Eighth Session

Continued from Session 7:

Evangelism goes from global to something smaller. It becomes relationalistic. Like the TV host who speaks in a way to make you feel like he is your friend, even though you'll never meet. Evangelism becomes to the level of the individual. If identity is found in people's interest, how do I transfer their interest to the gospel? The best / only way is to do an "Inception" - based on the movie. How can we 'incept' a different idea in to their mind? Through relationship. So friendship evangelism was born. 

A significant change here was instead of people going out to the world to do ministry, the church began to seek how she could get people to come to church. Evangelism was endorsing the benefits of the church to the individual.

It took the form of a relationship, but had an end point. 

Rifken suggests that the next era will be an era of shared energy. Buildings will create energy, and share it. Communication is shared - and we see the Internet filling this. 

Does this give new paradigms for ministry and pastors? 

Neuroscience is teaching that the brain works in community (the more you spend time with people, you start to think alike). Shared experiences have their impact too. We can make an argument that people are not their interests, they are their relationships. People are not individuals, they are persons, and personhood requires relationship. 

Looking back at the early church, we see rich and poor in church together as brother and sister - a relationship of family. When we see people as our brother / sister, it changes us. 

The old Christian doctrine of Hypostatic union matters today. Both a divine and human nature combine fully in the person of Jesus Christ. Maybe the church is a place where people can share in their personhood - in their lives and experiences and in the events of life.

Praying with each other in the stories of our life. It is hearing the story of someone that helps us to pray in a deeper and more connected way. 

Video: Extremely Loud. "But people aren't numbers, they're like letters. And letters want to join together and become stories."

__________

Movie: Whale Rider. Tradition is important but can strangle. The chief loves and depends on his tradition, but can't see what is happening around him. (How many churches are like this?) Element of baptism into death - the weak one can lead us because the weak one is not afraid to die. The one who is overlooked is the one who will lead.