Think about how a human church does evangelism.
UNASHAMED OF GRACE
The Gospels never celebrate the failed behaviors of Peter and the other disciples but they do not try to hide them either. They believe that God knew what God was doing and, in the words of Paul, God’s power was made perfect in our weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9 quotes God as saying to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul continues, “So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”
The Gospels testify to that same truth as they describe how Jesus established the church. They repeatedly testify to their belief that God is not defeated by our failures. Consistent with similar stories about Abraham, Jacob, David, etc., the Gospel’s reveal the good news that God’s grace keeps peeking through the behavior of ordinary humans, who frequently stumble but refuse to believe that the Good News of God’s saving grace can be defeated. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.”(John 1:5)
AN UNASHAMED CONTEMPORARY CHURCH
Consider how such an understanding of the Gospel might affect the contemporary church.
The first step would be that the church would have to face their own shame. Most of the scandals that have erupted in the church in recent years have been exacerbated by the institutional attempt to cover up behavior that they recognized as inappropriate.
Like the disciples before them, there are disciples in both our local churches and the national and worldwide structures of the one Body of Christ who behave and make decisions that violate the purity of the Gospel. Too often, the church fails to follow the Gospel’s practice of facing that shame openly.
EXEGETING THE WORD OF GOD
Believing that Jesus is the word of God incarnate, the Gospel writers sought to exegete or interpret that word for the world. They knew that the disciples were not perfect, but they trusted that God, through Jesus, was able to reveal God’s saving grace among them. The task of clergy and other spiritual leaders is to guide the members of the church in learning how to exegete this Word of God expressed in the Body of Christ.
We are to help our members discover God’s saving grace in our midst, sometimes in extraordinary acts of grace, but equally in moments of faithlessness that did not defeat God.
The church accepts the fact that inherent in the membership and structures of the church are all the characteristics of “fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing . . .” (Galatians 5:19-21) and all the other factors that plague our societies. The church is made up of humans that mirror the best and worst in our world.
WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE?
That which makes the difference is that we are addressed by God through Scripture, prayer, song, the sacraments and God bonded community in a way that creates a vision of hope through the works of God who will not be defeated. That is Good News to those who struggle with such realities in their own lives.
Frequently when I speak to church members and recall the rock upon which the church is built, there is a chuckle that goes through the people and a few comments about Peter and the disciples being just like us. Evangelism in such a church is helping people discover the fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—Galatians 5:22-23) that are present and seeking expression in their own lives.
IN AN ANXIOUS WORLD
In this anxious world, consider the impact of people discovering a community of people who didn’t try to hide their failings, but were willing to welcome others who wanted to join them in listening to the whisper of God that addressed the best that was in them. Is that the way that God intends to reconcile the world to Godself and not count their sins against them and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. (2 Cor 5:19)
DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO TELL TO THE NATIONS?
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How to help both you and others share the story