Pitfalls of Evangelism (7)
Special 'Add'ition: HOLISTIC SALVATION
Recognizing herself as the agent of reconciliation between God and the human race, the Church generously channels much of her resources into evangelistic efforts. However, the same cannot be said of the Church's efforts in elevating the people (of the wider society) from their social, political and economical struggles. Even when the Church occasionally engages herself in such physical concerns, these efforts are sporadic and short-termed and the conversion of sinners is often the hidden agenda behind the efforts.
The Church's overemphasis on evangelism is perhaps the result of her perception that salvation is a matter of the soul. Efforts to redeem the physical aspects of the human person is at best a mean to the end: redemption of the soul. Such an understanding has made the Church guilty of being apathetic towards the daily struggles of the common people.
Salvation is holistic. It is not merely redemption of the soul, but also includes the redemption of the human person from the aforementioned physical struggles in the daily living. Therefore, the Church must actively engaged in the physical struggles of the people, striving constantly to elevate them from all forms of oppression and suffering. Such elevation must be seen as salvation, or more accurately, one of the many dimensions of holistic salvation, and not a mere mean to the redemption of the person's soul.
However, even if we see such elevation as part of salvation, we would certainly desire to lead the person to the redemption of his soul, as this is also another dimension of salvation. However, to elevate the people from their physical struggles in order to lead them to the redemption of their souls is to go against the ethos of Christ, for he never objectifies anyone but treats each as an equal.
The difficult question will then be, "How can we bring a person to Christ and lead him to the redemption of his soul if no hidden agenda can be included in our elevating efforts? The best way perhaps, is for us to embody Christ to them. In their encounter with us while we engage in their struggles, let us be aware that they are experiencing and relating to Christ. As they experience the Message in us and through us, they may then come to inquire about him from the messenger, then and only then, we must be ready to give an answer.
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me...Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
Recognizing herself as the agent of reconciliation between God and the human race, the Church generously channels much of her resources into evangelistic efforts. However, the same cannot be said of the Church's efforts in elevating the people (of the wider society) from their social, political and economical struggles. Even when the Church occasionally engages herself in such physical concerns, these efforts are sporadic and short-termed and the conversion of sinners is often the hidden agenda behind the efforts.The Church's overemphasis on evangelism is perhaps the result of her perception that salvation is a matter of the soul. Efforts to redeem the physical aspects of the human person is at best a mean to the end: redemption of the soul. Such an understanding has made the Church guilty of being apathetic towards the daily struggles of the common people.
Salvation is holistic. It is not merely redemption of the soul, but also includes the redemption of the human person from the aforementioned physical struggles in the daily living. Therefore, the Church must actively engaged in the physical struggles of the people, striving constantly to elevate them from all forms of oppression and suffering. Such elevation must be seen as salvation, or more accurately, one of the many dimensions of holistic salvation, and not a mere mean to the redemption of the person's soul.
However, even if we see such elevation as part of salvation, we would certainly desire to lead the person to the redemption of his soul, as this is also another dimension of salvation. However, to elevate the people from their physical struggles in order to lead them to the redemption of their souls is to go against the ethos of Christ, for he never objectifies anyone but treats each as an equal.
The difficult question will then be, "How can we bring a person to Christ and lead him to the redemption of his soul if no hidden agenda can be included in our elevating efforts? The best way perhaps, is for us to embody Christ to them. In their encounter with us while we engage in their struggles, let us be aware that they are experiencing and relating to Christ. As they experience the Message in us and through us, they may then come to inquire about him from the messenger, then and only then, we must be ready to give an answer.
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me...Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
Jesus Christ
Labels: Theology
posted by Dan at 8/03/2007 04:40:00 pm
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