Ch. 9 – Distinguishing Evangelism From Social Action
If we evangelize by word and deed, does that mean that social action is part of evangelism?
This raises the base question, which we have touched on already in earlier chapters: What is the gospel? Is the gospel primarily a message, a way of life, a person? Or is the gospel a combination of these and more? This answer will determine whether we believe social structures and societies can be evangelized.
Sider believes it is important to distinguish between the two. He notes that evangelism calls for conversion and repentance, something corporations and nations are not in a position to do. He points to different outcomes and different motives involved in evangelism and social action. Finally, he asserts that to protect the integrity of both social action and evangelism, we need to keep them distinct, recognizing all the while that they are interconnected.
To again highlight this connection, he writes:
A wealthy, uncaring church that shares only words with the starving will rightly fail because its very life denies its message. As John Stott said in his plenary at Lausanne, “We can evangelize by word of mouth, … by print, picture and screen, by drama … , by good works of love, by a Christ-centered home, by a transformed life.”
There is a quote from the Consultation on the Relationship between Evangelism and Social Responsibility (CRESR) that at first seems very confusing but once you’ve read it a couple of times carefully, I think you’ll see it is very insightful:
Evangelism, even when it does not have a primarily social intention, nevertheless has a social dimension, while social responsibility, even when it does not have a primarily evangelistic intention, nevertheless has an evangelistic dimension.
Sider suggests that perhaps the best word to use in talking about both evangelism and social action is simply the word mission. There are other things God is concerned with, and other things the Church ought to be concerned with, but mission, he says, can be used to discuss “everything the Church is sent into the world to do” (Stott).
So how do we find the balance personally, between evangelism and social action? What would a balanced church look like? That’s something we all need to consider. Here’s Sider’s base conclusion:
If we truly follow Jesus, then Christian congregations and denominations will enthusiastically devote large amounts of resources to both evangelism and social action.
Tim, thanks for your posts and your intentions in this matter. I found you on Diller’s post and this is what I said there:
Eric Simmons writes, “God invites you and your church to be involved in this glorious process of bringing people into his kingdom. We get to play a small part in what God is doing. How? By living like missionaries who are sent by God. We are not just going, we are sent.”
He continues by challenging the pastor by saying, “Pastor, God has called you to more than just the people in your church. He wants to mobilize you and your people to reach another people. The people next door. Your little culture.”
He continues to flesh it out, “The primary mission field for most of us is not far away, it’s in the routine of our daily lives. God doesn’t save us to be passive spectators. He saves us and then sends us out into the world to tell other people about Jesus. Each of us is called to play a part in God’s mission to save sinners—the same sinners we meet on a daily basis.”
Eric again drives home the point by stating that pastors/leaders in the church have a duty.
“Our job as pastors is to help our church members see that God has a heart for the non-Christians all around them, and that his divine hand has brought these non-Christians directly into their every-day communities with this purpose of mission. Sunday’s are assuredly for hearing the preached word and caring for one another. But Sundays should also be sending days for the church—a day to remember that the mission is not over, that we are being “sent” as missionaries into the world to reveal God’s glorious kingdom.”
I agree with you BK (as I said before), as well as d-ross and tim. I believe it comes down to the leaders of the church, the pastor(s). If they don’t pray that their congregation is missional in the community around, if they don’t preach and teach the whole counsel of God, if they don’t live out the gospel, if they don’t equip (Eph. 4:12) the saints, and the list goes on and on. But, it is also falls to the members of the church too. If they only attend church, if they only listen and do not respond to the Word, if they don’t pray for the leading of the Spirit, if they aren’t stepping out in faith, if they…and the list goes on and on. So, it takes two to tango. But, there is a responsibility for the pastors to equip and for the members to go and do, then imagine what would take place in (the West) and in Lanky. Man, it would be awesome!
So, I ask you all. How are doing in your own world? In leading your family to mightier things for the Lord and for others? And how does one go about in transforming the pastor’s minds and hearts for this in Lancaster County?
If you would like to read more, visit http://www.9marks.org
http://www.9marks.org/CC/article/0,,PTID314526|CHID598016|CIID2264226,00.html