MSN Presentation — Ron Phillips (2024 01 22)

From our Zoom meeting of January 22, as prepared here by Ron Richmond using notes from the presentation.

Biblical Basis for Missional Engagement

Ron focused on the following questions:

  1. How can we [as Christians] help [the world]?
  2. What does God want of his people?
  3. What is God up to?

Our request to Ron P has been to provide us with scriptural and pastoral guidance from time to time, specifically regarding the Biblical Basis for Missional Church ministry.

Ron spoke somewhat candidly about his more than 30 years of pastoral ministry as he responded.

Q1… Naming some of the authors from our previous meeting, he pointed out the difficulties of bringing change (positive development) into people’s lives.  Was Ron speaking out of some discouragement, or is this difficulty in current ministry just part of contemporary life in ministry?  [But see additional comments provided below.]

Q2… Ron questioned whether there is evidence that Christ, in his ministry, was making any attempt to change the larger society.  He suggested that the primary message of Christ was more personal in orientation, such as changing of attitudes relating to widows/orphans and strangers, for instance.  Why was there not more emphasis on making society better?

Q3… Ron encouraged us to seek the purposes of God, in contrast to the plans that we, as his people, might often pursue (in a more naturalistic way of thinking).

Follow-up comments

But Ron has provided further clarification below, this time partially in response to an article referenced by Sharon Hamilton.  A Manitoba pastor, Ed Neufeld, provides a perspective on these same issues in this article:  Response to Timothy Keller, Generous Justice, by Ed Neufeld – Kleefeld Christian Community (ourkcc.ca)

Ron P, reflects further, in the context of this article, as follows:

Thank you, Ron, and Sharon, for sharing this.  I hope everyone will read the article or listen to the podcast.  I met Ed Neufeld years ago when he was going through the ordination process.  He struck me as humble and brilliant.  And yes, his thesis is one that I was trying to get at in the second question I presented at our first in person meeting.
My first question was – How do you help?  More difficult that we might assume!  We think that with enough money and the right programs, and getting rid of the ‘bad’ people in our way, we can solve poverty.  (I exaggerate!)  The actual evidence gives a different answer.  The Bible story of how God is actually saving creation, including humans, is the story we need to pay attention to.
My second question was – What does God want us to do?   And I tried to argue, though Ed did this much, much better and more thoroughly, that the NT doesn’t actually say much about justice out there in the wider world in which they were living, but focused on being the church.  I went on to point out that the church, however, did get involved, in time, with justice in the wider world, from ending the savage Roman games in the arena, to bringing hospitals and schools to everyone.  Ed suggests that this is not the church per se, but individual Christians whom God called to such work.  That could be a point of discussion.
My third question was, what is God up to right now?  And I floated the possibility that this might be a time of judgment on Western civilization.  I don’t know that for a fact!  But I floated the question to counter our Western ‘can do’ attitude, that starts with the assumption that with the right strategy we can fix things.  As if it all depends on us.  A Biblical foundation for our work needs to be more humble, and more alert to the Spirit, and to the signs of the times.
Again, thank you Ron and Sharon, for making us think!

Important Books on Poverty Issues

Some critiques shared by Ron on attempts by charity groups to help the poor.

Robert Lupton, Toxic Charity

Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (And How to Reverse It):
Lupton, Robert D.: 9780062076212: Books – Amazon.ca

Steve Corbett, When Helping Hurts

When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor… and Yourself.
by Corbett, Steve (amazon.ca)

Dambisa Moyo (with Foreward by Niall Ferguson), Dead Aid

Dead Aid: Why Aid Is Not Working and How There is a Better Way for Africa,
by Moyo, Dambisa (amazon.ca)

Thanks, Ron, for stimulating our thoughts.  This is certainly relevant to what we think we are about.

We are attempting here to create a respectful, yet critical, engagement on ideas.  Let’s hear your thoughts or questions.

RRVista Editor: Ron Richmond

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