If you have been following me on Twitter, Facebook, or this blog, you know that I am a supporter of the Lausanne Movement, including Cape Town 2010. Yesterday, I posted several links to assist you in keeping up with the happenings of October 16-25. I also posted this podcast to download. For the past several months, I have been serving as a Lausanne Subject Matter Expert on the topic of Diaspora, and as part of the Cape Town 2010 Blogger Network.
I share this information with the hope that you will hear my heart on my concern regarding Cape Town 2010 and the Great Commission. I recognize that such a concern may seem strange since it is a congress on world evangelization. Here is my story as to why I am raising the issue.
Two years ago, I was attending the annual Evangelical Missiological Society in Broomfield, Colorado when a major announcement was made regarding Cape Town 2010. As with everyone else who has followed the outcomes of Lausanne I (Lausanne, Switzerland) and Lausanne II (Manilia, Philippines), I was excited to know that a third congress was scheduled to occur. However, as I became familiar with the numerous topics to be addressed, mainly dealing with social and ethical challenges facing the Church, I wondered where was the emphasis on evangelism. I simply filed the matter away in my mind, wondering if I had been hyper-sensitive to the issue (After all, I am a professor of evangelism.).
As time passed, I still did not hear a great deal of emphasis on the topic of global evangelization. I heard about a multitude of other extremely urgent and important matters such as migration, human-trafficking, urbanization, globalization, poverty, Islam, bioethics, AIDS/HIV, and the Majority World Church. I heard a great deal about the need for the Church to address the major humanitarian issues of the day. Again, very timely and important topics to which the Church should respond.
But where was the spirit of 1974? Where was the emphasis on reaching the unreached people groups? Where was the emphasis on evangelizing the different population segments of the world? Where was the focus on church planting?
By this time, I was concerned but still decided to remain silent (Again, many of the leaders at Lausanne I have influenced my missiology. Also, as a church planting professor, I can be hyper-sensitive when church planting is not on the agenda, even when the church’s Women’s Sewing Committee meets!)
And then in August of this year, I read an article in Christianity Today that contained a chart comparing the four world missions conferences of 2010. My eyes were drawn to what the author interpreted “The Future of Missions Is” for Cape Town 2010: “Mobilizing Christians for ‘global solutions’ to HIV/AIDS, poverty, Islam, and other global issues.”
By now my concern had deepened, and while I was not ready to make any comments, I chalked matters up to the fact that beneath the surface of these contemporary issues the emphasis of reaching people with the gospel will be present.
As time elapsed, my heart became more troubled.
As a part of the blogger network, I participated in two different events. One related to the 12 Cities 12 Conversations and the other an interview with one of the plenary speakers. Now, because some of our brothers and sisters related to these events will be reading this post, I am not going to reveal any names or location. Such would not be profitable for the building up of the Body.
During the 2 hour meeting in one of the 12 cities, I took approximately eight pages of notes of the discussion. Now, while I did step out for five minutes to speak to my family and tell my kids goodnight, I participated in the entire session.
At the time, I was so troubled about the content that I decided to refrain from blogging about it out of fear that I had misunderstood something. For two hours, very little was said about the gospel and even less about evangelism. The most I heard about the latter topic was when one of the sponsors of the event was able to share about his organization. He mentioned the importance of evangelizing children.
So, what was said if global evangelism was not to be found?
I heard that the western Church is dead, particularly the Anglo church. That the only vibrant churches in America are 1st generation immigrant churches. The church in the West simply needs to turn over the reins to the Majority World Church, and then get out of the way and learn from them. The importance of ethnic diversity was stressed, and evangelicals need to get out and help their communities. Disunity in both the church local and global is a problem. And that we need to make better consumer decisions, for our purchases in North America affect our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world.
I felt that if we had removed the word “church” from our conversation, we could have been talking about the humanitarian efforts of a multitude of organizations.
Don’t get me wrong. All of the matters discussed that evening were extremely important matters to address. The problem was that they were given front-and-center stage in relation to a congress on world evangelization, with the topic of evangelization not being addressed.
While the interview with one of the plenary speakers also addressed some very important matters, the topic of global evangelization was not discussed.
Knowing that I had not attended all of the 12 city conversations and interviews, I was beginning to wonder if anyone was also sharing the same concerns, or if I was simply at the wrong places at the wrong times, and my hyper-sensitivity was kicking in.
And then yesterday I read the following at the blog Koinonia, where upcoming, plenary speaker, Ajith Fernando, made the following statement on his thoughts regarding Cape Town 2010:
“The evangelical church faces some big challenges at this time. . . . Though Lausanne ’74 helped clarify the relationship between Social concern and evangelism, evangelism often gets sidelined or loses its place of supreme importance as the church responds to the plethora of social challenges it encounters today.
We need a return to the urgency of evangelism that comes out of a realistic understanding of the lostness of humanity apart from Christ and of the glory of the gospel. There are complaints that some recent high profile evangelical mission conferences, which previously had a high emphasis on the need to preach the good news to the lost, are now focusing so much on other issues that evangelism has become just an “also ran.” Some fear that this will happen also in Lausanne III.
I am however hoping that out of Lausanne III will come a strong cry for commitment to and passion for evangelism, while at the same time challenging the church to engage in meeting some of the other challenges the human race faces. The horror of lostness of people apart from Christ is as serious now as it was before, and it is the greatest human need.”
It is my hope that the speakers and leadership attached to Cape Town 2010 will read and heed Fernando’s words. He is exactly right here.
While the Church is called to make disciples (Matt 28:18-20), we must recognize that calling people to repentance and faith (Acts 20:21) is the first step in our obedience to our Lord’s commission. If evangelism is not intentional, evangelism will be replaced by a multitude of other important, albeit secondary, matters.
If Lausanne III is a congress on global evangelization, then I hope (and pray) with Fernando that evangelism will remain where it should be according to Lausanne I but most importantly according to the Scriptures.
What will Cape Town 2010 be known for? I don’t know. Ask me after the concluding events on October 25.
I’m not equipped to take on a Prof of evangelism, so please don’t consider this a challenge. I grew up in a staunchly evangelical environment, by somewhere along the line I began to ask questions that positioned me outside the movement. The first question was, what was Jesus mission? Didn’t have something to do with Isa 61? and what about Matt 25:40? Why are all these things not the Gospel? What exactly was it that Jesus commissioned them to do in Matt 28? How did we turn that into the get out of hell gospel? Evangelicals seem to think that you must be saved first in order to be a disciple, but who says? Is there not a process, a journey, a working out. Is it not more in keeping with Jesus teaching that we teach the gospel by loving all? I’m with Francis of Assisi, spread the gospel all the time and if necessary use words.
Wayne,
Thank you for sharing. I also appreciate hearing your experience.
I agree that Jesus came to give us life and life more abundantly (John 10:10). And as His followers we must help those in need. Unfortunately, many have excluded such ministry from the Church and only focused on evangelism.
The point that I am raising in this blog is that a congress on world evangelization (which by definition evangelism is calling people to repentance and faith in Jesus) should be, by definition, focused on evangelization.
There is clearly a place for dealing with the matters being raised at Cape Town. My concern is that we are moving away from evangelism and into another realm of ministry–a very important realm of ministry, but not that which is primary.
As we look to the Scriptures as our guide, we cannot deny the fact that calling people to repentance and faith and helping those in need were both matters to be practiced. But, the former recevied a greater emphasis. What would it profit someone, if he gained the whole world but lost his soul (Matt 16:26)? While the church is not to neglect social ministry, such is not evangelism–calling people to repentance and faith in Jesus.
A disciple is a follower of someone. We either follow Jesus or we do not. We cannot be halfway in the Kingdom and halfway in the kingdom of darkness. The first step in becoming a follower of Jesus is to turn from the direction we are presently following and follow after him. The Scriptures refer to this as repentance and belief (i.e., faith). For us to withhold such good news–that forgiveness and healing are found in Jesus alone–is not loving our neighbor.
In Matt 28, the commission was to “make disciples.” The first step invovled calling people to this repentance and faith. These new disciples were to be baptized, and then taught to obey all the commands of Jesus (which such commands involve calling others to follow Him and helping others in their time of need).
While I appreciate Francis of Assisi’s words, they fall short of both the biblical commands and examples set by Jesus and the Apostles. We must use both actions and words. No one ever entered into the Kingdom of God because someone lived a good life before them. While our lives are to be salt and light so that others may come to praise our Father in heaven (Matt 5:13-16), we must understand that until a person places their trust in Jesus they are separated of our Father.
For even Jesus, who lived a sinless life, always coupled his actions with his words. If anyone was able to bring someone into the Kingdom by words alone, it was our Lord–but He was always intentional about connecting gospel proclamation with his good deeds. I think this is a better model to follow.
Again, thank you brother for sharing. You bring up some excellent points and great questions!
Take care,
J. D.
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As a pastor and former missionary, I’ve thought a lot about evangelism (though not as much as a professor of evangelism). At this point in my life, I have to take exception to the statement that “While the church is not to neglect social ministry, such is not evangelism.” After having grown up in a church that condemned the “social gospel” and didn’t care about the poor, I’ve concluded that there is no gospel that is not social. Without the manifestation of the difference that the gospel makes in this life, we are not truly sharing the good news.
I believe that the NT gospel is that Jesus is Lord now, and that the kingdom of God is here now, and that the good news is now. Yes, there is future hope and fulfillment, but I believe the great emphasis of Jesus and the Apostles is what is happening in the world now.
I believe that evangelism is essential, but that it cannot be divorced from social ministries that demonstrate the presence of the kingdom and the reality of its message.
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JD
I would differ with your comment in the response above that elevates evangelism as a priority above justice and mercy. I feel that our attempts to make 1 task a priority over another short-changes the majestic and infinite glory of God who through his son Jesus simultaneously proclaimed salvation to the world while showing mercy and compassion and confronting injustice.
I would contend that when the church has an historic opportunity to gather as it is in Cape Town, for a congress on evangelism, it had better include discussion of the issues that are of equal priority to proclamation, and that have a direct impact on the credibility of our witness.
Finally, I would hold up the topic of Day 1 – How do we communicate the Truth of Jesus – as an example of an issue related to proclamation evangelism that we are in Cape Town to address.
Does the scriptures give us the ability to do both, with the foundational reason being the demonstration of the good news through the ministry of mercy? Luke 4:18,19 and John 3:16 with I John 3:16; Micah 3:8, Isa. 58 speak loudly to me that doing justice, loving mercy and making disciples go together.
Great question, Sherry. Thank you for writing. I believe the Church must do both evangelism and show mercy. Jesus and the Apostolic Church showed this to be true. Evangelism and mercy are partners in a dance, but making disciples always leads (as I think someone shared with me elsewhere). This does not mean that the Church must enter into a community with a loudspeaker preaching. The Church may enter the community to dig wells, do health care, etc., but always to show love to people by communicating the greatest love of all–which requires their repentance and faith in Jesus in order for them to have abundant life (John 10:10) and true mercy.
Take care,
J. D.
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I think it is a problem to separate living as followers of Jesus and telling others about Him. He came, after all to seek and to save those who are lost and He sends us into the world as He have been send… to be His witnesses. Preaching without lives (=acts) of love means nothing, and is many times not motivated by love for God or His love for the lost. But “acts of love” without telling people how they can share in the blessing of new life in Messiah is also worthless. Just as signs and wonders in the ministry was always given to confirm the message and not to replace the message, living the love of God confirms the message of God’s love, but doesn’t replace telling others about it. I think we are many times just to scared of rejection or persecution to open our mouths and talk about Jesus (or maybe too scared that we will botch it it -I think mostly because we don’t really trust the Holy Spirit that God has poured out on us for this very purpose Acts 1:8). I just cannot believe that you can claim to love people, but refrain from telling them about the One who has given His life for them in order to cleanse them so that they can live in fellowship with the Creator of heaven and earth – to me it just seems cruel, having the words of eternal life and keeping it for yourself.
Thank you, Chavoux, for sharing. Good words of exhortation to us all. We love with actions AND words.
J. D.
Hi JD
I’m in an equivalent position to you in the UK; I teach evangelism and mission (among other things) in a seminary. I too support Lausanne, and although I decided that I couldn’t attend, I’m following it as live as I can, have shown sessions in class yesterday, and watching with interest.
I’m also in an equivalent position to you vis a vis evangelism and what is emerging so far. It’s not what’s said, so much as what’s not said. There was an exception in the initial address, which contained an explicit echo of Edinburgh 1910 and cited Ralph Winter from 1974. Nevertheless, for all the great stuff that’s being said, I’m starting to wonder, to echo McGavran, ‘will Cape Town betray the two billion?’
Blessings
Chris
Chris,
It sounds as if we share much in common. While I did not want to make a premature judgment when writing this post, I must admit that McGavran’s question on Uppsala and the two billion came to mind. Let’s keep watching, praying, listening, discerning, engaging, and make our conclusions after this week.
Thank you for your comment.
Take care,
J. D.
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