It seems to me that the artificial division between evangelism and missionary outreach has handicapped our evangelism due to our too often making the assumption that we know our own culture. All outreach ought to be considered cross-cultural. In this way, we come into any conversation assuming that we know absolutely nothing of the person with whom we are conversing, and we must ask questions in order to come to know the individual. Asking questions—learning—is a humble approach. And are we not seeking that the grace of God which is offered to all humanity be further spread by our lives? Of course we do! Since grace comes only to the humble (Jas.4:6), we become the best emissaries of grace by receiving it liberally for ourselves.

The secret ingredient in successful cross-cultural outreach is total helplessness. Consider Paul’s statement to the Galatians that, “…it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first” (Gal.4:13). Lots of people set out with schemes to reach an unreached culture that involve teaching superior agricultural processes or establishing medical clinics. On one hand, it is hard to throw rocks at these efforts; after all, how else are we going to secure visas into hostile territory? But the other part of the equation is, sending experts in to supply what “those poor people” lack is pretty humiliating for those whom we seek to reach with the gospel of Jesus. So I recommend helplessness. I remember being laid low with malaria in Indonesia for a couple of weeks. Being ministered to by my host family while I stayed in bed was the method through which I acquired the most of their language. As it turns out, people also oppose the proud and give grace to the humble.

That which impels us to go to all the families of the earth (Gen.12:3) with the good news of the blessing that is theirs is more than the weight of Jesus’s commission; it is the certainty that God created all human beings to reflect His image (Gen.1:26) and that that image is worth perfecting and preserving. With all this being said, what should our approach be?

Knowing that human beings are made in the image of God should move us to a process of discovery: learning about people and relating what we find to what we know about God. This may well be a lifetime project, sketching out who God has revealed Himself to be in His word and relating that revelation to what we discover about people. The net result should be something of wonder in us who make cultural discoveries—something to the effect of, “I see the kindness of God in you; the reflection of this aspect of His glory is so exceptionally clear. Oh friend, you are incredibly valuable! What I see in you is worth perfecting and worth preserving. Did you know that God has a plan already in place to accomplish both your perfecting and your preserving?” (And if you did not notice yet, that is a perfect set-up for presenting the gospel which flows naturally from getting to know people). I believe that this approach would work just as well for getting to know individuals as it would for crossing cultures.

But this gets really complicated. How do we isolate the shape of a culture from the personality of the individual people? How are we to differentiate between those aspects which need to be reformed (or eliminated) from those aspects of a culture that are virtues which God intends to preserve? I am reminded of Paul’s speaking of the grafting in of branches onto the root of Israel (Rom.11:16-24). In the process of grafting branches from one fruit tree to another, the foreign branch retains its genetic identity while it begins to take its sap from a superior source. Jesus is the root and offspring of David (Rev.22:16). He is the superior source of life to which a “branch” may be attached and live forever! It is He who said, “Abide in me and you will bear much fruit” (Jn.15:4,5).

It is important here to avoid complicating something that God intends to be fairly straightforward. We do not have the responsibility to determine which aspects of a culture need to be reformed or rejected; our responsibility is to get people attached to Jesus by faith. As that Source of life begins to perfect the branch and the fruit becomes good, we can take notes on what He is doing and become more discerning regarding what needs to happen in a culture based on what He does in and through an individual.

This has been a bit of a ramble. More questions have been raised than have been answered. In future days I shall attempt to address more of these questions.

I have been thinking for several days about the meaning of 2Cor.3:18, which says, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.” Paul is, of course, talking about the transforming effect of beholding Jesus by faith (the context of v.14-17 makes this clear). It appears to me that before this transformative look occurs, there is already the first degree of glory present. I am reminded of God’s declared purpose in making our race at the beginning: “Let us make humanity in our likeness…” (Gen.1:26). Likeness. Reflection. We were made to mirror the majesty of God, to image forth His glory–not as rivals, but as advertisers of the One whom we were created to resemble.

I have yet to meet a member of the human race who completely failed to reflect the glory of God at some level; I am likewise yet to meet a human being who reflected that majesty perfectly. This, then, is the first degree of glory: our innate capacity to remind other people of our glorious Maker.

If we are born in the image of God, what further glory could we possibly be transformed into? I said earlier that none of us reflects the glorious image of God perfectly–none of us, except Jesus! “When we see Him, we shall be made like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1Jn.3:2). Seeing Jesus begins a process which ends in our resembling Him (who resembles the Father) perfectly. Notice the participial nature of the verb, “being transformed.” This indicates a process which moves toward completion over time.

I hope the application for evangelism is clear. We speak to people admiringly, drawing attention to their glorious likenesses to our God. Then we say to them, “God has a glorious plan to perfect His likeness in you! I know that you already have an instinct to draw attention to yourself–an understanding that you are worth knowing and admiring. This is because you were made to be noticed as signs by the road are noticed. You were made to point people to God. Would you like Him to begin a work in you by which the glory which is already yours in part would be brought to perfection?”

Galatians 6:9, Part Two: “…for in due season we shall reap…”

I have a need to be motivated by a vision. No aim in life leads to a listless existence. And the best aims in life are those which we are most passionate about. All labor is for the sake of something significant. Working for a paycheck can be motivating if my financial aspirations will be moved forward in receiving it. But working will be much more engaging for me if the work itself is accomplishing something I believe in. What, then, is the motivation for not ceasing to do the good works which we have been entrusted with doing? Here we are told that it is a season of harvest.

Think with me about the analogy of sowing, watering, waiting and finally harvesting. The goal–the telos–of every other activity is realized in the harvest. Jesus’s parable of the soils gauges the life of that which is sown in terms of harvest. Our willingness to invest in people is completely necessary. Would I still give if I knew that nobody would be transformed? I would, if I have the heart of God.

The vision that motivates me is of ministering to the lives of some who respond to the kindness of God by coming to repentance. As God’s grace dawns upon their hearts and the sacrifice of Jesus takes over the center of their joys, moving them to become worshipers of Him who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light… I would be satisfied with my labor. So I am called to perseverance through all the seasons of labor, knowing that the harvest is sure.