Was discussing the idea of reaching our culture with a few guys this morning. One of the things we were wrestling through was being cued into the questions our culture is asking. For too long Christians have been highly skilled in answering questions nobody is asking. So I posed the question, "What are the questions non-Christians are asking in our context?" One of the guys, Ryan, offered the first thought, one which I can't get out of my head. I love and hate it when that happens. Basically he said people don't really have questions. They are sort of skating through life and just sort of apathetic or ambivalent towards Christianity (hope I'm not misrepresenting his comments). I find myself having to agree. However, assuming this is true, then what are we supposed to do? I can't simply research answers to people's questions. It's not enough to read and study or even being in relationships with people--though this is needed. Somehow something has to trigger inside people to wake them from their slumber. My biggest problem is not conversing with people once they have the questions, it's getting them to ask in the first place. Do we need to pray that some tragedy strikes? Is this the only way people will listen and ask questions? Ugh. That can't be the only way. How do you get people to engage in the big questions of life? Is this even my role? Am I only called to have a response when they do have questions? I'd welcome the opportunity to teach/preach to people about the things that matter, but that is assuming I have a captive audience. That assumes that some how they have been "attracted" to a worship service or community group. That may be an increasingly big assumption to make on my part.
I realize I'm rambling and may not be altogether coherent...my apologies. If you have any thoughts, I'd certainly welcome them. Peace.
a good start (Ryan, pay attention, you are talking to you):
ReplyDeleteFor this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Eph 3.14-19)
...whenever i think about "evangelism" i always think about my conversion. i think about who God used, whether or not the crazies, the hypocrite's, the sincere had any idea what they were doing most of the time. In fact, my favorite story is one night talking with a friend and wanting to ask how to be saved. But i had no terminology. I didn't know that's what i even wanted. add to that pride, not wanting to admit i was missing something she clearly had & i wanted it. i don't remember what i said but i could tell she was clearly uncomfortable (i assume now she thought i was looking for a debate) so i changed the subject. I committed my life to Christ a few months later.
ReplyDelete...previous to knowing her & a few other key friends who happened to live their faith out loud, i was in the category ryan described. I had settled that "i believe in (a) god, pretty sure it's probably the one in the bible, don't know or care about jesus. god does his thing, i do mine" That was literally my philosophy.
Until i became friends with, spent time with, went dancing with...lived with (not in the same house, but sharing life nonetheless), people who's lives exposed the black hole in mine.
so that was a long way to say, "my opinion is that we need to put ourselves in position to be friends, real actual give & take friends with people who don't know jesus"