On “persuasive engagement”
15th May 2005
While blog hopping, I found this phrase from author John Stott’s writing, recommending that Christians ought to be involved in "persuasive engagement" – seeking to educate the public conscience to know and desire the will of God. This approach to dialoging with the culture is in contrast to two extremes that the Church has historically fallen to in its conversation with the culture at large:
At one extreme, the church has practised "imposition" (a crusading attempt to coerce people by legislation to accept the Christian way) which was seen, for example, in the Inquisition (imposition of belief) and Prohibition (imposition of behaviour). At the other extreme, the church has practised "leniency" (an extreme tolerance whereby one does not even propagate or commend one’s views) which was seen, for example, in the German church’s silence regarding Nazism’s anti-semitism. (HT: Phil Baker)
Recently, Chad Hamilton also wrote along a similar theme, calling for "humility and consideration for the opposing viewpoint" (I would say that we need to go further and not think of these viewpoints as "opposing") in dialoging with those who may not share our faith in Jesus Christ.
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