Thus the church's mission is defined by the tasks given by God: evangelism and nurture. Its mission is not defined by numerical objectives or successes the church may have in these tasks. I am emphasizing this fact because to violate it will almost invariably violate the nature of Christianity as well. Christians may erect buildings that compete favorably with local temples [local to Japanese culture]; they may link Christian worship to various practices that are associated with pagan worship in the minds of local people; they may soft- pedal the gospel in order to gain a hearing. And they might just raise the numbers of nominal Christians in the process. But if the gospel is no longer the true message of redemption from God, nothing of genuine consequence has been gained.
As a Christian I see the gospel of Jesus Christ as the only way of salvation. Consequently, sharing the gospel is the highest good I can do for another person. Clearly, I need to abide by New Testament exhortations regarding my conduct in doing so. For instance, I may never force the gospel on another person. However, I also need to remember that by compromising the gospel in order not to cause offence, I may actually deprive someone of the good news that has been entrusted to me. In the end, everyone needs to know the authentic gospel: that Jesus Christ is Savior and Lord (335).
This is a helpful statement to consider as we seek to share our faith within particular cultures.
Semper Reformanda
1 comment:
The definition of success is not in the hands of humans. I am reminded of Jeremiah's ministry and all the small, struggling churches who are preaching the full gospel. The ministry is not a business and its success should not be defined by the return.
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