One of the biggest events for World Evangelization is just kicking off in Cape Town. I’m hoping to shed some light on the conference, let you know of some resources and how to participate, and ask some tough questions like, “Is Lausanne really worth the millions of dollars that will be spent or could that money be used for a better purpose?”
At any rate, any of you can participate online by going to the website here. Podcasts and Global link sites will be made available. Also, the Advance Papers can be read by clicking here. These papers are the subject matter that will be presented at the conference.
I want to introduce one to you entitled, Poverty and Wealth by Corina Villacorta and Harold Segura.
The focus of this paper is on matters of the ‘true’ gospel. Frankly, their approach is refreshing because one of the criticisms of “World Evangelization” is to wave a track in front of people’s face and tell them of their need to be saved without addressing the issues of poverty, malnutrition, clean water, etc., that are occurring in people’s lives. They say this on the first page about their focus.”
“Seeing the world clearly and ‘showing up’ in the very midst of its anguish and fears is integral to our witness of faith. How can we discuss holistic evangelisation without first acknowledging the world’s sorrows, sorrows that are increasing exponentially every day?”
Now you’re talking my language. The continue:
“While we study statistics in an attempt to view the whole picture, the millions of people unable to meet the basic needs of food and shelter are much more than simply statistics appealing for compassion or solidarity. Their reality poses challenging questions about our evangelisation and missionary task: How can we talk about God and witness His love in the midst of so much poverty? How can we express God’s love? How can we be witnesses to the abundant life? What does the announcement of the good news of His Kingdom of love mean?”
Did I just hear an “Amen?!” I’ve always been on a soap-box about this issue. Jesus didn’t just come to “preach the gospel.” It was one of the things he did. What about the rest? “Proclaim freedom to the prisoners, recovery of sight to the blind, release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 18). There’s much more of the “gospel” in this message.
The last Lausanne meeting in Manilla called for these issues to be addressed as well, “The proclamation of God’s kingdom necessarily demands the prophetic denunciation of all that is incompatible with it. Among the evils we deplore are destructive violence, including institutionalized violence, political corruption, all forms of exploitation of people and of the earth, the undermining of the family, abortion on demand, the drug traffic, and the abuse of human rights. In our concern for the poor, we are distressed by the burden of debt in the two-thirds world. We are also outraged by the inhuman conditions in which millions live, who bear God’s image as we do.”
I am encouraged that these issues are being addressed and am anxiously awaiting what action steps will be taken from the meeting. I think this is the kind of Christianity the world needs to see. A Christianity that loves and cares for these issues, is generous with time and money, and is involved in helping to overcome systems and acts of injustice. That’s what the world needs to see first and be “evangelized” second. Just my humble opinion.
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