Artigo

21st Century Reformation? A Modest Plea

Autor: Leighton Ford
Data: 29.09.2010
Category: Integridade & Humildade

Classificação (1)

Currently 5.00/5

Favorito (0)

Traduções

Reformation is a large concept, a work of God so broad, deep and historic that it is beyond my scope, and probably that of The Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization. I opt for something more modest: a ’reformation of manners’ (to borrow a phrase from Jonathan Edwards and others). By this was meant a widespread social renewal, but we might aim more modestly at reforming our treatment of others, with courtesy as believers in the way we relate to one another, with respect as evangelists toward those we seek to win.

Three of the eminent ’fathers’ of the Lausanne Movement – Billy Graham, John Stott and Jack Dain – exemplified for me this spirit of truth and grace, of deep conviction about the gospel and humility toward one’s self and others. The world, suggests historian Martin Marty, might be a different place if Billy Graham had been a ’mean person.’ A Chinese Ph.D. student, not herself a believer, told me she is writing about how Graham approached other nations with civility, ’Not with a closed fist but with an open hand.’

When so many regard Christians (and especially evangelists and missionaries) as intolerant and arrogant, it could be a worthwhile advance if from Cape Town 2010 emerges a church proclaiming and practicing a generous evangelism, reflecting the generosity of the Lord Jesus.

Our theme for Cape Town 2010 is from Paul’s words: ’God in Christ reconciling the world to himself.’ What an amazing privilege he then cites: that we are ’ambassadors for Christ … God making his appeal through us.’

Or, as one paraphrase puts it, ’God has changed us from enemies into friends and given us the task of making others his friends also.’

Is that how pre-Christians see evangelists: as friends? Or as belligerents, heavy-handed, even fighting with each other?

How then should we be ambassadors, representing this good news? ’We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path,’ Paul continues. ’As servants of God we commend ourselves.’ How? Not only through enduring reproaches for the gospel, but by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech and the power of God (2 Corinthians 6:3-7).

So we are to weave together the heart and truth of the gospel message with the beauty and grace of gospel ministry.

The ’spirit of Lausanne’ has been one of living out this attitude. God grant that Cape Town 2010 will be a place where evangelical believers come together, listen to one another with respect, learn together in humility, work and pray together in love.

If Cape Town 2010 can help us to become more generous evangelists, reflecting the generosity of Jesus, making the gospel attractive in word, act, and spirit, that can be a very large step toward reformation, or transformation, or, pray God, both.

Leighton Ford is president of Leighton Ford Ministries and honorary lifetime chair of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization.

Palavras-chave: Christianity Today, reformation, manners, humility, respect, ambassadors, generous, evangelism, transformation

Conversa Postar Comentário

Responder Bandeira 0 Gostou Não Gostou JCCLV (0)
Estados Unidos

We do not need a 21st Century Reformation dear brother.

The word "Reformation" is a vague and nebulous term that makes us look for man for directives. Restoration however, makes us look to God’s authoritative Word and measures everything we do by that Word. Truth and authority cannot be reformed; they can only be restored. God knows the Church needs to grow in truth and righteousness and for this, it must submit to the authority of His Word.

The Church must return to God and all His ways. It must return to contend for the "faith that was once given to the saints" (Jude 3) and cease contending for the faith that was given to the saints some 300 years later; that unbiblical faith is made of mingled seed, plagues the church with leftovers of replacement theology, and hinders the effectiveness of the Gospel that God gave to His apostles and intended as a witness to Himself that He is the God of Israel, of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and Father of Yeshua the Messiah.

What the church needs above all is a forsaking of our man-made ways and traditions and a restoration to the ways of God using the Bible only, to walk in His truth and righteousness - walk as Jesus walked.

God foreknew ALL the challenges that His people would face before the foundation of the world. He has not left us with the responsibility to come up strategies that will move His hand anymore than He needs to write a new Bible for the 21st century. The answers to ALL our questions are in His Word already; we are just not being obedient.

All the answers are in His Word. Read my paper "The Seventh Missing Issue of Lausanne". It is circulating somewhere at the congress. I was going to attach a copy but the system would not let me upload it.

The Church MUST be about separating the holy from the profane and use ONLY the Bible as its final authority. God has not left to us the task of deciding what is holy and profane, clean and unclean. When we return to Him and His ways, God will move in His Church. It is not about us and our will, it is about Him and His will.

"There is no God but Yahweh and Jesus is His Son"

Much grace and peace to you.

Jean-Claude Chevalme

Fazer download de anexos

17.10.2010

: Responder Bandeira 0 Gostou Não Gostou Albert_S (1)
Nigéria

Yes, to become more grace-ful evangelists, reflecting the grace of Jesus...

29.09.2010