In Connecting Christ, Dr. Metzger calls us to "remove ourselves as the stumbling block to salvation for others and embrace a way to proclaim the uncommon compassionate God revealed in Jesus Christ - the Savior the world is dying to know." Now isn't that an idea worthy of much discussion? How has the Church, and in particular Evangelical Christians, been a stumbling block to people of other cultures who are now our neighbors? Certainly, we could enumerate a number of ways from our ecclesiology, how we do church, to our eschatology, how we may believe current events are being played out for the "End-Times."
The question Metzger calls us to consider is this: does what we believe keep others, who equally believe in their path, from coming to Christ? Another question could be: what is more important - protecting what we think is right or being faithful witnesses for Christ in our rapidly changing and increaisngly multi-faith culture? Does our need to be right, orthodoxy, keep others from Christ? Discussing those questions is Metzgers intent in Connecting Christ. One of the intents of Ethnic Embrace USA, in addition to providing resources that introduce the myriad of people groups who now call the USA home, is to help serve that conversation.
How do we change the conversation that is all too prevalent,at least in some camps, from an often antagonistic and too frequently harmful, even unintentionally, American Evangelical posture to a true Kingdom posture that truly reflects the love of God for all peoples? If we call ourselves Christ-followers, as his Ambassadors, we need to do our best to reflect Christ to our culture, representing our Lord's interest before our own. That is the role of an Ambassador. But the experience of many people who come to the U.S. from aboard is anything but that, as prejudice, bias, and even xenophobia marks and mars how Christians are seen by our diaspora neighbors. Jesus says in Luke's version of the Sermon on the Mount, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46). Ouch!
We have to change our witness to do a better job of showing Christ to our "world of diverse paths." We can fight against this reality as many American Christians do, at least to some extent, desiring the America we grew up with (assuming you are a Baby-Boomer or Gen-X). Or we can embrace our new reality for the opportunity God presents to us in bringing the nations to our shores. To answer that challenging question we need to ask ourselves simply this: "who is first?" If our heart-felt and honest answer is "our Lord Jesus Christ!" then we need to live in such a way as to make that known to our diaspora people, as well as all who don't know Christ, among us.
Connecting Christ encourages believes to be not only better communicators and witness but also better listeners. The later, listening or the lack thereof, is a common malady of American Christians, as we often think we have the right answers (think "When Helping Hurts" here), based on our wealth, our knowledge, other technological capacities and yes even our doctrine. But if we don't become better listeners we won't be effective in our witnessing to people who have a different worldview and traditions. If we are to embrace the nations among us we should give heed to James admonition when he says, "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." (James 1:19). That way, we will be able to defend against today's "negative connotations and ineffective approaches associated with Christian evangelism."
We need a better approach for our embracing efforts and Connecting Christ, "reveals that there is a way of evangelizing that is neither disengaging monologue nor silent, lifestyle ministry, but is, instead, an approach for evangelism to go hand-in-hand." Metzger begins his Introduction with these words - "All people long in one way or another to connect with Christ." If that is true, then we should put no stumbling block before them as the seek to connect with Christ but rather seek to live in such a way to make it clear Jesus is Lord of all. That is after all our assignment as his witnesses - that they too may know Christ and him crucified.
Connecting Christ is divided into four Parts with 26 Chapters.We'll look at a chapter per post but be in no hurry to complete the work since connecting Christ and our changing culture is a long term assignment. Part 1 is entitled "A Relational Incarnation Approach" and Metzger answers for us in Chapter 1 - "What is Relational-Incarnational Apologetics?" I hope you will join us on this journey of Connecting Christ and culture. I think we'll learn a lot from Dr. Metzger that will be meaningful toward blessing the nations among us. I hope we can use this as an opportunity to develop good dialogue as workers in diaspora mission. Please invite others to join us. Chapter 1 starts Friday, February 15th.
I would, of course, recommend you order "Connecting Christ." You can order online here.
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