I am doing a bit of blogging through Michael Frost's bookThe Road to Missional. In this book he revives the long running debate about whether or not mission and/or evangelism includes social action (helping people in the here and now with their lives) or soul winning (helping people come to faith in Jesus Christ). This has been quite a vociferous debate ever since the 1960s, when "social justice" came to be associated with liberal causes and liberal Christians who rejected calling people to faith in Jesus Christ. This long running debate is now something to be addressed in the missional circle.
Frost lays these six possible positions about "mission" and its relationship to social action and and soul winning, adapted from David Bosch's work.
In this section, Frost does not always clearly distinguish what the real difference between mission and evangelism is. However, he does come down advocating position 6. Where do I come down? First, let me define these terms a bit first.
I would define mission in three different ways, depending upon the context. First, mission can refer to God’s comprehensive movement towards achieving his redemptive goals and plans for all of creation—a movement in which the Church participates. This is God’s “overall mission.” See Christopher J. H. Wright, The Mission of God's People: A Biblical Theology of the Church's Mission (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010), 25. Second, mission can refer to all that the Church does to participate in God’s redemptive mission; however, “if everything is mission, nothing is mission.” See Stephen Neill, Creative Tension (London: Edinburgh House, 1959), quoted in Flett, The Witness of God, 7. Third, mission can refer to the outward impulse and outward activities of the Church that are directed towards the redemption of the world. This is what I would call evangelism with a missional thrust, or missional outreach/missional evangelism.
So where does this put one in the above discussion? If evangelism were based only upon etymology, evangelism might be equated with mere proclamation, and not something that includes conversion or “service” (non-verbal) evangelism, such as social action; however, William Abraham says that in looking at evangelism, it is important to note “what evangelism has actually meant in the early Church and in history, not judged by the etymology of the word evangelism and its rather occasional use in Scripture, but by what evangelists have actually done in both proclaiming the gospel and establishing new converts in the kingdom of God.”[3]
In other words, the actual practice of “evangelism” has included proclamation, doing of good deeds, call to conversion, and initiation into the Christian community.[4] This was what Philip and other “evangelists” in the early church did. And of course, in Jesus' own ministry, his verbal proclamation was virtually inseparable from his good deeds, healings, and his casting out of demons. His example is the primary one for us.
[1] For the nature of the evangelists’ message, see Green, Evangelism in the Early Church, 56-92. See also Michael Green, Thirty Years That Changed the World: The Book of Acts for Today (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004), 73-96. For works that link evangelism to the reign of God, see the following: Mortimer Arias, Announcing the Reign of God: Evangelization and the Subversive Memory of Jesus (Nashville: Abingdon, 1984); Abraham, The Logic of Evangelism; and Glasser and Van Engen, Announcing the Kingdom. For a historical look at initiation into the Christian community and its link with evangelism, see Robert E. Webber, Journey to Jesus: The Worship, Evangelism, and Nurture Mission of the Church (Nashville: Abingdon, 2001).
[2] Scott Jones says, “The church’s mission is wider than evangelism and includes all that God expects the church to do. At the same time, evangelism is an essential part of mission; when there is no evangelistic component the missionary activity is inadequate.” Scott J. Jones, "The Evangelistic Love of God & Neighbor: A Theology of Witness & Discipleship" (2003): 101.
[3] William J. Abraham, The Logic of Evangelism (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1989), 69.
[4] “One of the greatest weaknesses of revivalism is the lack of a strong and dynamic ecclesiology, which is evident in language and practice.” Gordon T. Smith, Transforming Conversion: Rethinking the Language and Contours of Christian Initiation (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2010), 15.
Comment
Still thinking. I do not think six options are enough. Here are eight possibilities for describing the place of social action in mission or missional work. What am I missing?
SOCIAL ACTION IS NOT PART OF THE MISSION; THEREFORE, IT IS NOT DESIRABLE AND SHOULD BE AVOIDED INSOMUCH AS POSSIBLE.
SOCIAL ACTION IS NOT PART OF THE MISSION; THEREFORE IT IS OPTIONAL AND IS NOT TO BE SOUGHT, BUT CAN OR SHOULD BE DONE WHEN OPPORTUNITIES ARISE.
SOCIAL ACTION IS DISTANTLY RELATED TO THE MISSION; IT CANNOT BE AVOIDED BY GOD’S PERSON, BUT IT IS A DISTRACTION.
SOCIAL ACTION IS A TOOL FOR THE MISSION.
SOCIAL ACTION IS A NATURAL RESULT OF THE MISSION; IT IS THE RESULT OF EVANGELISM, AND SHOULD BE DONE INDIGENOUSLY BUT SHOULD NOT BE PRIMARY FOR THE “INSERTED” MISSIONARY.
SOCIAL ACTION IS A PART OF THE MISSION BECAUSE IT IS PART OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE, BUT IT IS SECONDARY.
SOCIAL ACTION IS PART OF THE MISSION, BEING AN EQUAL PARTNER.
SOCIAL ACTION CAN BE THE MISSION, WITHOUT OVERT OR EXTENDED EVANGELISTIC EFFORTS.
WOW!!! Big $2 dollar words, quotes from high-powerd authors, comments from obviously well educated people, and alot of massaging and square rooting our way around evangelism. "What Can I Say to Help". Nothing...thats the point. So why am I writing? To encourage all who see this to read a little less, stop commenting so much(this is my first and last comment here), and "get a little on you". Evangelism is like ranching. Just because you have a cowboy hat, some cowboy boots and a pickup truck don't make you a rancher. When you look down and you "got a little on you" then your ranching. Until then your just debating(how this article began), reading, writing and commenting. No doubt evangelism is dirty, nasty, 2nd shift/24-7 type work. So why do it? Dogs make dogs, cats make cats thats why they are dogs and cats. Disciples make disciples and if they don't maybe they are not... Oh, I stepped in it now(James if you have to ban me from the sight, I know you still love me).
Two quotes about Evangelism: "How much do you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them.", Penn Jillette, Atheist and Profane hater of Christians: watch the story,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhG-tkQ_Q2w
"90% of anything is showing up." Woody Allen
Jillettes quote needs no comment. Allen's quote is all you need to do to be a evangelist, "show up". The solution and debate ending answer looked for in this forum is found in "doing evangelism".
When it comes to "Doing Evangelism" I truly have nothing for you, but I know who does! And thats a pretty handy piece of information. I will not out him in this forum. If you would like to know who and do some evangelism I will go with you, given best time and place. If you want to have a big discussion, square root, philosiphy or argue we don't have time. Tim 972-977-3715
Excellent article brother . thanks for giving a clear explanation why evangelism can not be separated from social action/ service/ healing .your outreach staretegy shows same things includes not just seeking the lost, but serving the community and sharing the good news.
there are number of verses in the Bible emphasizes that we should love the poor and needy ( social justice ) when we take the gospel to unreached people .our mission for God is a holistic one ,physical,emotional, and spiritual needs .if someone is hungry or without clothing, they may not hear what we teach them , however if we show them that you really love and care for them , by helping them find food clothes , they will most likely want to know where you get this type of compassion. this always provide a way to reach them . you are already helping by service community ministries such as feeding and clothing people and helping them with many ways . thanks for good article which inspires many people .
J R
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