HolismHolism

Can we preach the gospel and Can we preach the gospel and ignore the social plight of men? ignore the social plight of men? How much involvement in their How much involvement in their lives is helpful and how much is lives is helpful and how much is

damaging to their own damaging to their own development? development?

Why target the whole person?Why target the whole person?11 Majority of UPG’s are extremely poorMajority of UPG’s are extremely poor

22 1/31/3rdrd of earth’s pop (2B) need survival of earth’s pop (2B) need survival helphelp

33 Holistic ministries seek a spiritual, Holistic ministries seek a spiritual, social, personal and physical social, personal and physical transformationtransformation

44 Roman Catholics and Liberals tend to Roman Catholics and Liberals tend to focus in these areasfocus in these areas

Holism in a Global Context of MissionsHolism in a Global Context of Missions MigrationMigration

Pop. Growth from 1.4B to 6.2B by 2000.Pop. Growth from 1.4B to 6.2B by 2000. Undeveloped countries are 66% (4.6B)Undeveloped countries are 66% (4.6B) 98% of pop. Growth in these regions98% of pop. Growth in these regions 1 in 10 are migrants (in 2002 40M immigrants)1 in 10 are migrants (in 2002 40M immigrants)

HIV/AIDSHIV/AIDS By 2005 disease killed 22M, with 42M infectedBy 2005 disease killed 22M, with 42M infected 16,000 infected daily16,000 infected daily 13M children have lost 1 or both parents to AIDS, 13M children have lost 1 or both parents to AIDS,

which is 1/3 of all orphans in the worldwhich is 1/3 of all orphans in the world

Holism in a Global Context of MissionsHolism in a Global Context of Missions33 Children at RiskChildren at Risk Survivors who are most vulnerable are childrenSurvivors who are most vulnerable are children

Disabling or bonded child laborDisabling or bonded child labor Collateral damage of warsCollateral damage of wars Disease, drug abuse or consequencesDisease, drug abuse or consequences Neglect or loss of familyNeglect or loss of family Extreme povertyExtreme poverty Oppressive institutionsOppressive institutions Reduction in infant mortality rates = half (50%) of most Reduction in infant mortality rates = half (50%) of most

countries is below 15 yrs of agecountries is below 15 yrs of age Ten million exploited in sex slave tradeTen million exploited in sex slave trade In 2000 170,000 Christian primary schools, 50,000 In 2000 170,000 Christian primary schools, 50,000

secondary and 1500 institutes and collegessecondary and 1500 institutes and colleges

How is it Proclaimed? How is it Proclaimed? Holism is one answerHolism is one answer

Conservative evangelicals gave priority to Conservative evangelicals gave priority to evangelizingevangelizing the world and discipling the nations – this is called the world and discipling the nations – this is called ““prioritismprioritism””

In the International Congress on World Evangelization In the International Congress on World Evangelization in Lausanne in 1974 in Lausanne in 1974 holismholism began to be more began to be more important than prioritismimportant than prioritism

LiberationLiberation Theology Theology taught the church’s mission is taught the church’s mission is to promote justice in society and establish peace on to promote justice in society and establish peace on earth.earth.

Three views of Holism:Three views of Holism:n Radical Radical LiberationismLiberationism leading to revolution from leading to revolution from

any oppressive regime to establish Marxist any oppressive regime to establish Marxist communities.communities.

n Two types of Holism: Two types of Holism: (Stott) seeks an (Stott) seeks an equalequal priority of social and gospel prioritiespriority of social and gospel priorities

n Conversionism or Prioritism Conversionism or Prioritism whichwhich focuses on focuses on gospel preaching and church planting, with little gospel preaching and church planting, with little social ministry.social ministry.

Two types of Holism Two types of Holism (according to Hesselgrave)(according to Hesselgrave)

Revisionist Revisionist HolismHolism Seeks an equal partnership between Seeks an equal partnership between

evangelism and social action (loving God evangelism and social action (loving God and loving your neighbor)and loving your neighbor)

Not as radical as LiberationismNot as radical as Liberationism Restrained Restrained HolismHolism

Follows example of Jesus who preached the Follows example of Jesus who preached the gospel to the poorgospel to the poor

Attempts to prioritize evangelism while Attempts to prioritize evangelism while meeting urgent needs (though not all needs)meeting urgent needs (though not all needs)

Two Philosophies of HolismTwo Philosophies of Holism

Incarnational HolismIncarnational Holism Models after Jesus’ ministryModels after Jesus’ ministry

Representational Holism: Representational Holism: Models after Paul’s ministryModels after Paul’s ministry

Two Philosophies of Two Philosophies of HolismHolism

1.1. IncarnationalistIncarnationalist Holism Holism Seek the extension of Christ’s kingdom over Seek the extension of Christ’s kingdom over

the whole of life and societythe whole of life and society Do not think much of priorities – witness is Do not think much of priorities – witness is

though of as “word, deeds and signs” of though of as “word, deeds and signs” of Jesus as the Jesus as the Transformer of societiesTransformer of societies and and cultures as well as individualscultures as well as individuals

Stott sees Jesus making His mission a model Stott sees Jesus making His mission a model for the church’s mission and ours.for the church’s mission and ours.

The church is to be salt and light: if a The church is to be salt and light: if a community deteriorates socially or physically community deteriorates socially or physically it is the failure of the it is the failure of the churchchurch!!

Sometimes this is called “Sometimes this is called “Presence Presence EvangelismEvangelism””

Two Philosophies of Two Philosophies of Incarnational HolismIncarnational Holism

A. Conversionist-incarnationalists A. Conversionist-incarnationalists Holism Holism Priority is given to discipling the Priority is given to discipling the ethneethne, ,

all peoples, baptizing and instructing all peoples, baptizing and instructing them while incorporating them into local them while incorporating them into local reproducing churchesreproducing churches

This is called “This is called “Confrontational Confrontational EvangelismEvangelism””

Both of these reject LiberationismBoth of these reject Liberationism Both are aware of the risks involved in Both are aware of the risks involved in

attempting to fashion contemporary attempting to fashion contemporary missiology after the model of Jesus rather missiology after the model of Jesus rather than the principles of than the principles of PaulPaul

Incarnationalism Missions Incarnationalism Missions Modeling modern missions Modeling modern missions

after Jesusafter Jesus1.1. Characterized by humble, self-sacrificial Characterized by humble, self-sacrificial

service on behalf of all peopleservice on behalf of all people2.2. Willing to Willing to renouncerenounce his rights and his rights and

privileges as the Son of God to privileges as the Son of God to identifyidentify with those he came to serve.with those he came to serve.

3.3. Became poor servant to meet the needs Became poor servant to meet the needs of hurting people and powerless.of hurting people and powerless.

4.4. Did not hesitate to engage in a power Did not hesitate to engage in a power encounter with the encounter with the demonsdemons to show His to show His powerpower

5.5. Immersed himself in the affairs of local Immersed himself in the affairs of local cultureculture

Incarnationalism Missions Incarnationalism Missions Modeling modern missions Modeling modern missions

after Jesusafter Jesus

6.6. Communicated, verbally and non-verbally Communicated, verbally and non-verbally in a way that people could understand.in a way that people could understand.

7.7. Spent most of his time training a few Spent most of his time training a few chosen chosen disciplesdisciples who would carry on his who would carry on his ministryministry

8.8. Gave priority to Gave priority to prayerprayer and and fellowshipfellowship with His heavenly Fatherwith His heavenly Father

9.9. Did not have a Did not have a superioritysuperiority complex, complex, rather assumed a humble attitude in rather assumed a humble attitude in working with peopleworking with people

10.10. Willing to suffer and die for the people He Willing to suffer and die for the people He came to save.came to save.

Social Component Social Component Mandate of Mandate of

IncarnationalistsIncarnationalists Incarnationalists tend to apply evangelism Incarnationalists tend to apply evangelism

while/while/afterafter meeting the social needs that the meeting the social needs that the people feelpeople feel

When the WCC was dominated by liberals missions When the WCC was dominated by liberals missions became mostly became mostly socialsocial (mid 20 (mid 20ththcentury)century) Instead of the Instead of the lostnesslostness of people it became the of people it became the plightplight of of

people as the major focuspeople as the major focus Paradigm shift: 1974 Lausanne Covenant: “Paradigm shift: 1974 Lausanne Covenant: “We We

affirm that evangelism and affirm that evangelism and socio-politicalsocio-political involvement are both part of our Christian dutyinvolvement are both part of our Christian duty””

““Both are necessary expressions of our doctrines of Both are necessary expressions of our doctrines of God and man, our love for our neighbor and our God and man, our love for our neighbor and our obedience to Jesus Christobedience to Jesus Christ.”.”

2. Representational Mission2. Representational Mission Modeling modern missions Modeling modern missions

after Paulafter Paul

1.1. Characterized by humble, self-sacrificial service, Characterized by humble, self-sacrificial service, giving up his giving up his rightsrights to identify with and meet to identify with and meet the needs of his target audiencethe needs of his target audience

2.2. Concentrated on centers of Concentrated on centers of learninglearning and and commercecommerce, from which the gospel flowed, from which the gospel flowed

3.3. Labored with his own Labored with his own handshands to provide for to provide for himself and co-workers to give a model to his himself and co-workers to give a model to his followersfollowers

4.4. Considered himself an ambassador of Christ Considered himself an ambassador of Christ and, on Christ’s behalf, urged sinners to be and, on Christ’s behalf, urged sinners to be reconciled to Godreconciled to God

5.5. Concentrated on raising up Concentrated on raising up indigenousindigenous churches churches that would not be dependent on missionaries or that would not be dependent on missionaries or other churchesother churches

Representational MissionRepresentational Mission Modeling modern missions Modeling modern missions

after Paulafter Paul

6.6. Did not spend a Did not spend a long timelong time in each place, but in each place, but chose to chose to pickpick and and traintrain a few local leaders who a few local leaders who could carry on his workcould carry on his work

7.7. Maintained Maintained contactcontact with churches he had with churches he had established with visits and letters exhorting established with visits and letters exhorting them to walk worthy of their callingthem to walk worthy of their calling

8.8. Encouraged believers in the churches to Encouraged believers in the churches to givegive generously to care for othersgenerously to care for others

9.9. AccommodatedAccommodated himself to new cultures, himself to new cultures, becoming “all things to all men” to save some.becoming “all things to all men” to save some.

10.10. Maintained his authority as one commissioned Maintained his authority as one commissioned by Christ while humbly confessing his by Christ while humbly confessing his unworthinessunworthiness as a sinner and former as a sinner and former persecutor.persecutor.

Redefine or Redefine or BalanceBalance

Some areas Some areas obligateobligate a social platform to justify a social platform to justify presence (i.e. RAC/CAC)presence (i.e. RAC/CAC)

Some opportunities can be Some opportunities can be integratedintegrated with with evangelism (i.e. schools, clinics, orphanages)evangelism (i.e. schools, clinics, orphanages)

Temptation to Temptation to avoidavoid evangelism is tremendous evangelism is tremendous in order to be successful or acceptedin order to be successful or accepted

Aid, medical, community development Aid, medical, community development programs often become an programs often become an endend to themselves to themselves

Avoid such programs that create Avoid such programs that create dependencydependency – – participate in participate in temporarytemporary programs that result in programs that result in autonomyautonomy and and self-sufficiencyself-sufficiency

Why is the danger so prevalent?Why is the danger so prevalent? What model of social-evangelistic ministry do you What model of social-evangelistic ministry do you

know of in the US?know of in the US? What business-evangelistic ministry?What business-evangelistic ministry? What medical-evangelistic ministry?What medical-evangelistic ministry? What Aid-evangelistic ministry?What Aid-evangelistic ministry? What engineering-evangelistic ministry?What engineering-evangelistic ministry? What sociological, linguistic, anthropological What sociological, linguistic, anthropological

ministry?ministry? With very few, if any, models in our culture, that With very few, if any, models in our culture, that

are effective, this makes the foreign task difficult are effective, this makes the foreign task difficult to establish and maintain in priorityto establish and maintain in priority

The overwhelming belief is in “Presence” The overwhelming belief is in “Presence” Evangelism – a silent witnessEvangelism – a silent witness

Some such agencies have economic benefits that Some such agencies have economic benefits that obligate a minimum of offense to clients (i.e. obligate a minimum of offense to clients (i.e. evangelism)evangelism)

Summary of HolismSummary of Holism Charles Sheldon, Charles Sheldon, In His StepsIn His Steps, helped develop , helped develop

a practical ethic around the question, “a practical ethic around the question, “What What would Jesus do?”would Jesus do?” His objective was the hope that “the application of His objective was the hope that “the application of

Christian principles to the ordering of society Christian principles to the ordering of society would lead to the rectification of serious social would lead to the rectification of serious social evils and pave the way for the establishment of evils and pave the way for the establishment of the kingdom of God on earth” -- the kingdom of God on earth” -- DominionDominion TheologyTheology

The results of its popularity and practice was the The results of its popularity and practice was the lossloss of the real gospel message, for the of the real gospel message, for the socialsocial gospelgospel

Once again the Incarnationalist WWJD has Once again the Incarnationalist WWJD has surfaced to become a priority in political, surfaced to become a priority in political, social and Charismatic focuses, often to the social and Charismatic focuses, often to the lack of the true gospel message. lack of the true gospel message.

David Hesselgrave David Hesselgrave quote:quote:

““There are strong indications that the 21There are strong indications that the 21stst century will be marked by major century will be marked by major sociopolitical upheavals and a succession sociopolitical upheavals and a succession of natural disasters. Unless this new – of natural disasters. Unless this new – among evangelicals – understanding of among evangelicals – understanding of mission is successfully challenged, the mission is successfully challenged, the likelihood of retaining the biblical priority likelihood of retaining the biblical priority of world evangelization in the face of of world evangelization in the face of unprecedented needs of every kind will unprecedented needs of every kind will become increasingly difficult.” become increasingly difficult.”