I'm a little bit hesitant to express all of this, lest I'm unknowingly the devil's advocate.
But, 'Kingdom culture' is okay with fitting itself within existing culture as far as possible.
I CORINTHIANS 9:19-23
19For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
20And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
22To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
'Kingdom culture' doesn't only allow one person to be different to another - it makes one person different to another.
ROMANS 12:6
6Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us...
DEUTERONOMY 28:56
56The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness,The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness...
Therefore evangelism need not always equal only street outreach. It need not always involve only approaching strangers in a shopping centre. Because not only are some people less comfortable doing that than others - but some people are also less comfortable being approached in those circumstances than others. So that type of evangelism seems to reach mainly only a certain subculture - and only a certain subculture is comfortable doing it. And quite often street-witnessers find themselves approaching someone who they instinctively notice might themselves be more comfortable being approached than others might be - therefore often only a certain subculture is targeted.
By making evangelism only about street outreach, we make evangelism harder for some to do, than others; and we also end-up targeting mainly only some types, but not often others. We narrow it down like that - and then we call that 'the normal Christian life'. But evangelism is broader than that!
What about the person wearing business attire who looks like he's in a bit of a hurry and who isn't displaying any obvious physical injury. What about people who don't go shopping. What about people who don't linger in parks. And what about people who might need more than a single encounter before they're going to give their life to Jesus.
Could equating evangelism and the normal Christian life mainly only with approaching complete strangers in shopping centres create feelings of inferiority in some Christians? Christians who, in another setting, with a different target-group, using a different approach that's compatible with that target group, might feel more natural and might even be more effective than the Christian who's comfortable on the streets might be in that setting.
Sure we might need some healing from things which have hampered our personalities from being as bold as they might otherwise naturally be. And sure there are times God calls us to take a leap of faith. But what about also inviting each Christian to find the setting, target group and approach in evangelism for which God has most exactly gifted him. Let him find his 'sweet spot'. His niche. Dare I say, his 'comfort zone'. Let him be him. Doing that would also be part of 'Kingdom culture'.
Bless you!
But, 'Kingdom culture' is okay with fitting itself within existing culture as far as possible.
I CORINTHIANS 9:19-23
19For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
20And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
22To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
I PETER 2:13,17
13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
TITUS 2:10
10 ...adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
'Kingdom culture' doesn't only allow one person to be different to another - it makes one person different to another.
ROMANS 12:6
6Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us...
DEUTERONOMY 28:56
56The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness,The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness...
Therefore evangelism need not always equal only street outreach. It need not always involve only approaching strangers in a shopping centre. Because not only are some people less comfortable doing that than others - but some people are also less comfortable being approached in those circumstances than others. So that type of evangelism seems to reach mainly only a certain subculture - and only a certain subculture is comfortable doing it. And quite often street-witnessers find themselves approaching someone who they instinctively notice might themselves be more comfortable being approached than others might be - therefore often only a certain subculture is targeted.
By making evangelism only about street outreach, we make evangelism harder for some to do, than others; and we also end-up targeting mainly only some types, but not often others. We narrow it down like that - and then we call that 'the normal Christian life'. But evangelism is broader than that!
What about the person wearing business attire who looks like he's in a bit of a hurry and who isn't displaying any obvious physical injury. What about people who don't go shopping. What about people who don't linger in parks. And what about people who might need more than a single encounter before they're going to give their life to Jesus.
Could equating evangelism and the normal Christian life mainly only with approaching complete strangers in shopping centres create feelings of inferiority in some Christians? Christians who, in another setting, with a different target-group, using a different approach that's compatible with that target group, might feel more natural and might even be more effective than the Christian who's comfortable on the streets might be in that setting.
Sure we might need some healing from things which have hampered our personalities from being as bold as they might otherwise naturally be. And sure there are times God calls us to take a leap of faith. But what about also inviting each Christian to find the setting, target group and approach in evangelism for which God has most exactly gifted him. Let him find his 'sweet spot'. His niche. Dare I say, his 'comfort zone'. Let him be him. Doing that would also be part of 'Kingdom culture'.
Bless you!
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