Through the years I’ve heard a great deal of conversation about the state of affairs in the first century world which impacted the initial spread of the Gospel. One line of reasoning that has been suggested by historians and theologians that I have read goes something like this: The reason the Gospel spread like wildfire amongst the first-century pagans is the people were ready for something different, something new.
This idea is often brought into discussions about efforts to share the Good News with people today. I’ve heard it suggested that one of the reasons the American mission field is not as fertile as other places in the world has to do with the fact that cultural conditions are not “right.” Conversely, I have heard others suggest the reason a certain segment of the American population is currently open to the Gospel is due to cultural conditions making this group “ready” to hear the Gospel.
Maybe you’re sitting there looking at your screen saying, “Huh? What’s the point of this?”
Well, I read something recently that really made me think about this. In his signature, penetrating fashion N.T. Wright speaks with precise scholarship to a long-held, but misguided, view. In “What Saint Paul Really Said” he writes the following:
People have often attempted to explain the rapid growth of Christianity by arguing that the first-century pagan world was, so to speak, ‘ready for Christianity’. I am not so sure. The Athenians were not ready to hear about ‘Jesus and resurrection’ (Acts 17:18, 32). I don’t think the Corinthians were particularly ready to be told about a new way of being human which involved chastity and the renunciation of party spirit. The Philippians….will have been radically challenged by hearing that Jesus was the one true kyrios, the lord of all the world. It may be true that people were tired of Stoicism, though Epictetus, Paul’s near-contemporary, gives no sign of it. It may be true that people were tired of Epicureanism, though Paul addresses it as a live option in Athens. It may be true that people were fed up with the ordinary pagan cult, and indeed Pliny, writing in the early second century, suggests that it was hounoured as much in the breach as in the observance in his day. But the basic features of paganism were deeply engrained in the lives and habits of mystery-cults, and a good deal else besides were part of the daily world of Paul’s audience. My sense is that the pagan world was no more ‘ready for the gospel’, in that sense, than the Jewish world was ready to hear the news of a crucified Messiah.
This seems to be one of those debates about the quantifiable difference between six of one thing and one half dozen of another. This is a distinction without a difference. So, how do we know who is ‘ready’ for Christianity? I believe that Jesus said the secret is in the soil! At least, that seems to be the message of the Parable of the Sower (Luke 8:4-15). Here Jesus described four types of soil which signified four conditions of the heart. One type of soil, the good soil, “stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”
Here’s the key: In Jesus’ parable the sower didn’t debate, deliberate or discriminate. He just sowed the seed. When you think about it, our task isn’t to somehow determine whether or not our world is ready for Christianity any more than it is to determine whether or not another person has a noble and good heart. Perhaps we’ve just spent too much time fancy-footin’ it around this topic when we just need to sling our seed bags over our shoulders and go to work.
What do you think?
© Bill Williams
2008.08.24
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Amen! I think we’ve just gotten too big for our britches.
We’re in the “Information Age” so we sit back in our chairs in front of our computers in our air conditioned homes and try to philosophically answer the question of exactly which field and which row of crops might yield the most plentiful harvest according to the latest satellite pictures we’ve captured of our back yard; instead of gettin’ our hides outside, rollin’ up our sleeves and actually workin’ the field!
The Gospel is a simple message. It seems to me that we frequently hinder it by our intense over-analysis of every aspect of it’s propagation.(And by the use of our voluminous vocabulary.
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In answer to something one brought up, I really think Rick Warren deserves some applaud for how well he did what he did. I think we are in dire need of Christian church leaders who can make people feel comfortable enough to be interviewed for our benefit without fear of being attacked. I think he handled the question of personal faith well, did not preach at them, but befriended them both and gave them ample opportunity to share of themselves in a way we could enjoy. I have not enjoyed or followed much in the way of politics and have heard nothing at all from McCain…didn’t even know the sound of his voice or manner until this interview, and it felt safe to watch without feeling it was media hyped in some way.
Just to say, I’ve heard so many criticisms of why and how Warren did what he did, but I want to be one to give two thumbs up for the presentation. I enjoyed it and watched part of it online and the other part online.
I’d love to think that if either of these men were to become President, they would have won the respect of some solid Christian leaders they can confide in or ask for prayer without fear of being slammed. They need that kind of pastoring across the country…not to condone or agree with what they do, but to thoughtfully and respectfully listen and win their ear on occasion, God willing.
I’ve had a few days to ponder this. So many excellent comments, it’s hard to be any different or fresh. What keeps coming back to me over and over again, is not so much the concern about reaching those who have no knowledge of the salvation of Jesus Christ, but to reach those who proclaim to have it and yet do not follow the pattern of Christianity God’s Word holds. I’m amazed at “brothers” in Christ who are more interested in teaching traditions to unlearned souls, programs, church service, etc. and not even address the incredible love Christ has for them. The saving grace that awaits each one. If “faithful” Christians disagree with the pattern the Apostles set forth and Jesus instructed us to follow in John 17, how can we expect the unsaved to follow the pattern of God’s Word. Another question that haunts me is how can we again expect the “world” to be ready for Christianity, when the average “Christian” is not ready for pure Christianity. Our concepts of “cafeteria style” Christianity, where we cut and paste, pick and chose, follow and not follow, has to be confusing to those watching us. The “world” is watching. Are we truly set apart enough that others notice the difference? God’s Word repeats over and over if we live our lives according to His Word, we will be rewarded with everything we need. Christian is not something we call ourselves, it is what others call us. The potential to reach the lost is enormous. Christ used His Father’s words to reach the lost and they responded. Christ is perfect. His ways are perfect. If we want the world to respond to God’s Word we must start with ourselves. Hold our lives under His Light and the world will have no choice, but to see the reflection of Him who sent His Word to save their souls.
Randy Harris said in one of his points at the Spiritual Growth Workshop, that for the Gospel to spread we have to “be there.” When are folks opposed to hearing “good news?” Let me change that and say that the people that our ready for the “good news” cross any kind of cultural / ethnic / social lines we could used as an excuse for not going.
I believe the answer is found in the writings of Paul in Romans 8:18F. Paul states that this physical creation and the whole creation (v.22) is groaning and waiting to be set free from its bondage (sin) by the sons of God who possess the Holy Spirit. God’s Holy Spirit is God’s power manifested in us and through us to deliver His message of salvation in Christ to a lost world that He created for His glory and honor. Christians have been given the privilege and obligation of now being God’s instruments to proclaim this message of reconciliation through out the world (II Corinthians 5:19f). Is the world ready to receive it? Paul states that Christianity’s message, the gospel, “is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” and that he felt deeply obligated & “eager” to preach the gospel. I believe all of God’s created world including the human race stated by Him as “very good” is anxiously ready for God’s pure message of grace and the obedience of faith. The real question is – do we feel the same sense of indebtedness and eagerness to spread, this uplifting message of reconciliation to the world?
I agree, Bill! It is not for us to decide if the world is ready for Christianity. We have an obligation to obey Jesus’ command to go into all the world and share the good news and make disciples!
In above views posted, i wondered about it for awhile on whether our world is ready for Christianity?
The World today although with the huge technological advantage over in AD40 to AD300, where the early church under the church leaders and Apostle Paul built on, actually is not much of a different. The world, i would define the world view in which the God of the biblical scriptures is generally very much opposed by the world view, and the culture it brings forth. Just as the author above has reiterated, that it is not the world in question, but the different type of soil as outlined in the scriptures.
Nevertheless, the question remains that is the World ready for Christianity? What ‘Christianity’ are we talking about? Is it the Social Christianity Rick Warren preaches? Is Christianity all about saving earth, being politically responsible citizen, and seeing from Rick’s session with the two presidential candidates, he has never once mentioned Jesus or question their faith, or if they are born again. I asked again, is this the Christianity in question? Yes definitely, the world needs more of such social gospel where the central message of the Cross in the Gospel that this world is in Sin, and the Cross where Christ died for our Sins, and He has resurrected from the dead, and He is coming back, then this ‘Christianity’ is unpopular, even among so called leaders like Rick Warren, will the world be ready for this?
The only time the world is ready, is when the Lord of the Harvest, began to work, through the Holy Spirit to bring convictions of Sin to this world, and by the Grace and Mercy of our Lord Jesus, that the lost should come to the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus
You can’t expect early Christian converts like the Corinthians to lead transformed lives.
They even scoffed at the idea that their god would choose to raise corpses.
Isn’t this really a question of presentation? It doesn’t really matter what we think our world is ready for. We are to be who we are regardless of what the world thinks. I think that is what the parable of the 4 soils is all about. I’m with Bill and believe we’re supposed to strap on our seed bags and get to sowing. There are many different approaches instead of “one correct and God honoring way” because of the many types of people with various love languages and learning styles. I think it’s more about “how” than “if” the world is ready. Be who you are. There’s a great John Fischer quote that says,
“The real tragedy …is that there are many Christians who do not even relate to non-believers unless they have to. That’s what has to change. We don’t need to witness more; we need to relate more with non-Christians so that our witness will mean more. If our witness truly is more WHO WE ARE than WHAT WE DO (caps are mine), then we need to be in places where who we are makes a difference.”
We just need to be sowing where God plants us, and be who we are…people called to do 2 big things: Love God and Love Others.
My husband and I work with the throw away people of our society. We love them right where they are at and we love them as much as we can. We’re not alone. There are other groups trying to reach the homeless and at-risk people too. What makes me sad is that we hear stories of the gospel being held for ransom all the time. Our friends on the streets have been told they can come to a meal if they attend a Bible study, or pray with a pastor. To get their needs met, they’ve learned the lingo so they can deal with the Christians who come to the streets to “bring them Jesus”. People forget that Jesus is already on the streets and He’s just waiting for others to join them there. It’s the same with churches, neighborhoods, and anywhere you can go. In the parable, the farmer scattered seed across his field . So should we.
Is our world ready for Christianity? It has already been here for 2000+ years…
You’re right. We have to stop being afraid and just do what Christ has requested of us. I was in Guatemala recently and had an incredible experience in regards to spreading the Gospel. Sadly, I wasn’t the one doing it but boy I did learn a lesson from my 16 and 14 year old nephews. Their church has what it calls discipleship. These kids, after they’ve been baptized and given Bible knowledge, are suppose to recruit 12 more young people. A leader is assigned and these groups meet at the leader’s home to have Bible discussions as well as games and snacks. Young people teaching young people what a great concept.
I’ve shared this with other people and of course what I hear is that the culture is different. Honestly, when it comes to the Gospel there shouldn’t be race or cultural differences. We’re God’s children and therefore, should behave in a way that He would be proud of us.
I guess to answer the original question you asked, “yes,” i believe the world is ready for Christianity. I’m no theologian, so I can only give my opinion. Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
My reasoning is that the reason Jesus came was to save the world. He loves us and wants no one to perish. Then He tells us as believers to go and make disciples. The question to me isn’t if the world is ready…it is more if His disciples are willing. The same God who has saved so many throughout the years is the same God who is mighty to save now. It is the church’s responsibility to carry out the gospel in a relevant way, but even if we didn’t, God could change a heart all by Himself.
That’s about all I can wrap my little pea brain around, but I’m so glad you asked and that you probed me further to answer your question specifically. So much to think about, pray about, mull through…
To answer the title question: No. It never has been since the failure in the Garden. Our nature, our very skin rejects the notion of dying to self and following God. Even the “best” of us have our moments of rebellion, bucking against the surrender to selflessness.
Royce captured the epitome of the process, the source of the results which lack fervor and commitment to seeking the Lord and reaping the benefits of His plans.
The lost and the “poor” will always be with us, but the Holy Spirit will direct us to those who have ears to hear–that is if WE do. We can’t know the condition of another’s heart–we sometimes barely know our own–but Jesus knows, and the Spirit knows when another is “ready” to listen. Accept? Not up to us. The response to the Spirit is definitely up to us no matter where or when.
I am weary of hearing the blanket condemnation of the “American Christian”. I see many who are in service, who are devoted to doing His will, who seek after Him for a deeper commitment and relationship. Big churches often lose their original perspective of saving and then discipling those who’ve come, filling them with “programs” before they have a sound knowledge of the greatness of our Lord. However, there are churches of all sizes in this country who are pushing for the deep places in their hearts to be filled with more of Jesus.
That is an interesting take on it. The ancient world certainly had its fill of various religions. The same is true today in America. What I think is also very similar between then and now is that both then and today there is a feeling of openness among non-Christians. The typical reaction today as well as then to Christ is to try to add him to the list of gods/religions they already practice. The idea of exclusivity doesn’t seem to be present today or then (Acts 17) and instead there is more of an adding of Jesus to their already existing list of deity. That is a real problem.
Many people have pointed out that there are many other parallels between our culture in America today, which is growing increasingly “unchurched” and the culture of the first century that was “pre-Christian.” I think that is somewhat true but I don’t think it is a perfect fit. Non-Christians today still do have preconceived ideas of what Christianity is all about that is not necessarily on the mark – that we are hypocrites, judgmental, arrogant, etc. Dan Kimball points out in his material “They Like Jesus but Not the Church” that there is a real disconnect here as Christians are to be the people who exhibit the opposite of those negative Christian stereotypes (the fruits of the Spirit – love, joy, etc). So either we aren’t living up to our calling or people are buying too much into the negative Christian stereotypes portrayed in the media.
Bill,
Jesus cautioned the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they were clothed with the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49) Even Jesus in His own earthly ministry was anointed with Holy Spirit power (Acts 10:38). Only by the power and authority of the Holy Spirit can God’s work of redemption be done well.
In my study of the revivals of the British isles and the great harvest of souls they enjoyed, each of those outpourings of God’s Spirit in revival were preceeded by believers who waited before God in prayer. A careful study of Acts will clearly show that waiting in prayer for the fullness of the Holy Spirit preceeded the most blessed evangilistic efforts.
Pentecostal? Perhaps. Biblical? Absolutely. The glaring weakness of most every church in the U.S. (and individually, including me..) is the lack of prayer. It seems that there is great strength in believers praying together as they did again and agian in the first century. In a church of perhaps several hundred you can’t get a station wagon load to a prayer meeting where the only plan is to pray. It is my strong belief the the impotence of most of our churches is directly the result of a lack of prayer and thus what is done, although well meaning, is done in the energy and resources of the flesh rather than in the power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit.
Royce
I don’t the the vast majority of Christians, even myself included at times, are “ready for Christianity”, much less expecting the world to be. That’s why women like Mother Theresa have made such an impact. She was ready.
“how big is your church?”
isn’t that the second question people ask? isn’t that how american christians determine spiritual success?
and it goes against the parable of the sower, goes against water and planting and God giving the increase. that is too out there, too out of our control, doesn’t always provides the baptism numbers.
good thoughts, bill
Yes, Bill, Amen. Our pastor has been doing a series on evangelism, and this main point keeps coming up over and over. Why share our faith? Because it is the heart of the Father to love people enough to do so. He cares passionately about the lost, and so should we. What if we keep getting rejected? Not our responsibility…the Spirit goes before us and prepares hearts for the words we speak and the example we live out before them. He doesn’t need us, but we need to crawl out of our apathetic basement. Definitely struck a chord within me, Bill. Then, you usually do. Blessings!