compelled by love

Here is an interview with my mates Ed Stetzer and Phil Nation about their book Compelled By Love. Its a well written and conceived book, written with a popular audience in mind, and one that takes a rather unique angle on the issue of missiology. To be honest, its not an approach that is normally taken by us males–namely that of love. But that’s exactly what makes it good. We so easily forget what its all about. Read on..

Ed, you have written extensively about contextualization issues. Why write a book about “love” which seems to be a heart issue?
Ed: So much of what is written has only been the objective “How-to” of contextualization. The danger to which many have fallen prey is to do the right thing in ministry without any heart. God reaches out to us because it glorifies himself. His reaching, we are taught in scripture, is done through love.

Give us a sense of what biblical love looks like to you?
Philip: Biblical love is willing to die. Culture paints love as the building up of the heart and the completion of life. The Bible shows that the loving Great Shepherd dies for his flock. Biblical love is heroically sacrificial. It is not the caricature of romance held out to us in romantic-comedies.

How is this book different from what is currently being given to church leaders through conferences and the surrounding literature?
Philip: Most of what is out there is specifically addressed to church leaders. We wanted to give a view of missional living that is accessible to any believer who sits through a worship service.

How has church planting prepared you to address the issue of missional living and its motivation?
Philip: I grew up attending a growing traditional church. It was big, emphasized being big, and wanted to be bigger – but all on its own campus. Planting Lake Ridge Church has been a journey out of the church facility and into the homes of “far from God” people. It completely opened my eyes and heart to being a missionary to friends I’ve made in the neighborhood.

How does love relate to Missiology?
Ed: Without love, churches will not release people to go to the mission field. You have to love God enough to be obedient to him. You must love the world as Christ does in order to die for sin. You must love your neighbor enough to tell them the truth of their sin, aid in their time of need, and walk them (even ploddingly) toward the cross.

Your book has received a wide array of endorsements. Why do you think that is?
Ed: Probably because we begged. No – I think the real answer is because none of us believe we have “home-field advantage” any longer. We greatly appreciate your endorsement, Alan.

But, I think people as diverse as Alan Hirsch, Rick Warren, and Henry Blackaby all realize that the heart of God must be made known in the church (believers) if the mission of God is to move forward in our very spiritually-minded world.

Is this book a break from traditional ministry, contemporary ministry, etc.? I guess what I’m asking is: are you proposing a new paradigm for ministry?
Ed: The easiest answer is that we are proposing a shift back to the original paradigm Christ gave the church. It is the “as you are going” mentality of making disciples rather than the “go over there” and make disciples. Missional living is not specific to a form of worship or liturgy. But it is specific to the attitude an individual Christian or church takes.

June 4, 2008 | Filed Under review |  

Comments

8 Responses to “compelled by love”

  1. Janet on June 4th, 2008 10:39 am

    If we need a new book to remind us of that which is splattered all through the New Testament, then do we ever need to repent and pray for God to change our hearts.

    And we probably do need it…

  2. Ed Stetzer on June 4th, 2008 1:46 pm

    Indeed, Janet, I wish it were not so… but we know it is.

    Ed

  3. Alan Hirsch on June 4th, 2008 2:05 pm

    Jan, so true. Debs says it to me all the time. You guys write complex ideas about what in reality is so simple. Its all above love. I know she means it, not in a simplistic way, but in a way that resonates with the heart of the biblical message. Its all about God’s love and what it does to us.

  4. Michael Edwards on June 4th, 2008 10:24 pm

    I think Janet hit it. I think folks have made this Jesus thing way to difficult. We are designed to love others. It’s a natural instinct. The crazy thing is that I think old-time church people have forgotten how to do it. I’m excited about reading this book.

  5. Janet on June 5th, 2008 5:16 am

    That’s funny Al… I think Debs and I should write a new ground-breaking book. It would be short. Something like:

    Love God and others from the heart. Join with other Jesus people in community, exercising spiritual gifts and spiritual disciplines. Pray that God will reveal what He wants you to do, and for the power of the Spirit to do it. Obey God.

    That’s about it. (Dang, I’ve just put it online for free… so much for royalties!!!)

  6. Philip Nation on June 5th, 2008 1:00 pm

    Alan - sounds like Janet and Debs are lightyears ahead of us.
    Janet - you just gave away the whole book! :-)

    Love is so necessary, seems so simple, and has been shaded far to much with the stuff of earth. It’s refreshing to have gone on the journey of writing the book and then hear so much of the church resonate with the message.

  7. Janet on June 5th, 2008 6:24 pm

    (Suddenly realises with embarrassment that she’s been a bit playful with her comments, and the actual authors have shown up here… ooops…)

    Seriously though… although most Christians could at least mouth that loving God and your neighbour are at the very core of our calling, we’re all fallen people who have been shaped in (more or less) dysfunctional families and (more or less) dysfunctional faith communities… so we do need pictures of what godly love looks like… and inspiration to live more like this. We really DO need the reminders of the call to be like Christ… sacrificial love is one of the “forgotten ways”… we “know” its importance deep in our bones, but struggle to live this in practice… to know what it looks like in the 21st century.

    I’ve been studying early church history lately, and it’s been fascinating to note how the late 2nd century Christians are reported as living like the “Acts 2Open Link in New Window” Christians… “All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” It was as if the sacrificial practice of the very early church kept being passed on from person to person, reinforced by the earnest commitment to live by the explicit teachings of Jesus. Somewhere along the way, many of us forgot how to live like this.

    I include myself as one of the dysfunctional amnesiacs (so I’d better read the book!)… although Deb really is lightyears ahead of most of us.

  8. nony on June 13th, 2008 10:25 am

    Just wanted to say what a blessing this blog is. Thanks for the great reading!

    I pray you will grace us with your knowledge
    http://www.crossrevival.com/phpbb/index.php

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