Okay, I've been gone for almost two months. I'm horrible at this blog thing so far, but this is a new day and I'm going to start my blog again. The primary reason is because I started to write a book last week and last night I realized that I need to wait about ten years before even thinking seriously about writing a book (what do I really have to say, honestly?!), so this will be my writing outlet until then...
For the last two summers, I have gone overseas with a missions organization called Royal Servants (www.royalservants.org) In 2003 I went to Nepal and in 2004 I went to Northern Ireland. I recently had a discussion about missions and youth and all sorts of related things with good friend Dawnette, who is definitely one of those Christians who strives to love like Christ and isn't afraid of the questions that come with all of that. Anyway, we were talking about missions in the context of the summer youth ministry that we are familiar with and realized there are some big questions. Those questions have been with me for the last week or so, and I just wish I had some answers. I wish I knew the best way to share my faith. Honestly, I'm a wuss. Most of the time, even when a conversation would naturally move towards spiritual things, I wuss out. Instead, I simply tell myself that "they will know I am a Christian by my love, by my love." And you know what, I believe that's true. When it comes down to any type of ministry or missions, I believe love has to be first and foremost. If we're not loving, then we're not being "little-Christs," and if we're not being little Christ's, then we're not pointing people towards Christ, and if we're not doing that, then we are really in trouble.
I often wonder about my faith and how it is best communicated. You see, I'm not one of those go-out-and-scream-about-Jesus kinda people. I never have been and, although I am not a prophet, do not see that happening anytime soon. To me, that turns people away from Christ rather than draws them to Him, but I also don't think I should sit passively by and let spiritual discussion become the rarity in dialogue. So the question is, When do I speak about my faith and when do I let actions speak for themselves? Is this enough? When do I take a leap and acknowledge verbally our faith and trust in Jesus Christ? How do we do that that compels people towards Christ instead of turning them away from Him?
I am going to quote a good friend of mine here, whose name is Marcia May Ghali. I recently read something she wrote and agree whole-heartedly: "I don't think there is any difference between preaching the gospel and serving the poor, but I do think that there is a difference between evangelizing and preaching the gospel. Maybe I'm walking on thin ice, but I think that we are too concerned with pulling souls over this line that we can't see or define. I don't think its my job to get people saved, I think that is up to the working of the Holy Spirit. And of course I believe He uses us for that purpose, and that's where preaching the gospel comes in. In Egypt, its not often that people convert because of really good evangelistic methods and it usually happens because of dreams and visions. So pray for dreams and visions and pray that Christians would have the power to love, to preach the gospel to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, and proclaim freedom for the captives. Words aren't working. The Four Spiritual Laws just don't cut it. I don't have the answers, and I'm not exactly sure how this looks in real life. All I know is that something in me has to change, and I think I'm slowing beginning to see all that, but there are miles to go before I sleep. "
If "words aren't working," then why not? And when do words work, because certainly the gift of language can and should be used for God's glory and proclamation, right? Is it simply a cultural issue where words can work in places like America or Ireland, but not as much in Egypt and Nepal? How do we actually take our faith from something internal and make it something external? How do we entertain dialogues and questions and random musings on God and religion?
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2 comments:
Stephen, your words, as well as Marcia's, have definitely been making me think. I want to talk a little bit about what Marcia said about evangelism, preaching the gospel and all that good stuff, and also about your comments on places and cultures such as Egypt and Nepal.
First off, we were told when we went to Nepal that people are coming to Christ mostly through miracles, as we have been told in Egypt that they are doing so through visions and dreams. As we say in Egypt, Al Hamdillallah (Praise be to God; and I didn't spell that right). But we also experienced 60 people making decisions for Christ in Nepal. Although some would argue the validity of these decisions, I can not deny how I saw God moving in a great way through our love, our performances and- the four spiritual laws that we used to tell people about Him. So, yes, I believe that God works in different ways in different cultures. And I also believe we should seek to know the culture better so that we may love better and pray accordingly. But I am also very hesitant to put God in the box of a culture and take the mindset that He can't or won't work through a specific way.
I also see something happening in Christianity that is an issue with balance. For many years evangelism has been a major mode of missions and preaching the gospel to the nations. I think that there has been a flaw of a lack of social justice type gospel including taking care of the poor, the widow, the orphan. What I see, though, is that instead of bringing this alongside words, people tend to drop the evangelism and take the "social justice" gospel. This is where the balance comes in- actually a lack of balance. Instead of seeking to maintain this balance, they go to the opposite side of the pendulum, or spectrum if you will, and miss out on the amazing ways God can work through both mediums side by side and as one. Instead we end up having debates on the better ways to spread the good news, and fail to passionately pursue together our different and God-given gifts to reach this world. As can be seen from my random thoughts these are, as Phil Collins told us, "half-thoughts" and I would love what you or anyone reading this thinks of these thoughts. As Marcia (and Frost I believe) said, I have miles to go before I sleep, and in my theology. I might have to post this on my own blog as well.
First of all, Stephen, I'm so glad that you started this blog. I look forward to reading about your life.
I'm honored that you thought my words were worth quoting here.
I really do think that Andrew has the spiritual gift of discretion. My comments were in reaction to problems that I am beginning to see in the way that I have been brought up in the church, but what Andrew has to say helps me to see that swinging to the other extreme is not beneficial either. I do want to take the social justice gospel into the world, but not at the expense of boldness. And there are still so many questions that need to be answered, because even if I come to any conclusions on paper the question of "how?" still looms in my brain and I don't know how to answer it.
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