We will be convening here at the ZigZag café, Suisse, on Thursdays for conversation and dialogue.
I invite you to stop by every Thursday for the question of the day. Your thoughts and participation are most welcome. Pull up a stool, avec un café, un thé, ou un chocolat chaud, et un croissant, and join in here on Thursday at the ZZ café.
For today:
In a day when that which is said to be Christian often produces unfaith, what kind(s) of Christian witness might lead people towards faith in God and the saving work of Christ?
12 comments:
Extraordinary acts of love and grace.
Thanks Susan. May these generously multiply.
Can you clarify what you are referring to? People as in non-Christians or Christians with unfaith or both? The question itself seems to be suspicious... what's the context of why you are asking. :P
1) Love for others
2) Willingness to live in non-ordinary ways (sacrificial community, etc)
3) Non-judgmentalism (and by this I don't mean saying everything is ok. I mean loving people in spite of their waywardness)
4) Lack of hypocrisy
5) Boldness in what you believe, but with an air of humility.
As unpopular as he may be in some Christian circles, I think Rick Warren is a good person to look to as a good witness.
Joshua,
Thanks. No either - or here. I mean both. Not sure why the question seems suspicious. Do you have a reason why you see it that way?
John,
Thanks. Good thoughts. One of the things I had in mind was better and more legitimate readings of the biblical text and the natural world.
Greg -
I agree, though I think those two steps - better and more legitimate readings of the biblical text and the natural world - will inevitably lead to the things that I spelled out in my first comment.
John,
Indeed!
Hi Greg,
I'm glad the spread of the gospel isn't on my shoulders alone, as I couldn't come near to aspire to attitudes and actions others have outlined as neccesary.
I wondered where supernatural acts came in bringing saving grace to people, as this seems to be historically part of the picture and currently so also ?
Mike,
Thanks for your comment. The question on ZigZag was framed in a way that aimed to draw out Christian responsibility, not underplay God's activity, which I believe is as essential as it ever has been.
If we are redeemed we can be used by God to spread the gospel. Performing acts of love and grace, while never perfect, are two essential characteristics of following the crucified and risen Christ. Being transformed by the power of the Spirit and the Scripture can lead to a diminishing of hypocrisy and legalism, while enhancing humility and love for others.
Hi Greg ,
thnxs for your reply -I didn't see the question as distinguishing between my responsibilities and Gods.
I was soley thinking about the state of Christian witness in the west.
But I agree totally with what you say,It seems (to me) that our responsibility is underplayed in preference to seeking experiences and it was this that I was thinking off, but didnt articulate -at all! :)
Because I say I do not feel able to match up to the list doesn't mean there isn't a starting place for acts of service,not necessarily Extraordinary ones but perhapse mundane?
Mike,
I can now see what you mean by a preference for seeking experiences. That's unfortunately true and is much too exclusive. For some, it appears to be what it's all about, but there's so much more to God's redeeming work and being disciples of Christ.
God can and does use a range of contributions, from the extraordinary to the mundane and then back again.
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