Called Out

Been loving the thinking of Ed Stetzer lately, here's an excerpt from one of his blog posts:

We can put ourselves in a position to talk about the gospel through an understanding of culture. Paul didn't ask the people to come to him; he went where they were. He listened. He examined. He learned. Then he spoke. We can do the same thing.

It's called cultural engagement. But not in the surface-level, doing-what's-hip-so-people-will-like-us variety that we sometimes see played out. It's being relevant in the look-at-what's-happening-at-the-core-of-who-people-are-variety. It's loving people as they are but then showing them a better way.

In Athens the culture of the day was one of debate. That may not necessarily be the best mode of conversation in your circles. But maybe a helpful approach is to look deeper at the themes of films as a way of entering into talks about what seems to be driving or motivating humanity today--and then having conversations about a new way of life. Maybe it's time to read books of substance so that you might have conversations of substance. Maybe you need to go to the places where real people live real (and sometimes messy) lives and have honest conversations. Regardless of the method, it's about meeting people where they are and then giving them the choice to go further.

Wander through your own Athens. Look at the cultural idols. Let this burden your mind and spark your imagination. Let godly passion drive you to say "Give me Athens or I die." Then confidently share the gospel with those who may see its uncluttered message, trust its validity, and receive its Savior--Jesus Christ. You don't have to make the gospel, God, or the Bible relevant. They're already relevant. But we need to find relevant means to communicate that eternal truth.

As we look toward planting a campus of Indian Creek in Gardner, this ideology is at the core. How do we meet people where they are? How do we share the timeless truth of the love and hope of Jesus Christ in a way that directly intersects with the needs of those around us?

There's really only one way: be with people. Know them. Become invested in their lives. Hear their joys, struggles, triumphs, and pains. Celebrate the good, grieve the loss. As God's messengers to the world, He's asking us to get up-close and personal with people. But, how?

Want a simple idea?

Have your neighbors over to your house. Keep it simple. Invite a few families over for a low-key Christmas dessert reception, a simple time of getting to know one another at a personal level. Invite one family over for dinner.

It doesn't have to be fancy. It just has to be real.

That's what we're longing to be able to do in Gardner. Meet people where they're at, and share the transforming love of Christ with them in how we live our lives.

Would you join us on the journey to reach Gardner?