Thank you sooooo much for your contribution to the dialogue. I think I will now start commenting on what people are sending. So far I have simply posted without comment, but it is time to model the exchange that should be happening.
Some people could say that there is a contradiction in your words. You say first that "It is more important to emphasize Christ's central role and then introduce the issues of Christian growth, character and ethics." Good. But then you say, "Over the years Christians have failed to convince a lost world because they do not live out the power and love they profess to have. This makes it difficult for their witness to make any impact, for their character denies their faith. A Christian should seek to reveal to all people the secret of walking in the enabling love and power of God and that is Christ." So which REALLY is first, emphasizing Christ's role OR revealing the secret of walking in that love and power?
I don't see these as necessarily contradictory, but IN FACT Christians argue for one or the other and thereby avoid doing EITHER!!! I suspect that the emphasis probably depends more on personal gifts (e.g., having the gift of evangelism OR the gift of administration or helps or mercy) but a passion for communicating Christ will probably overcome the apparent contradiction.
If you saw the Web forum, you probably saw the post by Larry Kinser, the head of church planting for Evangelical Friends Church Southwest, and my response, under the "Identity and Evangelism" topic. In any case, thank you for being very honest about what has robbed Christians of our effectiveness in communication.
This page is moderated by Johan Maurer as part of the "Evangelism and the Friends Testimonies" project, supported during the academic year 2003-04 by the Ferguson Quaker Fellowship program of Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre. Johan has a minute of service from Reedwood Friends Church.
