Imagine that you are in a building, and a voice comes over the intercom passionately declaring something that sounds urgent and extremely important. However, you can’t understand a word of it. Perhaps, the message is that the building is on fire; you’d never know.
Is this the way your church communicates?
I HAVE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU COULD EVER READ, AND HERE IT IS:
惟有基督在我们还作罪人的时候为我们死，神的爱就在此向我们显明了。
The question can be directed toward the specific tongue of speech, but more appropriately, are you speaking in a way that your community and the world understand? Raising your voice and talking slower is not the solution (it doesn't work with foreigners either); you must change your language [not the message]. What language does your church speak, and what are you saying?
Great question bro. As long as we're speaking in the King James, I'm okay with it... lol.
ReplyDeleteNot really - Why do you think it's so hard for us the change the way we communicate the gospel message? Why is it so offensive to us? Why do we protect our preferences so fiercely?
I really like the Chinese, I mean KJV.
ReplyDeleteWhy is it hard for us to change the way we communicate the gospel?
Personally, I think it is lack of confidence in the message itself. On a whole, believers lack the knowledge to defend their faith, so 'we' tend to stay with our routine, comfortable, ineffective communication style.
The only way to correct that is to delve into the mysteries of the gospel. Lynelle has recently watched a series from FOTF called the Truth Project. She purchased them and now we are watching them together. Many of the hard questions (some I've processed through on my own) are asked and answered. It's all about building and living a Christian worldview.
I agree that it is primarily a spiritual battle. But do you think it is somewhat socio-psychological as well?
ReplyDeleteChange in general is difficult within the human race. It doesn't make much sense why, seeing that our world and environments are constantly changing beyond our control. But then again, maybe that plays a significant part in all of this as well...
Many psychologists believe that when people are constantly faced with change beyond their control, they will fiercely hold on to whatever it is they CAN control. That's largely why some elderly people become bitter and uncooperative in their fatal sicknesses. There are only a few things left that they CAN control, so they will with every fiber of their being, regardless of how much pain it causes them and others around them.
Religion and religious preference is such a hot-topic in our Christian culture. In our day (Postmodernism, or Post-Postmodernism, as some believe) the church culture is facing a climate shift much faster than we are able to keep up with. Musical style, message delivery, building architectural design, worshipology, and countless other factors are changing so rapidly and frequently that many of us are unwilling (or unable, as some believe) to adjust to these changes which are beyond our control. The only way we know how to protect the message of the gospel is to set our own Pharisaical boundaries around it: KJV only, 1975 Hymnal only, piano and organ only, etc., etc., etc.
I think we oversimplify the argument when we say things like, "Oh, you just don't like change," or "Why can't you just be okay with the delivery style changing when the message is still the same." I cringe at the "old dog, new tricks" analogy, because I just don't think it does the argument justice.
There's a REALLY good fiction book by Gordon McDonald entitled, "Who Stole My Church?" It is a great read - and a quick read, really - for this topic.
You've mentioned that book to me as well as some other friends.
ReplyDeleteI think an appropriate summary of what you discuss is: "Tradition is what keeps the Jews from accepting Christ."
While I agree with the psychological assessment of holding constant what I feel like I can control in a world of chaotic and constant change, I believe the root is still solely spiritual (though psychological, emotional, and physical considerations play a role - they are merely avenues of display for the deep-rooted spiritual battle). What do you think of that long Pauline sentence? ha!
The real problem is that we do not have hearts like Christ (as Paul described in 1 Cor 9:18-23 which he climaxes with "I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some" - when I teach my Spanish classes, this is always the key verse I use).
Absolutely - I believe that the core problem is spiritual... BUT - I don't think we can change the world by saying, "You need to change!" "The Bible Says so!" That's Jay Adams' (Counselor and Pastor) approach - and it really hasn't proven very successful.
ReplyDeleteJust as we expect people to be sensitive to the authority of the Gospel (James 1:19-25), we must also be sensitive and committed to helping them change holistically. This involves addressing soulical, physical, psychological, behavioral, and socialogical issues. God designed our entire being in His image - we need to address every aspect our being when teaching and promoting change (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).
When I said that it is more a spiritual problem, I was really referring to why Christians won't change our methodology.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the world's problem is spritual and affecting every aspect of existence needing to be changed holistically. The problem is very much what you are describing, meeting people where they are.
Unfortunately, we do not take the very practical example that Jesus demonstrates in John 11, before Lazarus is raised.
Martha and Mary both tell Jesus that if He had only been there, Lazarus would not have died. Jesus responds in very different ways. Martha needed challange, and Mary needed compassion. We as believers must know the audience and adjust the communication for the target audience. Jesus message ultimately to both was the same.
The raising of Lazarus also illustrates a 5-point analogy to salvation that we as believers need to understand.
1) Believers must remove the barriers with Christ's direction to the gospel. Jesus commands the stone be removed.
2) Believers must not turn their noses up to lost people. Martha was logically challenging Jesus command to have the stone removed.
3) Salvation is for God's glory alone. Jesus identified in public prayer, before calling Lazarus to life, that God is the source of supreme power.
4) Jesus calls the dead to life (not the believer). "Lazarus, come forth."
5) Believers must disciple the new believer. The dead are still walking around in grave clothes, and Jesus instructs us to "Loose him, and let him go."
I was also referring to methodology. In order to help people change, we have to show them not only that God commands it, but HOW to change spiritually, behaviorally, soulically, etc. and not expect them to change everything they've been passionate about in one night. It took the disciples 3 years before they even remotely understood Jesus' message, and even then - when it came time for Jesus' resurrection, some of them were reluctant to believe it.
ReplyDeleteJust like we can't expect newly converted Christians to immediately "unlearn" all that they have learned over the period of a lifetime, we cannot expect seasoned Christians to let go of all of their habits, preferences, and methodologies overnight. That's all I'm trying to say.
Good word.