Lausanne World Pulse – Themed Articles – The Culture of Peace and Evangelism

By Paulus Widjaja In an even more dramatic act of reconciliation, Acts 10 tells us that God, through divine visions, brought together Peter, a devout Jew, with the Roman officer Cornelius for a shared meal. God called Peter to cross the boundary between Jews and Greeks, both by daring to enter the soldier-filled Roman-garrison city of Caesarea and through eating the non-kosher food offered by his host. The Holy Spirit came upon all those at the gathering, both Jew and Greek, confirming that God’s work in Christ had broken down the dividing walls and reconciled these historic enemies into one new people. As they recognized this reality, the Church responded by baptizing the new Gentile believers and welcoming them as brothers and sisters. Receiving the good news of Jesus Christ meant, for these early believers, receiving the good news that those who had been their enemies were now their family. Their changed social relationships with each other were a visible sign of God’s reconciling presence in their midst.

Peacemaking in Today’s Conflict-ridden World

Brian McLaren has correctly warned that contemporary Christians need a radical rethinking of our understanding and practice of evangelism. He argues that we need to recognize that we may not fully understand the good news of the gospel, and therefore, we need to rediscover it. We need to understand that the gospel is not first of all “information on how one goes to heaven after death…but rather a vision of what life can be in all its dimensions”² and a way of life to bring that vision into reality.

For many skeptical observers of the Church, the most convincing apologetic for Christianity is seeing the power of God’s reconciling love at work in a living community of faith.

McLaren also urges Christians to redefine our understanding of discipleship, bearing in mind that evangelism is not about recruiting refugees from earth to heaven, but recruiting revolutionaries who are willing to compassionately “bring the good and healing will of heaven to earth in all its crises.”³ In addition, McLaren emphasizes that our faith must involve actively doing good, including pursuing reconciliation with other Christians. If we fail to live out the Great Commandment, our pursuit of the Great Commission will be fruitless.

Justin, writing to the Roman emperor in 165 AD, reported, “Many who were once on your side have turned from the ways of violence and tyranny, overcome by observing the consistent life of their neighbors.”⁴ Communities today that seek to embody cultures of peace will experience similar conversions by those who are watching their communal life.

For many skeptical observers of the Church, the most convincing apologetic for Christianity is seeing the power of God’s reconciling love at work in a living community of faith. For those whose people groups have historically suffered wrongs at the hands of Christians, only our genuine repentance and an honest desire for reconciliation will open the way for them to receive Christ as truly good news. As we embrace the work of the Holy Spirit in making a new family out of enemies, our communal life will bear witness to the good news of Christ’s peace.

Endnotes

1. Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, 110.2-3.

2. Brian McLaren. 2004. “A Radical Rethinking of Our Evangelistic Strategy.” Theology, News & Notes. Fall: 4-6, 22.

3. Ibid.

4. Justin Martyr, 1 Apology 16.

Paulus Widjaja is secretary of the Mennonite World Conference Peace Council. He is a professor in the theology department at Duta Wacana Christian University in Jogjakarta, Indonesia.

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