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The Whole Gospel idea |
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WITNESSING TO
THE
"WHOLE GOSPEL"
by Gene TeSelle
[fall 2000]
The
Witherspoon Society is committing itself for the next three years to an
in-depth exploration of what it might mean to be a "whole
Gospel congregation." This understanding will reach beyond
the popular tendency to split "evangelism" from
"service," and to reduce our faith to an individualistic way
of "salvation." Board member Kent Winters-Hazelton writes
about plans for a consultation in May of 2001, moving toward larger
events later on.
Responding to the false
dichotomy of "evangelism versus social advocacy," the
Executive Committee of the Witherspoon Society has given priority to
defining and promoting the "whole gospel" -- not just an
individual and private gospel, not just a "social gospel," but
a gospel that takes all dimensions of human life seriously.
You'll be hearing more about this as we try to fill
out a definition of the "whole gospel." In the process we seek
your insights. Especially valuable will be your experience with
"whole gospel congregations" which have combined evangelism,
service, and advocacy. We know that there are many such congregations in
the PC(USA). We also know that there is great variety among them. We
would like to recognize these congregations and develop as full a
description of whole gospel activities as we can.
In the meantime, here are a few reflections on why
it is important to preach the whole gospel.
First, it was what Jesus preached. He
knew about the "Solomonic ethic" of his own day, the notion
that those who are wealthy and powerful have been rewarded by God for
their piety and virtue, and he didn't have much good to say about it. He
healed the sick and forgave sins; he ate with tax collectors and
pronounced judgment on those who were too comfortable. It was what Paul
preached, too, first telling people about justification and new life,
then exhorting them to walk accordingly. And it is what our confessions
teach in a consistent way, most strikingly, perhaps, in the Confession
of 1967 when it says, "To be reconciled to God is to be
sent into the world as God's reconciling community" (C-9.31), and
goes on to say that Christ's life "involves" the church, his
service "commits" the church, his suffering "makes the
church sensitive," his crucifixion "discloses" to the
church, and in his resurrection the church "sees" the promise
of renewal and victory (C-9.32).
Second, it is what the church has experienced
over and over. It has never preached the gospel in isolation
from dealing with human problems, and often the church's deeds are what
make its words convincing. I have noticed that when Catholic bishops
speak about social and political issues -- in their letters on the
economy and on nuclear weapons during the 1980s, for example, or in the
response of Oscar Romero and many other Latin American bishops to
repression in their own countries -- they often begin with a statement
to the effect that "we as pastors cannot be unaware of or
indifferent to . . . " Presbyterian ministers do not see themselves
as "pastors of the flock" with quite the same authority, but
they often respond in the same way. And pastoral responsibility is not
simply for our own membership, either. It often involves service to the
whole community surrounding the building where the church gathers.
Third, we are all aware of bad examples and
negative possibilities -- of statistical soul-saving and
membership development which is indifferent to the conditions of
people's lives, of religion used to gloss over injustice and heal wounds
lightly. Often it is unconscious; perhaps there are circumstances beyond
anyone's control. But we always have the obligation to be aware of the
consequences of our actions. Anyone who has been to Latin America, for
example, has seen the way North American money can change the dynamics
of a local community, disrupting efforts at self-sufficiency and
introducing new kinds of economic advantage which also carry dependency
with them. That is why the policy of Worldwide Ministries is to work
with indigenous churches, respect their priorities, and watch out for
unintended consequences of North American largesse. That is also why the
policy of the PC(USA) in both national and global ministries is to
encourage self-development. All of this, as it turns out, is part and
parcel of the responsible preaching of the gospel. Shortsighted concern
with budgets and efficiency and measurable results could undo the
insights of generations of faithful stewards.
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Some blogs worth visiting |
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PVJ's
Facebook page
Mitch Trigger, PVJ's
Secretary/Communicator, has created a Facebook page where
Witherspoon members and others can gather to exchange news and
views. Mitch and a few others have posted bits of news, both
personal and organizational. But there’s room for more!
You can post your own news and views,
or initiate a conversation about a topic of interest to you. |
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Voices of Sophia blog
Heather Reichgott, who has created
this new blog for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:
After fifteen years of scholarship
and activism, Voices of Sophia presents a blog. Here, we present the
voices of feminist theologians of all stripes: scholars, clergy,
students, exiles, missionaries, workers, thinkers, artists, lovers
and devotees, from many parts of the world, all children of the God
in whose image women are made. .... This blog seeks to glorify God
through prayer, work, art, and intellectual reflection. Through
articles and ensuing discussion we hope to become an active and
thoughtful community. |
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John Harris’ Summit to
Shore blogspot
Theological and philosophical
reflections on everything between summit to shore, including
kayaking, climbing, religion, spirituality, philosophy, theology,
politics, culture, travel, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), New
York City and the Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood by a progressive
New York City Presbyterian Pastor. John is a former member of the
Witherspoon board, and is designated pastor of North Presbyterian
Church in Flushing, NY. |
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John Shuck’s Shuck and Jive
A Presbyterian minister, currently
serving as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton,
Tenn., blogs about spirituality, culture, religion (both organized
and disorganized), life, evolution, literature, Jesus, and
lightening up. |
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Got more blogs to recommend?
Please
send a note, and we'll see what we can do! |
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Plan now for our 2010 Ghost Ranch
Seminar!
GHOST RANCH SEMINAR
July 26-August 1, 2010
WE’RE ALL IN
THIS TOGETHER
CONFRONTING THE STRUCTURES OF INJUSTICE |
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