Rethinking some cherished assumptions

Wouldn’t you agree with the idea that we need to be careful not to use Biblical terms that would be confrontational when we present the Gospel to people? Isn’t it far better to answer the questions that people have and then step by step show them what the Christian message really says?  You probably have heard or even used the saying: Jesus is the answer, but now, what was the question? Actually: Do we even need to use words!

Well, there is certainly a merit to this reasoning, if we by confrontational mean using our own, sub-cultural religious language without reflecting on what we really communicate. But there could also be a hidden flaw in this thinking, since we often confuse our own sub-cultural language with the language of the Bible where a world view is presented that is different from all of the contemporary cultures and therefore needs its own language to get the message from God across. Are we tempted to throw out the Bible together with our simplistic sub-culture? We want to appear relevant, but it might also be true, if we are really honest, that we have an internal battle with a fear of appearing a little peculiar. But how do we talk about sin in its Biblical meaning without using the Biblical word for it, or forgiveness, redemption, holiness, heaven or hell and then try to explain what those words/ concepts mean?

There is a logical problem with that since people are seldom interpret non-verbal communication right, but shouldn’t we also be concerned with the fact that the church in Sweden has tried the more careful, conciliatory way of communicating for a long time – and while trying this, the church has slowly dwindled away and is now looked upon as something not very exciting. Our nervous desire to be culturally relevant has made us appear comically irrelevant. And the more we fail to appear relevant, the harder we try to do more of what has not work. Isn’t that absurd? Einstein once said that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is the ultimate proof of foolishness.

Throughout the history of the church it was the daring, thinking, risk-taking preachers of the Gospel that changed the world. Read about Jesus’ preaching, then look at Paul, Polycarp, John Chrysostom, John Wesley or Olaus Petri in Sweden. 
It has always been the clear message that has communicated and made the church credible, often in spite of criticism and persecution.

It is the clear, un-adultered message presented in a creative style, that is heard right through the constant message over-load that floods most people’s lives. Some of the strongest contemporary examples combining clarity with creative communication are the Alpha Course, Bill Hybels, Rick Warren, Kerry Shook and in Scandinavia the New Life Church and Hillsong in Stockholm. 


As we continue to plant new churches in greater Stockholm we ask and pray for leaders who have enough integrity to preach the crucified and resurrected Christ, to be creative enough to renew the way they communicate and who fear only one thing: To dishonor the Gospel for which Jesus gave His life.

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Kjell Axel
 Johansson