A Sense That It All Makes Sense

Say the word "evangelism" to several Christians in a room and you will receive a host of different reactions. Some feel that evangelism is a gift while others shiver at the mere mention of the word. No matter how the word makes us feel, undoubtebly conditioned by our past experiences with the church, I believe that the Church's growth and survival depend on it. I'm certain that my own negative reaction concerning evangelism is most likely stirred up from past images of loud revival preachers, salvation tracks scattered on the pavement, and overly aggressive believers.

My belief is that most...not all...have walked away from negative presentations believing that God is bigger than what was presented. I remember being forced to pray a prayer with 65 young people in Ecuador. Every single one of the young people were interested in what I had to say. After all, I appeared as the educated, wealthy American. As you might expect, all of the boys and girls raised there hand to accept Christ as their "personal" Lord and Savior. Had I done any good or had I continued the tradition of conveying God as small and safe...capable of being manipulated?

I'm not sure that the typical presentation of the gospel by committed Christians makes sense in our culture. The gospel of Jesus is presented as the quick ticket out of this world. Meanwhile, the world is crying out for something greater. They know there has to be a plan and it cannot merely exist to prepare ourselves for the next. Just try to tell the average non-Christian artist or musician that God doesn't care about this world...that God only wants to deliver you safely into heaven when they die. Most would never buy into the idea of it because to them...this world is important and often beautiful.

The gospel must be presented in such a way that the culture can relate to it. Of course, this has to be done without being clever or appearing as a technique. Here are a few thoughts.

First, the church must seek justice for those who are weak and poor. Forget about the fear of encouraging hand-me-outs to those in need. Let's help people. It is our Christian duty. It is what the church is about. The social gospel didn't work years ago and neither should Christians organizations attempt to revive it. However, working FOR the kingdom of God mean that we must work for the justice of others. The church must embrace justic toward other and become comfortable with the word; make it synonomous with Christianity.

Second, the church must celebrate community and creation. Christianity was never meant to be so private. Never let the words, "your personal Lord and Savior" come across our lips again! Coffee and doughuts, popcorn and pizza, dinner and a movie; whatever it takes. We must be together because we want to be together. Celebrate what has been given to us while working for those who are without.

Maybe then people will see what can happen when the gospel takes root. People will then discover that it really does make sense. And when people gain a sense that it all makes sense...then they will discover that it is actually tranforming the way that they think and feel about most everything. Jesus can become this kind of reality to people. And the only way to express it is through learning about God in the Bible and gathering with other believers. I believe that most people out there with a mere inkling of God-consiousness will be surprised to hear that God has a plan for the world; that he is working in history and wants them to be a part of something good and eternal.

Opening Celebrations and the Myth of Progress

I have to admit that the 2008 Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremony was impressive. The fireworks, the movements, the images, the symbolism all came together to dazzle the mind and make a Super Bowl half-time show look like like low budget concert.

Only a state run government could put on such a show. Maybe this is why it also bothered me.

If the Olympics ever return to the United States, there will be no way to upstage what we witnessed on Friday night. We would never be able to come up with enough sponsors to fund such an operation. So I mentioned to my son that he would never see anything quite like that again.

One could be tempted to believe, especially with all of the symbolism of harmony and unity, that we are finally experiencing progress in the world. Beijing was motivated to erase certain events from the past and seek redemption by looking forward into the future. And these two images seem to compete with each other through every dazzling act. If it was not hundreds of people in straight lines it was a choreographed image of a happy circle.

Although very impressed, I am reminded that true progress in this world is actually a myth. Sounds depressing and it makes me out to be a pessimist, but I nevertheless believe it is unfortunately true.

Ehhemmm...let me once again quote N.T. Wright. "The relentless progressivist politicians feel obliged to offer us projects that have to be dressed up with the relentlessly postmodernist techniques of spin and hype; in the absence of real hope, and all that is left is feelings. Persuasion will not work because we're never going to believe it. What we appear to need, and therefore what people give us, is entertainment. "

"This Utopian dream is in fact a parody of the Christian vision; that the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the world will come together to produce a vision of history moving forward toward its goal, a goal that will emerge from within rather than being a new gift from elsewhere. All we really need is education and hard work."

The real problem with the myth of progress is that it cannot deal with evil. As the Olympics carry on (and I watch), we are also aware of the new crisis in Georgia and the old crisis in Dar fur.

Let me also say this...I completely understand that the Olympics are about an idea. No one actually believes that when the closing ceremony arrive, all things will be peaceful.

But as a Christian I must examine the world as a world that ultimately will find it's renewal through the actions of God. What the creator God has done in Jesus Christ and through his resurrection is what HE intends to do for the entire cosmos.