evangelism in the city
| May 7th, 2007Every week or so I receive an email newsletter from Evangelicals for Social Action with stories and articles dealing with Christ in our culture, holistic ministry, public policy, and caring for creation. In their most recent newsletter was an article titled “Evangelism in the City” written by Lesslie Newbigin, the internationally known British missionary, pastor, apologist, and theologian. Lesslie, when faced with the question of how to share the gospel in the context of an inner-city in the West, responded with this:
How can this strange story of God made flesh, of a crucified Savior, of resurrection and new creation become credible for those whose entire mental training has conditioned them to believe that the real world is the world which can be satisfactorily explained and managed without the hypothesis of God? I know of only one clue to the answering of that question, only one real hermeneutic of the gospel: a congregation which believes it.
Does that sound too simplistic? I don’t believe it is. Evangelism is not some kind of technique by means of which people are persuaded to change their minds and think like us. Evangelism is the telling of good news, but what changes people’s minds and converts their wills is always a mysterious work of the sovereign Holy Spirit, and we are not permitted to know more than a little of his secret working. But - and this is the point - the Holy Spirit is present in the believing congregation both gathered for praise and the offering up of spiritual sacrifice, and scattered throughout the community to bear the love of God into every secular happening and meeting. It is they who scatter the seeds of hope around, and even if the greater part falls on barren ground, there will be a few that begin to germinate, to create at least a questioning and a seeking, and perhaps to lead someone to inquire about the source from which these germs of hope came. Although it may seem simplistic, I most deeply believe that it is fundamental to recognize that what brings men and women and children to know Jesus as Lord and Savior is always the mysterious work of the Holy spirit, always beyond our understanding or control, always the result of a presence, a reality which both draws and challenges - the reality who is in fact the living God himself. And God’s presence is promised and granted in the midst of the believing, worshipping, celebrating, caring congregation. There is no other hermeneutic of the gospel.
After reading that, I’ve been wondering how this would relate to a church in the suburbs, where people don’t live as close together in neighborhoods as the city, where people often drive 10 minutes to buy their food or clothing or for entertainment, where everyone has a fence around their yard. What might this look like in the context in which I live?
One of the greatest challenges of our day, in our culture is our gates, walls, fences. The world that needs reached is now often just across the street. I think the answer for a church whose congregation is divided in different suburbs….is maybe families operating as mission outposts….little churches….who open their hearts and hands to their community and become present in the lives of others. Where two or more are gathered….you’ve got power. It’s taking time to get to know your neighbors and of course rely on the Holy Spirit to work.
Unfortunately the hardest gate to unlock, the highest wall to get over, the fence with the biggest electrical shock to a world in need of God….is often the Church’s. Many will never enter a church as a result. But people would probably enter a home for coffee or go to a cookout. The world shouldn’t have to come to a building to see God. But should clearly see evidence of Him in every neighborhood where His people are. We, His people, are the Church.
I think you are so right on! Having families in the suburbs gather together based on proximity to one another to operate, as you said, as mission outposts, little churches, is a great way for the community to see the church live out it’s mission. I love what Apex is doing with it’s house churches…I think that their model is right on. Of course, it’s not the only way to do church, but what their doing fits what your saying and what I’ve been thinking.
I think we often make excuses for the church not being more present in our culture. Or we cast blame. When ultimately….it falls back on each of us individually. If we don’t light up our own little corner and our little home….we’re missing step one. Time is short and light is needed!