I wonder if this discussion through the ages as an either or discussion isn't actually just a false dichotomy. The good news must be preached and as Jesus followers, we must always show love.
Ted, I appreciate you writing this. I think you have the right priority. I find it helpful to compare missions to the work of the church. The early church faced the same issue as early as Acts 6. As with the work of the church, so goes the work of missions, there must be a priority. Such a priority that we pay some pastors to make it their job. The balance in a church is a helpful comparison to the balance that we need in missions. The job of one man is to preach, while the entire congregation is tasked with living out the implications of the gospel in their lives. So too in missions, we designate one person as a church planter - the leader of the task you might say, while there is a swarm of support work that validates the message through lives of good works. What's needed in a culture for effective gospel witness is not just the proclamation of one man, but an entire congregation shining the light.
I wonder if this discussion through the ages as an either or discussion isn't actually just a false dichotomy. The good news must be preached and as Jesus followers, we must always show love.
Ted, I appreciate you writing this. I think you have the right priority. I find it helpful to compare missions to the work of the church. The early church faced the same issue as early as Acts 6. As with the work of the church, so goes the work of missions, there must be a priority. Such a priority that we pay some pastors to make it their job. The balance in a church is a helpful comparison to the balance that we need in missions. The job of one man is to preach, while the entire congregation is tasked with living out the implications of the gospel in their lives. So too in missions, we designate one person as a church planter - the leader of the task you might say, while there is a swarm of support work that validates the message through lives of good works. What's needed in a culture for effective gospel witness is not just the proclamation of one man, but an entire congregation shining the light.
Thanks Ted...I like the main idea of "under" or "along side" -- so many things in Christian discussions are either-or...rather than both-and.
Right on. Articulating the gospel message is the greater challenge for most of us, and absolutely essential at some point in the process.