Comments on: Evangelism after Christendom http://www.inhabitatiodei.com/2009/04/03/evangelism-after-christendom/ Sort of a cross between Rambo and Gandhi. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 05:09:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Marvin http://www.inhabitatiodei.com/2009/04/03/evangelism-after-christendom/comment-page-1/#comment-7404 Marvin Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:32:46 +0000 http://www.inhabitatiodei.com/?p=2003#comment-7404 A couple of thoughts. First, there is still something "immanent within the cultural complex that could be awakened and revived" here in the southeastern U.S., perhaps more so than in the Pacific Northwest, so the revivalist project in some form might yet have legs around here. Second, the Church is forever playing catch-up in the task of bringing her lifestyle in line with her proclamation. No doubt that if the distance between what she practices and what she preaches were closed, this would be a boon to evangelism. But on what basis? Why would the unchurched appreciate a Church that practices what it preaches more than, say, a Gang that practices what it preaches? There must be some shared set of norms between the Church and the world in order for the "Evangelism as Church hypocrisy reduction project" to succeed. What are those shared norms? A couple of thoughts. First, there is still something “immanent within the cultural complex that could be awakened and revived” here in the southeastern U.S., perhaps more so than in the Pacific Northwest, so the revivalist project in some form might yet have legs around here.

Second, the Church is forever playing catch-up in the task of bringing her lifestyle in line with her proclamation. No doubt that if the distance between what she practices and what she preaches were closed, this would be a boon to evangelism.

But on what basis? Why would the unchurched appreciate a Church that practices what it preaches more than, say, a Gang that practices what it preaches? There must be some shared set of norms between the Church and the world in order for the “Evangelism as Church hypocrisy reduction project” to succeed. What are those shared norms?

]]> By: Bill McReynolds http://www.inhabitatiodei.com/2009/04/03/evangelism-after-christendom/comment-page-1/#comment-7403 Bill McReynolds Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:28:42 +0000 http://www.inhabitatiodei.com/?p=2003#comment-7403 I fail to understand Craig's point. Reawakening the Church is the same as reawakening Christendom up to the middle of the 20th century. Hoekendijk's point, as I understand it, is that God's mission is for the church to evangelize exactly through kerygma, koinonia and diakonia. The church (since society no longer even pretends to being Christian) is now, or very shortly will be, comprised of only those who actually claim the Christian faith for themselves, since even in the U.S. Bible belt there is no longer any social cache to church attendance. Until we reach that point, where every congregation is a fellowship of believers, we have little hope of gaining ground through evangelism (since we do not honestly live our faith). Very soon the church will be past the point of revival and will instead need resurrection. I fail to understand Craig’s point. Reawakening the Church is the same as reawakening Christendom up to the middle of the 20th century. Hoekendijk’s point, as I understand it, is that God’s mission is for the church to evangelize exactly through kerygma, koinonia and diakonia. The church (since society no longer even pretends to being Christian) is now, or very shortly will be, comprised of only those who actually claim the Christian faith for themselves, since even in the U.S. Bible belt there is no longer any social cache to church attendance. Until we reach that point, where every congregation is a fellowship of believers, we have little hope of gaining ground through evangelism (since we do not honestly live our faith). Very soon the church will be past the point of revival and will instead need resurrection.

]]> By: Craig L. Adams http://www.inhabitatiodei.com/2009/04/03/evangelism-after-christendom/comment-page-1/#comment-7393 Craig L. Adams Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:14:37 +0000 http://www.inhabitatiodei.com/?p=2003#comment-7393 No. No. No. Initially (at least) revivalism sought to reawaken <b>the Church.</b> Then, the church could be at work to evangelize and improve the world. Christians needed to be called to faithfulness so that they could fulfill their missions of evangelism and social action. An un-revived & cold & unfaithful church was no witness. No. No. No. Initially (at least) revivalism sought to reawaken the Church. Then, the church could be at work to evangelize and improve the world. Christians needed to be called to faithfulness so that they could fulfill their missions of evangelism and social action. An un-revived & cold & unfaithful church was no witness.

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