(Tangential) Writings
I like to read “Laura’s (Tangential) Writings.” To be honest, sometimes her food posts look appetizing… sometimes not. But, her words (as brief as they usually are) always cause me to think. This is from her post called “Diversity is Heart Deep“:
Touch the outcast.
Remember the forgotten.
Make neighborhoods and share.
Honor sundry loves and flex.
Know as intimate and acquaintance.
Connect faithfully in ordinary life.
Something about these words touch me and make me want to do something. What about you? Do these short lines do anything for you?
Going… really going
I just got back from having coffee with a couple of great brothers in Christ. We don’t always agree with one another (although we usually do), but we still love spending time with one another and encouraging one another toward maturity in Christ.
Our discussion drifted toward evangelism, and specifically the idea of “going.” We all agreed that we didn’t want to be the kind of people who simply invited unbelievers to come to us. We wanted to be the kind of people who went to them… the kind of disciples who were going.
But, as we talked, we realized that even when people tell us about “going,” they eventually get back to the point where they are trying to bring people back with them. You know what I mean, right? We go out to present the gospel. Then, when someone is interested, we invited them to come meet with us.
We want to be different. Now, when someone is interested in the gospel, we want to continue going to them. Instead of asking people to invite their friends and family to come to us, we want to go to them, much like Peter went to Cornelius and his friends and family. We don’t want to simply increase the number of people meeting with us, we want to see the number of churches meeting around our area increase.
This was a very exciting discussion to us, but also quite frightening. Why? Because while we agree with this in theory, we’ve never seen it practiced… we have no example to follow in real life. But, it’s what we want to see happen in our lives and in the life of the church.
As we left, one of my brothers said that he was going to call “C”. (“C” is a young man who recently professed faith in Jesus Christ through the witness of my brother.) “C” has met with us a few times. But, my friend is now going to offer to go to “C”… to meet with him in his house… to meet his friends and family on their turf. To keep “going”…
I don’t know what’s going to happen… but I’m excited.
If preaching is not preaching then what is preaching?
So, I’ve written a few posts saying that “preaching” as the term is used in Scripture is not the same as “preaching” as the term is traditionally used by churches today.
In other words, when we read about someone “preaching” in Scripture, I believe it means that the person was proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ and his kingdom to people who were not Jesus’ followers.
My question to you is this: Assuming my understanding of “preaching” in Scripture is correct (and I’m really not asking for discussion on this point for now), how would “preaching” take place in our culture and context today?
The Gospel and the Kingdom
Have you ever noticed how many times in Scripture the gospel is associated with the kingdom of God?
Now, we know that “gospel” is simply an Old English word for “good news.” Thus, when the early apostles proclaimed the good news concerning Jesus Christ, they considered it good news about his kingdom. Here are a few passages (although there are many, many similar ones):
And he [Jesus] went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. (Matthew 4:23 ESV)
And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14 ESV)
But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. (Acts 8:12 ESV)
There are other passages that don’t include the term “gospel” or “good news” but where believers are encouraging others toward the kingdom of God (what we would call “evangelism”):
And he [Paul] entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. (Acts 19:8 ESV)
He [Paul] lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. (Acts 28:30-31 ESV)
Finally, there are other passages that connect the kingdom of God to what some called “being saved”:
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son… (Colossians 1:13 ESV)
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe… (Hebrews 12:28 ESV)
Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? (James 2:5 ESV)
So, how is the kingdom of God related to the gospel, that is, the good news of Jesus Christ? How do we proclaim the good news of the kingdom?
Why Ethiopia?
As I’ve mentioned previously, I’ve been invited to go to Ethiopia this summer with Dave and BeckyLynn Black. Three other brothers from Messiah Baptist Church have been invited as well. We would be working with some of the churches in a certain region of the country.
Recently, someone asked me, “Why do you want to go to Ethiopia?”
This is a very good question, and I thought I would take time to answer this question here.
First, I’ve been learning from Dave Black for a few years now. He’s currently my PhD mentor, and I’ve enjoyed studying various aspects of Greek, New Testament, Biblical theology, and the church with him. But, this has all been classroom or discussion type learning. I have never had the chance to learn from his example while he is serving others. As I’ve been learning and writing about lately, I think this (example) is a huge part of learning and discipleship. So, I’m interested in serving others with Dave and BeckyLynn Black in order to learn even more from them.
Second, I think I can learn alot from the Ethiopian believers that I’ll be working with. A few years ago, my family went to Nicaragua. That trip changed the way that I viewed the importance of relationships versus events. Going to Nicaragua showed me just how much the church in the US (especially, but perhaps in other places as well) is more concerned with events than with people – in spite of what we might say. In a similar way, I think I can learn alot from my Ethiopian brothers and sisters. What would I learn? I don’t know… that’s make it very exciting!
Finally, according to the Blacks, we can help the Ethiopian churches grow as well. Apparently, then need help learning to read and interpret and apply Scripture. Over the last few years, we have been learning how to study Scripture as a community and to help one another apply and implement what we’re studying. We’re learning how to make discipleship and interpretation less of a mental exercise and more of a complete life exercise.
Of course, there are other obstacles that must be overcome in order for us to go to Ethiopia. Please pray for us, that we would make wise, God-honoring decisions. Pray for our families. Pray for finances to be in place.
If you are interested in helping us in other ways, please send me an email at aknox [at] sebts [dot] edu.
Concerning Missions: ‘We must not see ourselves as individuals.’
This quote is from Dave Black’s blog this morning (Sunday, December 20, 9:38 a.m.):
Perhaps our churches need to reconsider why we do mission trips. Yes, as individuals we must be responsive to the needs around us. But the primary locus of God’s activity in the world today is the local church, not the denomination or the association or the seminary or the missionary organization. Here is a point I would like to make crystal clear: We must not see ourselves as individuals. Jesus came to build His church. As His Body we are to “have the same attitude and the same love, live in harmony, and keep one purpose in mind” (Phil. 2:2). We are to “live as good citizens of heaven who reflect the value of the Good News about Christ” (1:27). We are to “work hard together to spread the Good News,” just as Paul and Timothy had done (2:22).
‘We must not see ourselves as individuals.’ This is true in missions (the context of Dave Black’s quote), but it’s also so true for so many (all?) aspects of life as a follower of Jesus Christ. There is a huge difference between a church as a community or family and a church as a group of individuals.
Making Disciples with Paul
Art at “Church Task Force” has put together a great series of articles concerning making disciples and planting churches. (Are these different activities?) For example, consider his article “Rediscovering Paul’s Church Planting Strategies.”
Art finds seven “observations” from examining Paul’s example in Scripture, “which would be considered ridiculous strategies by the church planting movements in the West today.”
- On average, churches were planted and self-sufficient in 12 months
- The work was unfunded, accomplished by bivocational servants
- Paul planted multiple churches regionally, often from a base camp church in a major city (churches that planted churches)
- There was follow-up by Paul and/or itinerants as well as letters to continue to support and encourage, especially through troubles
- Whole households were being converted, not just individuals
- After an initial time in weeks or months of reaching new disciples, they are left on their own as a church without formal leadership for months
- Paul enlists additional workers from among the new churches as local elders (on average with 6 to 12 months experience as believers) and as itinerants (with about 2 years experience as believers). They all share the same focus (see Eph 4:11-16).
Do you see also see these “observations” in Paul’s example? Should we take these into consideration when making disciples (planting churches) today?
Love is the command; the command is love
Dave Black makes the following statement (concerning 1 John) on his blog (Tuesday, November 24, 8:17 am):
The study of love and its ethics of obedience remains very much on my personal agenda, and I have not yet slaked my thirst for the brilliant analysis offered by John. Love, for John, is the transference of one’s loyalties from the present kingdom of man to the coming kingdom of God. Love binds us to Jesus Christ and then thrusts out into the world for whom Christ died, back into the darkness, back into real relationships with real pain. Love is not fully Christian unless it is love for the world.
As John says (for example, see 2 John 5-6), the command from God is to love one another, and love one another is God’s command. We obey God when we love others.
But, what does it mean to love others? Our understanding of love – at least the kind of love that God desires from us and works through us – is the same kind of love that God demonstrated toward us – going, giving, serving, humble, sacrificing love. This is how we know what love is, and this is the kind of love that God works through us.
What about other kinds of love? Well, they may be good in some circumstances, but affection or warm feelings are not God’s love. In fact, even professed love is lacking unless it is accompanied by going, giving, serving, sacrificial action.
Its easy to talk about love and to study love and even to teach or preach about love. Its harder to love. But, love is the command.
Proclaim, Teach, Serve
In my previous post, “The Birth of the Church Demonstrates its Purpose,” I commented on Graham H. Twelftree’s conclusion that the church was born in the ministry of Jesus when he called the twelve apostles. The church continued the ministry of Jesus (according to the Book of Acts) after his ascension again through the work of the apostles, then later through all followers of Jesus.
But, as I said, Twelftree’s conclusion affects more than the origin of the church. Instead, the church’s origin indicates its purpose (or mission). Thus, if the church began in the ministry of the Jesus and continued the ministry of Jesus through the apostles, then the church should be continuing the ministry of Jesus. What should this ministry look like? What does it entail?
If Twelftree is correct, then the church’s understanding of its mission should begin in the Gospels. In my previous post, I mentioned that I have been considering this over the last few months because of our study of Matthew. For example, consider these passages where Matthew describes Jesus’ earthly ministry:
And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. (Matthew 4:23 ESV)
And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. (Matthew 9:35 ESV)
Each of these sentences are part of summary sections in which Matthew describes Jesus ministry. Between these two passages we see examples of Jesus teaching, proclaiming the kingdom, and healing.
Immediately following the Matthew 9:35, Jesus appoints the apostles and sends them out to do the same things that he had been doing:
These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. (Matthew 10:5-8 ESV)
Thus, the apostles’ mission was the same as Jesus’ earthly mission.
If Twelftree is correct that we are given the same mission, then we can see from these passages that our mission is three-fold: proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God, teaching, and healing. Note, I’ve changed “healing” to “serving” because we cannot control whether or not someone is healed. However, we can serve and care for people even when they are not healed. (For example, see Jesus’ positive expression of love expressed through service in the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37.)
There is a danger in listing a three-fold purpose like this. In our minds, its easy to categorize these three purposes and separate them. However, from the narrative of Matthew 4-9 especially (where we see Jesus modeling all three), we can see that the three-fold purpose must not be separated. We cannot separate proclaiming from teaching or serving, or separate teaching from proclaiming or serving, or separate serving from proclaiming or teaching.
Yes, there will be times when proclaiming is more prominent and times when teaching is more prominent and times when serving is more prominent. But, the mission remains three-fold, not separate. And we miss the purpose when only one or two parts of the three-fold are considered more important and given special emphasis.
Proclamation without teaching and service is not proclamation. Teaching without proclamation and service is not teaching. Service without proclamation and teaching is not service. The three go together and should be seen as interwoven and interlocked as the church’s purpose and mission.
Also, when I say “the church’s mission,” I also mean each Jesus follower’s mission. We cannot reduce the church’s purpose to an organizational purpose, but the purpose should be recognized as the purpose and mission of each believer. The question is not: is someone among the church carrying out each part of the mission. Instead, the question is: Am I carrying out each part of the mission.
Going to Ethiopia?
Saturday, I went to Roxboro, NC along with my friends Adam (from “adamic“), Danny, and David to take part in an orientation for a possible trip to Ethiopia this summer with Dave and BeckyLynn Black. We were joined by about 20+ other people from around the area (six different churches) who are praying about taking part in this trip.
The four of us would be joining the Blacks in the Alaba region of Ethiopia, while the others would be traveling with the Blacks to the Burji region. Our primary responsibility while we are there would be to teach believers. However, I also think that the four of us can learn alot from our Ethiopian brothers and sisters.
There are many, many obstacles that must be overcome before we take this trip. Obviously, we only want to go in God’s power and according to his will. Similarly, there are issues related to finance, vaccinations, family, etc.
Would you pray for us as we consider this trip?