Prominent Missiologist Identifies Biggest Trend in Global Mission
Ralph Winter told thousands of missionaries that the biggest trend in world mission is the polarization occurring among mission agencies that either focus exclusively on personal salvation or, in contrast, physical needs when they should be doing both.Christians have the responsibility to not only share the Gospel and help get people into heaven, the renowned missiologist said, but also “getting God into this world” and glorifying God on Earth.
“Evangelism is the highest priority, but it becomes weak and lacks credibility if it does not generate committed believers who will tackle the world’s problem,” Winter maintained in his presentation at the Korea World Mission Conference 2008.
“What is the use of evangelism if it produces Christians who don’t act, who don’t do, who don’t follow God’s will? All they do is sing in church,” he passionately declared. “It is what happens in the world that is at least as important as what happens in church.
He added, “We are getting fancier and fancier at church worship. We know how to do church, [but] we don’t know how to be the church.”
Drawing from history, Winter laid out how confusion in the reformation, in missions today, and among Christians in the 20th century led to the loss of glory for God and disrespect for evangelicals.
Following the reformation, Christians became confused with the role of faith versus works in relation to salvation, Winter explained. The reformation fought against the idea that works alone can get someone into heaven, but then many people began to only focus on faith and ignored the Bible’s teaching of faith-inspired action.
Winter pointed to the Scripture passage James 2:20 where it “plainly” states, “Faith without works is dead.”
- read entire article @ the Christianpost.com
