The Lausanne Global Conversation is on the World Wide Open Network
Autor: J. D. Payne
Fecha: 14.10.2010
Category: Compromiso con Las Escrituras, Grupos Humanos No Alcanzados, Verdad y Pluralismo
The following was originally posted this week at my blog: www.jdpayne.org.
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If you have been following me on Twitter, Facebook, or this blog, you know that I am a supporter of the Lausanne Movement, including Cape Town 2010. Yesterday, I posted several links to assist you in keeping up with the happenings of October 16-25. I also posted this podcast to download. For the past several months, I have been serving as a Lausanne Subject Matter Expert on the topic of Diaspora, and as part of the Cape Town 2010 Blogger Network.
I share this information with the hope that you will hear my heart on my concern regarding Cape Town 2010 and the Great Commission. I recognize that such a concern may seem strange since it is a congress on world evangelization. Here is my story as to why I am raising the issue.
Two years ago, I was attending the annual Evangelical Missiological Society in Broomfield, Colorado when a major announcement was made regarding Cape Town 2010. As with everyone else who has followed the outcomes of Lausanne I (Lausanne, Switzerland) and Lausanne II (Manilia, Philippines), I was excited to know that a third congress was scheduled to occur. However, as I became familiar with the numerous topics to be addressed, mainly dealing with social and ethical challenges facing the Church, I wondered where was the emphasis on evangelism. I simply filed the matter away in my mind, wondering if I had been hyper-sensitive to the issue (After all, I am a professor of evangelism.).
As time passed, I still did not hear a great deal of emphasis on the topic of global evangelization. I heard about a multitude of other extremely urgent and important matters such as migration, human-trafficking, urbanization, globalization, poverty, Islam, bioethics, AIDS/HIV, and the Majority World Church. I heard a great deal about the need for the Church to address the major humanitarian issues of the day. Again, very timely and important topics to which the Church should respond.
But where was the spirit of 1974? Where was the emphasis on reaching the unreached people groups? Where was the emphasis on evangelizing the different population segments of the world? Where was the focus on church planting?
By this time, I was concerned but still decided to remain silent (Again, many of the leaders at Lausanne I have influenced my missiology. Also, as a church planting professor, I can be hyper-sensitive when church planting is not on the agenda, even when the church’s Women’s Sewing Committee meets!)
And then in August of this year, I read an article in Christianity Today that contained a chart comparing the four world missions conferences of 2010. My eyes were drawn to what the author interpreted "The Future of Missions Is" for Cape Town 2010: "Mobilizing Christians for ’global solutions’ to HIV/AIDS, poverty, Islam, and other global issues."
By now my concern had deepened, and while I was not ready to make any comments, I chalked matters up to the fact that beneath the surface of these contemporary issues the emphasis of reaching people with the gospel will be present.
As time elapsed, my heart became more troubled.
As a part of the blogger network, I participated in two different events. One related to the 12 Cities 12 Conversations and the other an interview with one of the plenary speakers. Now, because some of our brothers and sisters related to these events will be reading this post, I am not going to reveal any names or location. Such would not be profitable for the building up of the Body.
During the 2 hour meeting in one of the 12 cities, I took approximately eight pages of notes of the discussion. Now, while I did step out for five minutes to speak to my family and tell my kids goodnight, I participated in the entire session.
At the time, I was so troubled about the content that I decided to refrain from blogging about it out of fear that I had misunderstood something. For two hours, very little was said about the gospel and even less about evangelism. The most I heard about the latter topic was when one of the sponsors of the event was able to share about his organization. He mentioned the importance of evangelizing children.
So, what was said if global evangelism was not to be found?
I heard that the western Church is dead, particularly the Anglo church. That the only vibrant churches in America are 1st generation immigrant churches. The church in the West simply needs to turn over the reins to the Majority World Church, and then get out of the way and learn from them. The importance of ethnic diversity was stressed, and evangelicals need to get out and help their communities. Disunity in both the church local and global is a problem. And that we need to make better consumer decisions, for our purchases in North America affect our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world.
I felt that if we had removed the word "church" from our conversation, we could have been talking about the humanitarian efforts of a multitude of organizations.
Don’t get me wrong. All of the matters discussed that evening were extremely important matters to address. The problem was that they were given front-and-center stage in relation to a congress on world evangelization, with the topic of evangelization not being addressed.
While the interview with one of the plenary speakers also addressed some very important matters, the topic of global evangelization was not discussed.
Knowing that I had not attended all of the 12 city conversations and interviews, I was beginning to wonder if anyone was also sharing the same concerns, or if I was simply at the wrong places at the wrong times, and my hyper-sensitivity was kicking in.
And then yesterday I read the following at the blog Koinonia, where upcoming, plenary speaker, Ajith Fernando, made the following statement on his thoughts regarding Cape Town 2010:
"The evangelical church faces some big challenges at this time. . . . Though Lausanne ’74 helped clarify the relationship between Social concern and evangelism, evangelism often gets sidelined or loses its place of supreme importance as the church responds to the plethora of social challenges it encounters today.
We need a return to the urgency of evangelism that comes out of a realistic understanding of the lostness of humanity apart from Christ and of the glory of the gospel. There are complaints that some recent high profile evangelical mission conferences, which previously had a high emphasis on the need to preach the good news to the lost, are now focusing so much on other issues that evangelism has become just an "also ran." Some fear that this will happen also in Lausanne III.
I am however hoping that out of Lausanne III will come a strong cry for commitment to and passion for evangelism, while at the same time challenging the church to engage in meeting some of the other challenges the human race faces. The horror of lostness of people apart from Christ is as serious now as it was before, and it is the greatest human need."
It is my hope that the speakers and leadership attached to Cape Town 2010 will read and heed Fernando’s words. He is exactly right here.
While the Church is called to make disciples (Matt 28:18-20), we must recognize that calling people to repentance and faith (Acts 20:21) is the first step in our obedience to our Lord’s commission. If evangelism is not intentional, evangelism will be replaced by a multitude of other important, albeit secondary, matters.
If Lausanne III is a congress on global evangelization, then I hope (and pray) with Fernando that evangelism will remain where it should be according to Lausanne I but most importantly according to the Scriptures.
What will Cape Town 2010 be known for? I don’t know. Ask me after the concluding events on October 25.
Palabras clave: evangelism, Cape Town 2010, Lausanne, Ajith Fernando, social ministry
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Comentarios: 10
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Estados Unidos de Norteamérica
As I thought more about this I realized that world evangelization is a simple straightforward concept that we’ve understood and have been talking about for a couple centuries. On the other hand, there are a lot of new areas of ministry and concepts that haven’t been discussed enough yet. These new concepts might need to take priority in conversation so everyone can work on getting the kinks out. So I guess I don’t mind too much if 80% of the conversation is on topics other than world evangelization, as long as we understand that world evangelization as part of the Great Commission is still priority #1.
21.10.2010
Estados Unidos de Norteamérica
Worldwide, there are currently:
300,000 child soldiers
1.25 million who die each year from malaria
2 million child prostitutes
6 million children in slave labor
8 million who die each year from hunger or hunger-related problems
40 million people with AIDS
165 million child laborers
210 million orphans
250 million children without access to school
1 billion people without access to clean drinking water
1.4 billion living below the poverty line
1.6 billion unevangelized (never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ)
2.7 billion unreached (live among people who rarely if ever hear the Gospel)
5 billion+ not saved (Only God knows who’s written in the Book of Life)
When the name of Coca Cola has gone further in 100 years than the name of Jesus has gone in 2,000 years, there’s something wrong.
I had very similar reactions to you leading up to Lausanne. I even remember reading that very article in Christianity Today and being a little confused about what Lausanne is all about.
I think one explanation for the diverging views is that as Christians we naturally (and rightfully so) have a strong desire to help where we ’see the need’. (1 John 3:17, Acts 4:35) To see not only the physical need, but beyond it to the spiritual need requires an extra amount of maturity.
Like most, I fully agree that evangelism and social action should be coupled together, but evangelism is the lead partner (although it doesn’t necessarily have to come first sequentially). Samuel Hugh Moffett wrote in "Evangelism: The Leading Partner," "while without the accompanying deeds the good news is scarcely credible, without the word the news is not even comprehensible!"
I just want to finish with this: "Why should anyone hear the gospel twice before everyone has heard it once? - Oswald J. Smith
19.10.2010
China
I appreciate your article here, approaching a subject that should be primary on the agenda for the sake of global Christianity (evangelism). It is easy to get wrapped up in the high of the moment somehow expecting that the spirit of this congress will spread the same as in 1974. It’s hard not to let it get to our heads, thinking that we are somehow agents of a great movement to come. While that may very well be true it is God who deserves all the glory. It is God who deserves the glory if it doesn’t.
I am starting to get off topic, but my point is that I thank you for getting us back on point and address a real concern you have with the agendas of this congress. I think we live in a generation that focus a lot on those “humanitarian” ministries. People are more willing to go care for orphans in Romania than do church planting in Russia. And there’s nothing wrong with orphans in Romania (in fact, there is something very right about it), nor is it to say that church planting should be held in such high esteem (especially in situations where the church becomes too inward focused and provides no relevance to the culture outside- which is happening increasingly in the West). However, somewhere along the way we’ve focused so much on justice and social concerns that we forget the importance of proclamation. Without the proclamation of Jesus then those things are just like the actions of every other humanitarian organization out there.
I would like to ask you, though, when you speak of evangelism what definition would you give to it? Are you referring to the classical definition of evangelism?
How can we approach the gospel more holistically- where word (evangelism), power (Spirit of God), and deeds (justice, social concerns) connect. Where proclamation goes hand in hand with actions? Why separate the three (word, deeds, power)? Why separate evangelism from discipleship? James Engel once said, “Evangelism is the outcome of empathetic relationships win which the story of Jesus Christ is both demonstrated and proclaimed.” With this definition of evangelism, how do we then approach each of these issues? Preaching the gospel is not just about using the right words we learned in Bible school. They aren’t hearing what you’re saying. It’s not just about setting the right example and living above reproach. It’s about entering their world and making heart-to-heart connections by building relationships, demonstrating the love of God, and then (only then) making the Word of God relevant to their situation from their own understanding of reality. What does “good news” mean for them? What can Jesus do for China, for my family, for my situation? Faith comes from hearing the message, yes, but the message doesn’t have any meaning until deeds and people connect. It means creating a situation where deeds have an opportunity to express themselves in words. We do not want to be a stranger from a distant land with a message to share. We want to be a friend in close proximity with a message to demonstrate. This means listening to the majority world. It means getting involved in justice and reconciliation. It means building houses and caring for the sexually exploited and handing out food and building wells. It means sitting around a table together and figuring out how all this plays out- and the role we are each to play.
However, yes, the proclamation needs to be more intentional. Where deeds happen then Christ needs to proclaimed. Be intentional about making the most of every opportunity- including speaking the name of Christ and sharing the Story. And, yes, we need to talk about how to do that better.
How can we combine word (proclamation), deeds, and power together, each as a legitimate part of the gospel message?
16.10.2010
Estados Unidos de Norteamérica
I appreciate your insight/perspective. Lausanne movement is at "crossroad". - has been for some time. Currently, original focus/vision/passion might not be the same level anymore. Maybe it is inevitable. Once a movement becomes established, those elements somewhat diminish. - We see that pattern throughout Christian history.
This spring ( May 2010 ), I was at another global conference. - you probably can guess which one it is. It seems that the movement is already facing challenges. - how to maintain original vision/focus.. as it enters new era. ( my perspective )
In 1974, my mission/ministry journey began. Lausanne movement / vision ( early years ) had an impact on my ministry. We can say that "Evangelicals" have respectable status now. It was not like that years ago.. Some of us might remember.
I am encouraged that there are new( & unknown ) breed of pioneers in unlikely places. I met some of them. They are not too much interested in status/recognition. In every continent, those few ( with commitment/passion for the lost ) are reaching ’the least evangelized.."
*Read my blog: "Calling for Pioneers - again" (when you have time).
Blessings,
15.10.2010
Estados Unidos de Norteamérica
I’m such a rookie here in Cape Town that I’m not sure I’m really understanding everything that is going on here. I’m really trying not to read too much between the lines, but perhaps I’m being naive. As I read the Lausanne Theology Working Group paper, I was impressed by the way it took on the issue of the gospel and evangelism-- stressing a more broadly Biblical understanding of both. It managed to integrate nicely these ideas of evangelism and social concern and even call us to look beneath the dichotomy of the two. Which I appreciated. Did you not think so? I’m just curious because I heard something very similar to what you are saying from another delegate recently. My response to him was that I thought the LTWG paper really dealt nicely with this concern. His response was that he hadn’t read it. Is part of our problem just that nobody is reading the LTWG paper?
Also, as I look at the six major themes, I’m just not seeing a failure to address evangelism. Certainly the Truth, World Faiths, Priorities, Integrity, and Partnership themes are all very heavily focused on sharing the good news. Reconciliation may be a bit indirectly related, but not if the LTWG paper is taken to heart.
So, I don’t know. Again, I may just be naive. When the Lausanne leaders say that we’re about "the whole church taking the whole gospel to the whole world", I just tend to take people at their word. I walk in the room assuming that this was our common bond. That we want people to know Christ.
At the same time, I’m very glad you are saying what you are. We need voices that keep us honest and focused. That’s important. But for now, my sense (as a rookie) is that we’re on the same page at Cape Town on this. We have different giftings and shapes of ministry, but the heart I hear as I talk is one that loves and wants to communicate Christ to a lost world.
Blessings!
15.10.2010
Estados Unidos de Norteamérica
Earlier this year, while enjoying a certain global missions conference and praising Jesus for the social justice aspects of it (from my computer as I was not present), I was also left with a tension of internally wondering if things are out of proportion in the realm of evangelism and the great commission.
I believe the correction of elevating social justice to prominence is important, especially in light of its emphasis in classical evangelicalism and more importantly its prominence in scripture. However, often in the historical body of Christ, certain aspects of our faith can be overemphasized, unbalanced, and taken too far. Granted, the apathy displayed toward too many of "the least of these," globally speaking, is problematic in the west and may very well indicate a problem with our discipleship and faith; however, I can’t help question if the verbally proclaimed gospel message of salvation in Jesus Christ and the great commission is being pushed to the sidelines. As we humbly seek where the Holy Spirit is moving and directing His church and the conversation at Cape Town 2010, I believe your article brings an importation question to the forefront.
15.10.2010
Estados Unidos de Norteamérica
Thank you my brother for helping us to keep focused on the priority of evangelism.
Praying that we will hear the priority of the gospel loud and clear.
15.10.2010
Reino Unido
"While the Church is called to make disciples (Matt 28:18-20), we must recognize that calling people to repentance and faith (Acts 20:21) is the first step in our obedience to our Lord’s commission."
You are trying to walk a very fine line between maintaining the centrality of the preaching of repentance and faith (and planting of churches) while giving place to ’secondary’ socio-economic issues. I think the issue is here not so much the difference between the two areas, but the fact that for not a few people the ’secondary’ issues have become the goal/agenda. I have no problem with some of the folk I know who dedicate their whole life to teaching literacy or health-care etc., because they are noticeably filled with the Spirit of Christ. At the same time I have problems with people who made education or health-care their life’s work as some sort of social activism. Sometimes I fear that I see a political agenda rather than a deep commitment to the Gospel.
I agree that evangelism is central, but in the hands of people who are truly moved by God, all activity becomes evangelism, while with others, even the preaching of the Gospel sounds like doing politics.
15.10.2010
Sudáfrica
Thank you for the article! It should serve as a wake up call to all of us at Lausanne 3!
14.10.2010
Sri Lanka
Great article, courageous words. May God open our eyes to see the lostness of humanity without him
14.10.2010
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