Missiology: Changing Metaphors of Mission (Gordon Cotterill)
Discussion point #2
"The traditional method of reaching not-yet-Christians has been to bludgeon them into a recognition of how broken they are. To crush their spirit. To tear them down and bring them to their knees… Instead of having such a combative, manipulative spirituality of engagement with others, we believe the church needs to recover a spirituality of engagement that whispers into the souls of not-yet-Christians." (Hirsch and Frost 2004)Hirsch and Frost would challenge us as to the style of our evangelism. Do you agree with their sentiments or feel that today's culture requires a more 'aggressive' form of Christianity? Would to whisper be to compromise or strengthen evangelistic engagement ?
posted by ETLnetwork at 5:52 AM
13 Comments:
The only problem is that too much whispering and softly, softly approach can water down the absolute truth – either you are for God or against Him, no half way. There does need to be balance of course.
Penny PT
Discussion 2 Changing Metaphors of Mission
I am in agreement with this comment . I recently read a book by Nicky Cruz an American evangelist (The gang leader converted in the book A Cross and a Switchblade). He stated that aggressive evangelism does not work . He said that many people know they are sinners and know that they have reached the bottom . What they need is hope for the future which is Grace . Yes, we need to know that there are consequences if we separate ourselves from God . However, I believe in post-modern society people will respond more readily to Grace rather than fear . I have found some of the letters in the Salvationist very unhelpful on this account . Many writers have written in a judgemental uncompromising fashion that sets us up as having all the answers . When in fact we have only the answers that God gives us . Like the society in which we serve we are broken and in constant need of healing . It is by Grace I believe we can lead others to belief . It is because of Grace that we know it is wrong to separate ourselves from God .
Chris Hall
I think in the past there has been a tendency to be aggressive and coercive in evangelism. In my opinion such an attitude today is counter productive and simply alienates people in our society and they disengage. I think this for two reasons. Firstly, people are spiritually aware and feel in our consumer society that they are able to pick and choose their own type of religion. Secondly, since truth is viewed as relative in our culture people are very cynical about any one claiming to have the truth, and aggressive evangelism can be interpreted as intolerance. Jesus allowed people to make a choice and although at times He did challenge people, nonetheless he did not coerce nor manipulate.
I think in today’s cultural environment to whisper would possibly be to strengthen evangelistic engagement since it offers a more considered approach, one that focuses on relationships and love. Postmodern society is in many respects an impoverished one. In it there are alienated, lonely, broken people with no answers. There are people looking for personal fulfillment and some sense of meaning in life. The amount of self-help courses on offer and TV programmes such as Trisha/Oprah are testimony to this. Perhaps by whispering we are being creative and relevant in communicating with the souls of not- yet- Christians in our generation instead of alienating them. I also think our God whispers to the souls of not-yet-Christians long before we arrive on the scene to do so.
Yvonne
Mike Riddells book is a good read on this Yvonne
No way can it ever be acceptable to crush, tear down and bludgeon people that they will fall upon their knees before God . . . this today could be considered a form of abuse.
Yet, I would hate to think that we may be in danger of watering absolute truths because we whisper too softly in fear of upsetting someone.
Ultimately, we have to consider the difference between eternity with God and eternity in hell, for the people we are trying to reach. I would hope and pray that those speaking words of truth and proclamation are discerning as to how God wants to reach the seeking person, and that must be where style is applied. I must admit I love the phrase, 'the church needs to recover a spirituality of engagement what whispers into the souls of not yet Christians', it gives the sense of the Holy Spirit ministering deep within.
Again, I have to consider if there may not be an occasion when a more direct approach may be needed.
With a spiritual awakening in these days albeit by people seeking a pick n' mix experience I have to keep my mind on absolute truths and not be side tracked to find a compromise which may lesson the truth.
Generally, people today do not respond to being told how or what to think but need to make the connection themselves and therefore I cannot see how any kind of aggressive Christianity could be acceptable. Moreover as Yvonne says, Jesus was never aggressive.
We need to be people who will stand firm in our beliefs and be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
I agree with the majority of what previous 'bloggists' have said - In general I would agree with the original quote. There is no room in our society to be aggressive with Christianity - it is a religion that encompasses love and grace. It is true that we must not be guilty of watering down the truth but generally people will not listen to aggressiveness as this could appear as intolerance towards others beliefs. We need to whisper grace and show why Christianity is the faith to follow. I think that we need to be bold in our approach and assertive in explaining our faith but never aggressive. Jesus gave people choice and we must do the same.
I agree with this quote, although i do not believe it is absolute. Especially in a post-modern world there is no absolute truth on what the ideal approach is. I am grateful to Chris for bringing up the story of Nicky Cruz. I would like to add my own story to it.
Aggressive evangelism works when there is a large sence of sin in a person's life. When this sence is missing, this type of evangelism will take the person even further away from God. I never thought about my own sins before I became converted. My sence of sin developed after that. I believe this is the case for many post-modern people.
This has nothing to do with watering down. A story of Grace is much more effective then a story of sin and it is also closer to the 'Good News', the 'Euangelion', or the Gospel.
sence = sense ;) Please read an 's' whenever appropriate...
Marc and Mariska - your English is exceptional :o) thanks for your comments and contribution to the discussion. I'm catching up having been on holiday
I would agree with the quote that an agressive form of evangelism is not right. As christians we are trying to get over a message of love and to do that in an agressive way is not in keeping with that sentiment. However, a softly softly approach does not always work either. I think it very much depends on the sitiuation and the person who you are talking to as to whether or not you have to take the softly softly approach or more on the in your face approach when talking about Jesus. The most important thing is that we spread the news of the gospel and encourage people not turn them away.
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How do we maintain authenticity in our evangelism perhaps is the question? Did you like teh video clip of the Horse Whisperer?
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