on the JesusCreed blog. They are discussing a book about reformation and "Christianity’s Essence” and the author's concern for “transformation over information." The book discusses the differing emphasis between conservative evangelicals (CEV) and post-conservative evangelicals (PCEV).
One person commented on the emphasis of the CEV:
I find that the overemphasis lies in the approach to the unsaved. The world is to be Evangelized, not taken care of. I get the feeling that Luke’s gospel is radically overlooked by many of the mainstays of Evangelicalism. ... I get the feeling that it is not so much an emphasis on doctrine as it is a lack of emphasis on works in the world. The church is to be taken care of for sure, but it seems like the world is to be Evangelized or ignored.
This gets at my previous posts on Social Justice and Evangelism. I guess that makes me a PCEV. Nice to see that some others are talking about this. I wish there were more discussion of this in my circles. Is a correction (reformation) in order?
6 comments:
Is this saying that CEV don't necessarily believe in taking care of people as oppose to evangalizing?
Basically, yes.
In the larger context, the author of the book feels CEV emphasizes correct doctrine over transformation. This person was suggesting that it may not be an emphasis on doctrine as much as an overemphasis in their approach to the unsaved.
This would be similar to my criticism in previous posts that some put a priority on evangelism over loving others (e.g., it is a higher calling to introduce hungry people to Jesus than it would be to feed them). I say false dichotomy. Jesus did both. James 2 is prety clear about saying words without meeting the need.
We have GOT to love, whatever else we do.
I guess by extension, I would have to include CEV putting more emphasis on missionaries to evangelize than on working to correct the injustices in our world.
Or emphasizing the need to reach our neighbor for Christ over caring for the poor and needy across town.
hmmm...man this is a huge subject and im not sure ive ever really thought about it.
Its hard for me to to think about, becuase evangalism qualifies as loving people just as much as helping the poor. Both should be done out of love.
Here is what i almost wrote:
It depends where you are and who you are reaching out to as to whether to emphasize loving people or evangalism.
The "poor" need to be shown the love; well off people i'm surrounded by need to hear they can't make it on their own.
I changed my mind:
The emphasis should be on loving people. No matter who it is they need that relationship; a real relationship filled with raw love.
"Working to correct the injusticies in our world?"
Is it more important to enphasize that? Aren't the well off people just as important as the needy?
I can tell you are thinking hard about this. That's good!
I am arguing that we shouldn't pit one against the other. We should do both. The claim is the CEV has overemphasized evangelism over correcting injustice. I would have to agree with this, at least from my experience in evangelical circles.
Are the well off just as needy how? They are not hungry. The have a bed to sleep in. They are protected. They have clean water. They have access to and can afford good health care. They have access to education. They have dignity and confidence. They have access to just about whatever they want. So, no, they are not just as needy from the standpoint of basic needs.
How about spiritually? This will require another post.
Something to think about, though. We don't need to debate that the bible is full of references about the poor and what some might say God's "preferential option for the poor." Just read through Luke or Isaiah or James, or...
We also know that God is not partial. So, the interesting question is: If God is not partial, why does it seem he seem to have a preference for the poor and call us to give the poor preference?
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