one or the other, we should both view people as made in the image of God and treat them respect and love and kindness. But we should also know and understand original sin.
In His loving grace,
Pilgrim
Pilgrim:
It is a wonderful tension to maintain, isn’t it? Showing love and respect for the friendship, and helping people discover their sinfulness and separation from God.
I believe the gospel is so rich with so many wonderful aspects that to just focus on one single issue is to short change the fullness of good news.
I’m not for hiding and concealing the reality of sin in our sharing. I’m not about removing elements from the gospel.
I clearly believe we are sinful (being) and sinners (doers) and as such we are separated from God, and in need of a Savior.
But, it may not always be my starting point in my discussions.
Chris
I read the post at vanguard too, and will be interested to see how he unpacks it. I have a lot of sympathy for the approach of starting with our dignity, image-bearing, nature … that is after all how the biblical narrative starts.
For me, sin is self-centredness or selfishness, that stops us becoming all that God created us to be. Of course that is important, but we don’t need to convince people that they are sinners, we just need to get them following Jesus, when they (we) will learn to give up our self for the sake of others, and the Kingdom.
My own experience was that i did change my life, i did “repent”, i didn’t carry on doing what i used to do … but no-one used the words sin or repentance. i just met and was captivated by Jesus…
Pastor Chris,
I’m delighted to find your blog after your visit to mine. You are doing exciting things here, and I look forward to many future visits! Thank you.
… Billy Abraham is one of my professors, and I can certainly vouch for his evangelical zeal, charm, and skill.