N.T. Wright on the Post-Emerging Church

Does the gospel always have to be framed as having to “reach the rest of the world”? I know that from a Christian perspective we understand Jesus’ good news to be good news for the whole world. And that in Christ we have come to know God’s ultimate plan for the world. But do we have to make ourselves the ones responsible for making that happen? Is it not ultimately the work of the Spirit to whom we can trust the ultimate outcome of the gospel? I just fear that it is exactly in framing the gospel this way, as needing to reach the whole world, that we fall into our imperialistic, unfaithful, and unloving ways that make for a poor witness of God’s good news to the very world for whom it is suppose to be good…

Xochtil,

It would seem that we are handed some responsibility by Jesus for making known and demonstrating His message of the kingdom.

Though there is a danger in terms of our attitude and means of doing so that does not take our responsibility.

I guess what’s often missing is the leading and involvement of the Spirit in missional programmes.

I do think, Xochtil, that we need to insist on a position of greater humility in our understanding of ‘God’s ultimate plan for the world.’ I believe we need to move with a posture of humility toward our own formulations of the gospel, and an anticipation of the Spirit working throughout the world in ways that are not necessarily dependent upon us (Western Christians, in particular).

Having said that, it does still seem to me that a key element of God spreading his plan and good news is through the medium of human relationships. When Jesus tells his followers to ‘go make disciples’, and when Paul talks about being ‘ambassadors of Christ’, I think the core of what that affirms is that God delights in the good news being communicated through people. One person to another, through loving action, through long-term relationship, and yes, also through proclaiming how we have experienced Jesus Christ’s love and bestowing of purpose on our lives.

I share your distaste over the imperialistic, unfaithul, and unloving ways that we in the church have often employed in the name of ‘the gospel’, mangling the gospel in the process. I still believe, however, that God desires to use his followers as one of the main agents (led by the Spirit as much as grace allows us) of ‘reaching’ the world with God’s love.

Xochtil,

You said, “I just fear that it is exactly in framing the gospel this way, as needing to reach the whole world, that we fall into our imperialistic, unfaithful, and unloving ways that make for a poor witness of God’s good news to the very world for whom it is suppose to be good…”

WOW, i never thought of it this way and i like your insight.

i think much of modern Christianity has fallen into this trap as a followup to the workings of imperialistic countries enforcing themselves in places like India, Africa, and Iraq. In other words, modern Christianity has taken its lead from Great Britain, the US and other imperialistic countries. Imposing is different from sharing relationally.

This is one place where i think think the emerging church is trying to change.

Thank you for your insightful observation!

Warmly,

Adele Sakler