I have been posting about a post a week on Total Church. The first post was some highlights from the introduction and chapter 1. Then I posted on chapter 2, community. Today, I want to quote from chapter 3, evangelism.
The authors go to some length to remind us of how speaking the Gospel is central to evangelism. But the unique feature, in my opinion, is fusing that verbal witness with a gospel community. They say:
The gospel word and gospel community are closely connected. The word creates and nourishes the community, while the community proclaims and embodies the word. (p.55)
They go on and further speak of the centrality of the cross:
This cross-love is the primary, dynamic test of whether or not we have understood the gospel word and experienced its power. Not our doctrinal orthodoxy, as important as that is. Not our ingenious strategizing, as fascinating as that is. Not our commitment to preaching, as vital as that is. Not our innovative approach to planting, as radical as that may be. It is our cross-love for each other that proclaims the truth of the gospel to a watching and skeptical world. Our love for one another, to the extent that it imitates and conforms to the cross-love of Jesus for us, is evangelistic. (pp.56-57)
I also love this quote, because it is so true in exposing my heart…
People want a form of evangelism they can stick in their schedule, switch off, and leave behind when they go home. Jesus calls us to a lifestyle of love…Ideally evangelism is not something to be undertaken in isolation. Of course, if opportunity presents itself, the gospel word should be spoken clearly and sensitively in conscious dependence upon the Holy Spirit–whenever, wherever, and to whomever. But evangelism is best done out of the context of a gospel community whose corporate life demonstrates the reality of the word that gave her life. (pp.57-58)
What does all this mean? Well for me, it seems that what I’ve been wrestling with recently on our church’s centrality being in the Gospel seems to be taking shape in this. To the degree that we are centered in Christ in our community will be the degree to which our effectiveness in evangelism will be pursued. This are simply incredible thoughts to bring together. More next time on the 3 strands of evangelism: building relationships, sharing the gospel, and introducing people to community.