Happy 51st Merdeka, Malaysia! Ever thought about the society we're living in here in Malaysia? Since we just celebrated our 51st Merdeka recently, I doubt anyone could have let slip the fact that we are a nation of different races and cultures. You don't have to be around the past 51 years to have known this, and should have noticed it even if you had just arrived at the airport yesterday. We celebrate our diversity, and at the same time promote unity.
If one of the purposes of the Church's existence is to evangelise, how then does she make herself relevant in such a society? If unity is to be promoted, then maybe a general all-inclusive approach is used. But the problem with general approaches is that it may be just that: Too general! Specific issues or needs are not tackled, and the church is accused of being shallow and imitating the Western style.
The other approach then would be to take a more targetted or specific approach, where churches are called to reach specific groups. Various ministries begin to mushroom targetting at different age groups, at different languages, at various social concern needs. The problem then is the lack of unity, lack of labourers, and lack of funds.
It would seem then that there is no ideal approach for evangelism for the Pluralistic Society. Let me suggest then that the church needs to be certain of her call from God if she is to target a specific group, and to trust that He will then supply for whatever needs that may arise. But the keyword here has to be "certain" of her call. As for the general approach, really, there can only be one general language that is understood by all, and that is the universal language of love.
Let the Church then seek to speak this language to whichever society she belongs.
10 comments:
There are already evangelistic efforts targetted towards towards the two large groups namely Chines and Indians apart from the smaller splinter groups; how about the largest group? Have we a strategy how to reach them for Christ? Does God love them as much as the other groups?
You mentioned that unity can be promoted with a general all-inclusive approach of evangelism. By unity i reckon you are talking about unity between the church and the society it is evangelizing. Care to elaborate on this? Has any church used this form of evangelism before? Is this possible at all? Thanks.
I agree that the languge of love can be understood by most if not all societies. How would you translate this concept into an evangelism effort in a pluralistic society?
Hi Jonathan!
First of all, I'll just assume that as Malaysians, we understand to whom the largest group refers to.
We understand the gospel to be for all, that God loves us all not wanting anyone to perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) So yes, God loves them just as much.
As for strategies, I'm reluctant to discuss them here, as this is a sensitive issue. Let me just say that we need to be available to them to provide for their needs. Pray for them, yea?!
Hi Alwin,
Actually, by unity, I was referring to the church because that's what we're supposed to be: united. To clarify, I didn't mean that a general all-inclusive approach would promote unity, but rather so that it would NOT discourage it. Heh.
Having said that, your idea is pretty good too. The church can be united with the community through social concern works. By showing that she cares, the community may once again see the church as relevant to them.
This is then closely related to your next question of how the church can speak this language of love. Christian parents are not the only ones concerned about the wellbeing of their children. The working community not only need to think about how to bring up the family, but also need to consider the care of their elderly parents.
The question then is not whether there is a need that the church can meet, but rather which need do we meet? I believe it was John Maxwell who coined the phrase, "People don't care what we know, until they know that we care." If the society can see that the church genuinely cares for them, then they will be more open and receptive to the Gospel. I am not saying that social concern is evangelism, but it certainly creates an opportunity for it.
Dear Donny,
Evangelism is definitely a mandate and it's an oxymoron to say that a church is not doing evangelism.
You may not agree with me that many churches (in AG circle) started without a specific target group mind.
The standard groups are:
1) Children
2) Teens/Youth
3) Adult
4) Evergreen (old ppl ministry)
At most, some would have:
1) Young adult
2) Singles
3) Married
4) Single parents
5) Interest Groups
But my questions are:
1) Are churches staying true to their calling in evangelistic to the specific group that God had called them to?
2) Can churches in Malaysia afford to exist to evangelize only to one specific group?
3) How diverse can a church be and yet hold on to its true calling?
4) Jesus said, "Go and make disciple of ALL NATIONS". Thus, if you only do one nation or one specific group, would that be a deviation from the great commission?
5) As your church grows, many other needs also grow. In a pluralistic society like Malaysia, can you have a church that do only Chinese or English purely while an average family might have Chinese speaking parents, Malay speaking son and English speaking daughter.
6) What do you think of a One-Stop Church concept where it can cater for the need of all the family member?
Good grief, Mike! Why don't you buy me a cup of coffee first?!! Haha! I wonder if there's a word limit on this comment page?
*scrap that cup of coffee. Caffeine gives me a headache*
Generally, I think you're answering your own questions. But I shall try to summarise my responses here. I suspect you're thinking in terms of age groups, but I'm not restricted to such. I'm also considering the different races and specific needs groups.
Response to Question #1: I don't know. And, I wouldn't know where to look for such statistical data, if any exists. Anyway, how would one go about gathering such data?
#2: If you're talking about possibilities, then of course they can! Why isn't it happening? I'm thinking it's because of the lack of unity. Different leaders want to do things their own way I suppose. Take for example Subang Jaya. A community diverse enough, but at the same time quite distinct. People say that those who are from Subang are "One-kind wan!" And yet, what's the latest unofficial count of churches here: 100++? I seriously doubt there exists 100++ different specific groups to reach.
#3: I think a church can be as diverse, and have as many ministries as she feels led to have. By the way, I'm not really pro- any one method. But I think if we rethink our evangelistic strategies as a united church, we could be a lot more effective.
#4: No, I don't think so. I concentrate on one group, you on another, etc. Together, we reach the world.
#5: I think if you have a church large enough, with sufficient tools and manpower, then by all means, go ahead and provide for their needs. But if you don't, then please be responsible to inform them / direct them to a place where there is.
#6: I think it's wonderful! And I think churches are doing this pretty well.
Amen
Love is the only language we need.
But at the same time we see that the church has and can be very exclusive and that again create perceptions and pressures on outsiders from approaching them.
Is there a better more practical way of showing love and only preaching when necessary.
Also what can we do to make the chruch what it used to be... a place of solace, refuge and comfort? I think we do lack these things these days we become almost 'The Avengers of Justice and Righteousness' to the people outside. What can be done to that because its hampering our evangelism don't you think?
I love bloggin' cause THERE'S NO WORD LIMIT!!! wah ka ka ...
You answer to my questions are great, but you and I know that we are just scratching the surface here.
So, let's start digging deeper and leave the elementary level.
An average Chinese household in Malaysia would comprise of:
1) Parents who are either from Chinese of English background
2) Young adult who are starting his/her career and probably dating and uses mostly English in his/her marketplace. He/she is starting to realize the reality of this world
3) Teens who are in a Malay speaking secondary school and has limited worldview.
4) Children who are using English in his/her kindergarten
So, who would a pure Chinese of English church cater for such a diverse family? Can we afford to assimilate the Chinese speaking parents while asking their children to go to another English speaking church?
Bible in the book of Acts (Cornelius Household) gives us example that when the parent(s) is saved, the entire household is often (but not necessarily) saved. How can this affect the way we do church today?
What do you think Jesus have in mind regarding this issue when He issued the Great Commission?
So, you want Starbuck, CoffeBean, San Francisco or Kopitiam?
It would firstly be nice of you do define pluralism to us as in what your personal thoughts are about what it is and how it is affecting Malaysia.
I have reason to say that your answer itself seems rather pluralistic as you do not even have a definitive approach and strategy. Sounds so hippy 'Love, Unity'
In my humble opinion even in the midst of pluralism, marketing and advertising and even many other business have employed strategies that works and are proven. Yet are we then ignorant to say that there is no possible effrctive strategy? If that is so it would seem to me that you are very affected by pluralism where you do not believe that there is right or wrong strategies. I believe that there are right and wrong strategies no? How do you define them? Anything goes as long we bring people in or to the Lord?
Your opinion is that united we can do more (unity). But you contradict yourself when you say that each should be certain of their call(diversity). Isn't that saying that everyone would defer then? Isn't this what is happening to us in which each has their own call? So what unity are you calling for? Isn't all our call the same?
How are we going to employ your opinion then when we cannot agree on what is wrong or right? Isn't the fact that there are so many churches with different strategies which meets different needs that is what makes us so effective? If we were to unite, there must be one united strategy or are you saying that unity is the strategy because it seems to me that the more united we become the more exclusive we become rather than inclusive. or the total opposite.
My issue is that evangelism has been long regarded as important, no doubt, but the strategies have been circumstancial. Like there is no right or no wrong strategy. We just do whatever works. So Donny how would you know what is the right strategy? Shouldn't there be guiding principles? Especially in a pluralistic society that has no rules?
I'm sorry that my post is long but seriously I was provoked to think that we can be so general with our thoughts over this matter.
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