Receptive to gospel!

[Ian Gentles]

Why is third world more receptive to gospel than the west? I am not sure the argument, we have hardened our hearts is entirely correct, though its somewhat true! Is there something in less complicated society that leaves hearts open? Nazarene church flourished when folks were simplier, note i didnt say simple! In UK big time of growth in church was between the wars when life was hard, as soon as life improved growth stopped! So what makes poor folks respond while westerners dont? Please note, they respond to gospel not our western intillectualism, lol ok I had to say that lol

[Anne and Dwayne Hood]

We are often too materialistic and self supporting, or should I say self serving, and don't feel the need of Christ as they do in the third world. They are hungering for the freedom and love that He can bring into their lives.
Once, our son went to Hungary, and just fell in love (sorta) with the young people from Romania. They had had a terrible time getting to the Christian Music Festival, and endured hours of waiting at the border. They came equipped to sleep in tents, and was just as happy as those in the motel. He came home with a burden for Romania. They played music and sang in several different lanquages, and had a wonderful time worshiping and praising our Saviour. He sid that he might be a missionary to Romania someday. He is still a Christian, but has lost that vision. He is training a black friend that is married to a girl from Switzerland, to take his place on his job at Vanderbilt University. He plans to work on computers and install wireless equipment, but he also felt that the young man needed the job worse than he did, to support his wife and baby. I wonder if he ever thinks of the vision for the souls of Romanians that he
had back during his college days He spoke at one of our NMI services, and played the guitar and sung a short song in the Romanian language. I may mention that to him someday. But, maybe, the Lord wants me to just pray and keep quiet.

[Ryan Scott]

I think it has two reasons, one simple and the other more complex:

Simple reason: most everybody in the West has heard one version or another of the gospel and have already made up their minds what they think about it.

Complex Reason: Western culture is one of logic, science, and objective rationality. For the most part, we've spent the last four hundred years trying to define or explain away the indefinable and mysterious. Most other cultures have a tradition of such mysterious beliefs and are not burdened by centuries of rationalism.

[Ian Gentles]

I think it has two reasons, one simple and the other more complex:

Simple reason: most everybody in the West has heard one version or another of the gospel and have already made up their minds what they think about it.

Complex Reason: Western culture is one of logic, science, and objective rationality. For the most part, we've spent the last four hundred years trying to define or explain away the indefinable and mysterious. Most other cultures have a tradition of such mysterious beliefs and are not burdened by centuries of rationalism.


Sad we over rationalise!

[Hans Deventer]

Why is third world more receptive to gospel than the west?

Because in the West, we say "'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But we don't realize that we are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. "

[Ian Gentles]

Because in the West, we say "'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But we don't realize that we are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. "



Got ya, but is there more?

[Hans Deventer]

Got ya, but is there more?

Ryan has a good point, I'd say. And it's also a lot easier to proclaim the gospel if you're not burdened with centuries of distortions in theory and practice of that gospel.

[Ian Gentles]

Ryan has a good point, I'd say. And it's also a lot easier to proclaim the gospel if you're not burdened with centuries of distortions in theory and practice of that gospel.


Oh i agree

[Brad Mercer]

I don't think people in the developed world are more hard-hearted or selfish or greedy than in any previous age or in other cultures. I think the heart of man is pretty consistent. And our methods worked great in that period between the American Civil War and the Great Depression when, to Americans outside the south, at least, ever-increasing security and prosperity was the experience of that entire generation, so I'm not sure prosperity is in itself a sufficient explanation. Certainly it didn't keep people like Joseph of Arimethea, Matthew, Lydia and others from embracing Christ.

People in less developed parts of the world are clearly more responsive; it would be hard to deny that. But I think the reason is because our language, methods, structure, format, programs were all largely developed in the agrarian and industrial age for modern and pre-modern cultures. Now the third world is culturally agrarian (pre-modern) and industrial (modern), so the forms and language are relevant to their culture. They have the basic worldview, the perspective and many of the unspoken assumptions, upon which the language and methods of the church today were largely built. We, on the other hand, are in a post-modern information and services culture in the developed world, and the approaches we developed in earlier eras don't communicate the good news effectively anymore.

It's a good question, Ian, and I think the starting principle is one of Steven Covey's "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People", namely, "Seek first to understand before seeking to be understood."

Brad

Why is third world more receptive to gospel than the west? I am not sure the argument, we have hardened our hearts is entirely correct, though its somewhat true! Is there something in less complicated society that leaves hearts open? Nazarene church flourished when folks were simplier, note i didnt say simple! In UK big time of growth in church was between the wars when life was hard, as soon as life improved growth stopped! So what makes poor folks respond while westerners dont? Please note, they respond to gospel not our western intillectualism, lol ok I had to say that lol

[Roland Hearn]

You my find it shocking to find that I agree with Brad.

I think the suggestion that the western world is too self sufficient and wealthy to hear the gospel begs the question. It is our defense position that helps us retain a sense of dignity and competence in the face of evidence that we do not have much of either. I think wealth and self sufficiency have been part of the issue but post-moderns are stamped with a new understanding. We were born with those things and we are very aware of our dissatisfaction. As the modern era began to wind down it was a pervasive sense among baby boomers that we had arrived, we had achieved, we had climbed on our parents shoulders and overcome the devastation of two world wars and a depression. We were free to think beyond the constraints of our struggle and we did not need God for that - we are god (and in a humanistic psychology, we are gods.) However humanity apart from God is separated from its eternal source of worth - the search continues. Gen x's and now Gen y's live with dissatisfied affluent parents, they can have anything they want, there is no struggle - but the internal one of which we are clearly aware. Our children see it in our faces and live with it daily. Wealth, freedom, achievement, hedonism do not satisfy. Our culture today screams for a source of worth that will satisfy deeply and not be a passing fad - which is why we have so many passing fads, particularly of a spiritual nature. We will not settle for a faith that rests on duty, formalism and ritual.

Those things to varying degrees may be a part of our search but we will not settle for them alone. "We want a faith that lives, that breathes that works on Monday as well as on Sunday. If you cannot provide me that I will look somewhere else for that is what I want," is the cry of most people today. The search is not constrained to a Christian context I can look anywhere I want including technology and information. People still medicate the pain of not finding what they are looking for as they have always done but they are more keenly aware that they are searching for something than ever before - in my opinion. The reason is because the default settings are no longer applicable. 50 years ago when someone came to the end of themselves they knew church was the place to get back to. They would say "I need to go to church again." People don't say that anymore what they say, beginning in the '70's is "I need to find myself and to hell with anyone that gets in my way."

I do not yet have the answers on how to adequately respond to this search for everything I do begins with my faith and that is a different beginning point from where the questions are coming. However, I am convinced of this, should we pour our energies in learning how to communicate effectively to the needs that are being expressed by the average post-modern we will enter the most impactive days of the church in history.

Post-moderns yearn for three things: Integrity in experience, vulnerability in relationship and transcendence in spirituality. Rationalism is only important to the extent that intelligence is not compromised in the product of the search.

[Jamie Wayne]

You my find it shocking to find that I agree with Brad.

LOL!!!