A theology of - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

A theology of outreach

Dr. Leopoldo a. sanchez m. Concordia seminarySt. louisSlide2

What are they saying?Spirituality in North America…

What are the yearnings and needs?How does the church address them?Listen…Slide3

Spirituality in north america

Wuthnow’s proposal for a shift from a “dwelling-oriented” and the Baby Boomers’ “seeker-oriented” spirituality to a “practice-oriented spirituality” (late 90s):“…dwelling-oriented spirituality is generally rich with stories that legitimate corporate realities but not likely to generate deep introspection about one’s identity. Seeker-oriented spirituality focuses attention on the specifics of the moment but is likely to be insufficient without an interpretive framework that provides coherence to individual biographies” (After Heaven, 188).“Spiritual practice takes this kind of seeking a step further, adding the vital element of sustained commitment, without which no life can have coherence” (198)Slide4

Spirituality in north america

Roof on the Boomers’ “quest culture” and “reflexive spirituality” (late 90s):“…the current religious situation in the United States is characterized not so much by a loss of faith as a qualitative shift from unquestioned belief to a more open, questing mood…a quest culture, a search for certainty, but also the hope for a more authentic, intrinsically satisfying life” (Spiritual Marketplace, 9-10).“…reflexive spirituality reorients notions about religious and spiritual strength, away from custom, institution, or doctrinal formulation toward greater focus on the inner life and its cultivation….the primary task of religion is…to focus its energies explicitly around cultivating the interior life. The challenge is to become religious ‘from within,’ to start with

a personal commitment in search of a religious center

” (310). Slide5

Spirituality in north america

Wuthnow’s description of post-Baby Boomer spirituality in terms of “tinkering” includes non-negotiables such as the need for “community” and commitment to “social causes” (early 2000s):“…what makes a congregation, large or small, attractive to young adults is probably a sense of community” (After the Baby Boomers, 223).“…congregations are locations in which people mingle with others, hear the value of caring for others reinforced, and experience opportunities for becoming involved in caregiving activities. There is widespread agreement across age groups about the value of helping the needy and serving the community through volunteering” (228).Slide6

Spirituality in north america

Kinnaman’s and Dawkins’s on the desire of Gen Xers and Millennials for social engagement with vulnerable groups, and welcoming those who are excluded (2011):“In the church, we tend to make belief a prerequisite to belonging—you’re not ‘one of us’ until you have signed off on our Statement of Faith. Yet young people start with the basic assumption that everyone belongs and they have a hard time understanding spiritual communities that feel like insider-only clubs” (174).“…this generation doesn’t want to be merely hearers of faith but also doers. This desire explains the next generation’s focus on social justice” (177)“Passionate, mission-driven exiles seem to share the conviction that the North American church has somehow lost its

heart for

the very kinds of people Jesus sought out during his earthly ministry—

the oppressed, the poor, and the physically, emotionally, and socially-crippled

” (178-79).Slide7

Spirituality in north america

White on Acts 2 & 17 contexts, and the shift from “community” to “cause” (2011):Earlier models were almost entirely event/proclamation-oriented, such as revivals, crusades, or door-to-door visitation. This is only effective in an Acts 2, God-fearing Jews of Jerusalem context. Process models are needed in Acts 17, Mars Hill, nones/skeptical contexts…. On Mars Hill, the spiritual illiteracy was so deep that Paul had to begin with cultural touchstones, lead into creation, and work his way forward. It took him a while to get to Christ…. Community does not seem to have the great attraction it once did. Instead, there has been a great seismic shift. Today it is cause that arrests the attention of the world” (The Rise of the

Nones

, 101).

“While we have already explained the importance of

cause

eclipsing community for arresting the attention of the

nones

, that does not relegate

community

to the backwaters of concern.

While it may not be as important for attraction, it is paramount for affirmation

” (143).Slide8

Spirituality in north america

Shaw and Kolbaba’s on “the priority of community” and ”the value of life and family over work” among Gen Xers and the need for “meaning” and “teams” among Millennials (2015) :“Because so many more Xers experienced divorce in their families or through friends, finding nontraditional sources of ‘family’ or community became a high value” (Generational IQ, 68).“[Millennials] want to make a difference now

” (88

).

“And loyalty to friends is one of Millennials’ highest values. So it should be no surprise that

they expect to work together

….Millennials are the most diverse generation, so

they easily cross boundaries of ethnicity and gender

because they are far more color-blind than the previous generations” (89). Slide9

Spirituality in north america

“For the great majority of Latinos…God is an active force in everyday life. Most Latinos pray every day, most have a religious object in their home and most attend a religious service at least once a month” (Changing Faiths, Pew 2007)“Renewalist Christianity, which places special emphasis on God’s ongoing, day-to-day intervention in human affairs

through the person of the Holy Spirit

, is having a major impact on Hispanic Christianity

.”

“By an

overwhelming majority (82%), Hispanics cite the desire for

a more direct,

personal experience

with God

as the main reason for adopting a new

faith.”

“While

the prevalence of

Hispanic-oriented worship

is higher

among the

foreign born, with 77% saying they attend churches with those characteristics,

the phenomenon is

also widespread

among the native born

, with 48% saying they attend ethnic churches

.”

“More than half say churches and other houses of worship

should address the social and political questions of the day

.”Slide10

What spirituality? Summing up…

Allows for deep personal appropriation, moving beyond institutional affiliation and immediate felt needs. Brings people on a journey where they ask questions in search for identity and purpose in life. Creates community, interdependence, and a sense of belonging.Promotes a socially active faith and reaches out

across borders

to neighbors who are

vulnerable

and different.

Values

balance

between meaningful work and nurturing relationships.

Fosters the cultivation of the

inner life

in the context of

some

center and framework

that brings some coherence to life

.Slide11

What center AND FRAMEWORK?

A pneumatic Christ-centered account of spiritualitySanctification deals with the cultivation of the inner lifeMoving from concept to narrative (How does it look?)Spirit Christology as Trinitarian frameworkBasic Thesis: The Spirit shapes the likeness of Christ in usChrist-likeness ≠ Christ-samenessConfigurations of life in the Spirit of Christ? What are they?

SPIRIT SCULPTORSlide12

A models approach to life in the spirit…

Grounded in Biblical narrativeTrinitarian center and ecclesial trajectorySources in Christian traditionContextually appropriate for the situation in

North America

What is a MODEL?

A flexible yet cohesive account of life whose productivity for answering certain questions or addressing certain needs can be tested.Slide13

THE BIG QUESTION

How does a models approach to life in the Spirit (broadly speaking, sanctification) contribute a productive Christian way to address some of the perceived spiritual yearnings and needs of various groups in North America? Slide14

Models of sanctification

Implications for Outreach in North America…FIVE MODELS:1) RENEWAL (Dying and Rising)2) VIGILANCE (Battling in the Desert)3) BALANCE (Movement and Repose)4) SERVANTHOOD (Service and Sharing) 5) HOSPITALITY (Marginality and Belonging)

FACES OF THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTSlide15

The SERVANTHOOOD Model: SERVICE AND SHARINGSlide16

Christian Life

The Holy Spirit forms Christ the servant in usRenewal of the mind……after the mind of ChristTaking the form of the Servant (Phil 2)Disciple: «not to be served, but to serve» (Mk. 10)Luther: “Service was, with him, something assumed for our benefit and as an example for us to follow, teaching us to act in like manner toward others, to disrobe ourselves of the appearance of divinity as he did…” (Palm Sunday sermon)

Diego Velazquez

(1632)Slide17

Supper as Communion

Supper as source of spiritual communion Makes us one with Christ and one another (1 Cor. 10:16-17)St. Paul: Bearing each other’s burdens…Sharing everything in common (cf. Ac. 2)Two “happy exchanges”, intercommunionReceiving Christ in His saintsHelping Christ in His saints

Luther,

The Blessed Sacrament of the Holy and True Body of Christ…

(1519)Slide18

Use of the SacramentLuther’s “gracious blending”

Holy Communion signifies “a fellowship and a gracious blending of our sin and suffering with the righteousness of Christ and his saints” (p. 60). When one partakes of the sacrament, “do not doubt that you have what the sacrament signifies, that is, be certain that Christ and all his saints are coming to you with all their virtues, sufferings, and mercies, to live, work, suffer, and die with you, and that they desire to be wholly yours, having all things in common with you” (p. 61) Gretchen’s lesson from Red Boots for Christmas (LHM)Slide19

implications

Search for purpose, meaning. Place in the world. Vocational focus (If everybody is my neighbor…)Intercession and help for the saintsPracticing “happy exchanges”…Needs of neighbors in church and worldNeighbors define what sanctification looks likeGrowth: Learning deeply about the needs and contributions of neighbors

From

the

Lord’s

altar

to

a

hurting

worldSlide20

The Hospitality Model:MarginalITY

AND BELONGINGSlide21

Christian Life

Loving the UnlovableHeidelberg Disputation (1518)Thesis 28: “The love of God does not find, but creates, that which is pleasing to it…”Explanation of Thesis 28:”…the love of God which lives in man loves sinners…and weaklings…in order to make them righteous…and strong.”Love of God in man = sanctificationThe Spirit shapes Christ in us by pushing us to love the unlovable, outsidersSlide22

The Love of the Cross

Thesis 28: “The love of God does not find, but creates, that which is pleasing to it. The love of man comes into being through that which is pleasing to it.”Rather than seeking its own good, the love of God flows forth and bestows good. Therefore sinners are «attractive» because they are loved; they are not loved because they are «attractive»:For this reason the love of man avoids sinners and evil persons. Thus Christ says: «For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners» (Matt. 9:13). This is the love of the cross

, born of the cross, which

turns in the direction where it does not find good which it may enjoy

, but where it may confer good upon the bad and needy person

. Slide23

Jesus Walks along the Border

Between Samaria and Galilee (Lk. 17:11-19)A despised borderlandMarginalized Twice: Leper and SamaritanThen one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. (vv. 15-16)A story of marginality and hospitalityLove of the cross: The least lovable and attractive is brought into the kingdom through faith in JesusSlide24

The Story of Philip

Folks not fully embraced, excludedAre they in or out?Greek-speaking Jewish widows (Ac. 6:1-6)Samaritans (Ac. 8:9-25)Ethiopian eunuch (Ac. 8:26-39)Pushy Holy Spirit!Centrifugal movement, ripple effectMarginal neighbors brought into the kingdom……bringing others into the kingdomSlide25

implicationsNeed for belonging, community

Dealing with shame, exclusionPoor, widows, orphans, sojourners, etc.Sensitive to the plight of vulnerableExtending the hand of hospitality to strangersEmbracing the unlovable, undesirable, unattractiveWorking along and with people along the marginsSlide26

ADDRESSING THE YEARNINGS AND NEEDS…

deep personal appropriationcultivation of the inner lifecenter and framework brining coherence to lifecommunity, interdependencepurpose, meaningsocially active, making a differencebelongingreaching to the vulnerable and differentBIG THESISA models approach to life in the Spirit (broadly speaking, sanctification)

contributes

a productive Christian way to address some of the perceived spiritual yearnings and needs of various groups in North

America

.

Feedback:

sanchezl@csl.edu