Does that make me a bad evangelical? Truth be told, I struggle with the concept of standard "missions" - you know, the kind that goes into the jungle and tries to convert hungry, disease-ridden natives and then quickly forces that culture to comply with whatever nuance the missionary adheres to. (Often a western-culture Christian mindset that prescribes long skirts and a covering of the breasts, with an anti-polygamy, slightly sexist, and overly legalistic view on faith., etc...) I think a lot of people struggle with that. I'm glad to be part of a church organization that brings something of substance and USE to people all over the world, along with the good news of Jesus. Because the reality is, if you're hungry, you'll say anything to get some bread. If you're sick, you'll pray to any god for healing. If you're suffering, you'll ask any Deity for comfort. Missionaries who bring words, but no useful earthly service are, rather ironically, useless. Foreign missions by way of medical aid, education and clean water ALONG with the message of Hope, is Truth manifested in flesh. This is effective Jesus work.
But most of us aren’t going to travel overseas to live. Most of us aren’t “called” to be missionaries. So what does that mean for us? What about my friends and neighbors here in the States who don't believe in Jesus (the same way I do.) Conservatives all over the world would say it's my job to also save them, to quote Scripture at them and plead that they accept the Lord lest they burn in hell for eternity. After all, that's how I got "saved,” (running to the alter time and time again, knowing, just KNOWING if I died in a car accident on my way home I likely didn't have assurance of salvation. ...For those who aren't "churched," this is otherwise known as a standard alter-call.)
I don't know. This may sound like a total cop-out but, I don't think I have an evangelistic "call." I simply don't believe in proselytizing in Western society, with our Christian branding and well-financed "biblical" marketing. If someone doesn't know or believe in Jesus, they quite clearly don't WANT to. My 'witness' - by way of offensive facebook posts, Scripture quoting, door to door 'sales,' and blasting K-Love Christian radio from my car in order to convert people - is just annoying. Nothing more and nothing less.
Don't misunderstand. I believe in the saving power of Jesus Christ. I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. (Apostles Creed) This means, YES, I DO BELIEVE in a REAL heaven and a REAL hell. And I do believe the Scriptures are inerrant, God-breathed. So how then do I NOT believe in proselytizing? Doesn't the Bible command followers of Jesus to GO, SHARE, CONVERT?
Well, maybe. Sort of. I'm not SURE that directive was and is for everyone. But one thing I AM certain about is that 'The Great Commission' isn't a mandate to be an asshole. I sort of think this; people want to be known by friends. People trust their friends and being a friend means loving and appreciating and understanding one another. And I'm pretty sure, for the majority of us Christians, friendship is the only context in which faith-sharing should be done and is most effective.
People already HAVE the information. What's missing is the heart and relationship of it all. Jesus didn't go around talking a big game. Or quoting the Scriptures all day. In fact, He mostly only quoted Scripture to antagonize and discredit the hypocritical church-folk, the Pharisees. One third of Jesus' ministry was teaching, yes. But the other two-thirds was deliverance and healing. He was the Son of God and STILL felt it necessary to BRING something to the table other than a bunch of words.
I believe in just living, out loud. The power of being and doing Jesus-work (loving God, loving people). If you're a Christian, your faith will come up in conversation. . . like in why you forgive and choose to continue to love people who have hurt you, why you give to the poor, why you take care of your property, why you don’t cheat on your taxes. Questions will arise as to why you still have hope in the midst of suffering. There's NO need to go around, with a chip on your shoulder, hitting people over the head with the Bible to PROVE a point and CONVERT THE SINNER. Some of the meanest people claim to be filled with the Holy Ghost.
Perhaps, that's the point. At the end of the day, "missions" isn't a thing. It's a person, and that person is a man or a woman with a mind and a heart. Jesus isn't a mission and He didn't treat people like notches on a belt, marks on a scorecard, or points on a gameshow. Instead, He went to the heart and the mind of those with whom He shared His life and that truly IS all of us. The real "mission" shouldn't be about a conversion. Instead, it should be a conversation, an offering of love and sincerity that convinces a friend of one simple truth - that the way I (we) value their heart is but a pale reflection of how much Jesus will do the same
2 comments:
Lindsay,
I agree and somewhat disagree. I think your stance on missions that does nothing for the body being meaningless is not only true but Biblical. I also think the tracts and in your face "evangelism" that takes the tactic of yelling at people they are hell-bound is no longer effective and down right heartless. In UnChristian, the book there are stats showing that tract evangelism plus door to door evangelism has only a 1% effective rate in America today. But friendship evangelism on the other hand has over 75% effective rate when done with love and care...so we agree there. You said you don't feel you have an evangelistic "call" which I think your stating you don't feel called to do the "normal forms" of evangelism we see today. Because I would contend all Christians are called to make disciples...not "converts" but disciples: people who come to Jesus and then are brought along into discipleship...which in a lot of ways the church and Christianity has done poorly at. I believe as you do that we should live our faith out loud and those around us will be compelled to ask questions (1 Peter 3:15). I think the only disagreement is that we are all called to evangelion (greek for share the good news). Maybe too, that Scripture facebook posts are not always bad. I know I do it because that's what I'm reading and or wrestling with...there ya go, my two cents
@Marv: I don't have an issue with the occasional facebook post about faith or Scripture. I'm really just talking about the people who ONLY post Christian stuff, for the obvious POINT, of "evangelism." As a Christian, I find it annoying. To ME, it looks like they're hiding behind their faith because they don't trust the testimony of their lives to share Jesus.
As far as the other point we disagree on? I really don't know ... I think far too often Christians take Jesus' commission (to 11 specific men in a specific time) as literal for here and now. I don't believe we are all called, and certainly don't think we're all called TO THAT LEVEL.
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