“Individualism” and modern evangelism

[Carbon]

Has modernism affected Christianity? How about evangelism? Individualism been an effect?
Let’s have a look,


But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matt 28:16-20.

After reading this passage in Mathew, considering all history who is Jesus addressing? Has modernism distorted or changed the meaning? If so, how?

Consider 2 Corinthians 5:20-21

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Who are the ambassadors? And who are to be reconciled to God?

 

[Carbon]

Consider this passage:

I solemnly exhort you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and exhort, with great patience and instruction.
For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and they will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
But as for you, use self-restraint in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
2 Timothy 4:1-5.

We know who Paul writes to, Pastor Timothy, but how does the Christian world comprehend this? Is this the church being exhorted? Is the Christian church being strongly encouraged to do what Paul says in this passage?

 

[makesends]

Consider this passage:

I solemnly exhort you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and exhort, with great patience and instruction.
For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and they will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
But as for you, use self-restraint in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
2 Timothy 4:1-5.

We know who Paul writes to, Pastor Timothy, but how does the Christian world comprehend this? Is this the church being exhorted? Is the Christian church being strongly encouraged to do what Paul says in this passage?

I suppose it depends on what you mean by modernism. Certainly the shift in thinking a focus of attention and many other things have affected our worldview and assumptions. Even in my lifetime I've seen the shift from absolutes to relativism, to the point that the same words don't have the same meanings as they used to. Even before I was born, words had gone from "meaning" to "connotation", so that for the same word —for example, "God", in one context I had more in common with a Muslim than with the Christians around me, because he saw, 'absolute causer', while they saw, 'kindly grandfather in the clouds'.

 

[Carbon]

I suppose it depends on what you mean by modernism. Certainly the shift in thinking a focus of attention and many other things have affected our worldview and assumptions. Even in my lifetime I've seen the shift from absolutes to relativism, to the point that the same words don't have the same meanings as they used to. Even before I was born, words had gone from "meaning" to "connotation", so that for the same word —for example, "God", in one context I had more in common with a Muslim than with the Christians around me, because he saw, 'absolute causer', while they saw, 'kindly grandfather in the clouds'.

I mean more in the sense that the church actually interpreted and understood the scriptures differently in the first 1500 years. Over the last 500 years, it's been quite different.
One quick example, the first 1500 years (well, the early years for sure) The church was concerned with correct doctrine and feeding the sheep real spiritual food and growing them strong. What is perhaps the most important thing in our modern times? Even thinking about the last few hundred years. It's growing the church, isnt it? Sermons are built around it, and scripture is changed and taught in error because of it.

 

[makesends]

I mean more in the sense that the church actually interpreted and understood the scriptures differently in the first 1500 years. Over the last 500 years, it's been quite different.
One quick example, the first 1500 years (well, the early years for sure) The church was concerned with correct doctrine and feeding the sheep real spiritual food and growing them strong. What is perhaps the most important thing in our modern times? Even thinking about the last few hundred years. It's growing the church, isnt it? Sermons are built around it, and scripture is changed and taught in error because of it.

Yes, indeed. Growth has taken backseat to Evangelism, and evangelism (little e), meaning only, emotional decision-making. I'm not hyperbolizing much there, either. "God" means whatever you need it to mean, and, by the way, he loves you unconditionally and is waiting for you with open arms and a smile on his face.

 

[Carbon]

Yes, indeed. Growth has taken backseat to Evangelism, and evangelism (little e), meaning only, emotional decision-making. I'm not hyperbolizing much there, either. "God" means whatever you need it to mean, and, by the way, he loves you unconditionally and is waiting for you with open arms and a smile on his face.

Yes, sadly, it has. Thats the big concern today, numbers. Many congregations would only be known as Christian because they proclaim they are. As far as maturity and doctrine? That's a problem.

 

[Carbon]

Much of the New Testament, especially those known as the "Pastoral Epistles" (1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus), was written directly to church leaders rather than to general congregations and individual Christians. These letters focus on church organization, qualifications for elders and deacons, and instructions for managing doctrine.

For example:
I solemnly exhort you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and exhort, with great patience and instruction.
For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and they will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
But as for you, use self-restraint in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
2 Timothy 4:1-5.

In this passage, who else but pastors (elders) are encouraged and charged to preach? Or, be ready (prepare) in and out of season.
How many people (individuals) run around rebuking and correcting everyone? And they lack patience and instruction. Not that we as individual Christians shouldn't be ready to speak up when needed. But Christ put his church together for a reason.

 

[makesends]

Yes, sadly, it has. Thats the big concern today, numbers. Many congregations would only be known as Christian because they proclaim they are. As far as maturity and doctrine? That's a problem.

Much of the New Testament, especially those known as the "Pastoral Epistles" (1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus), was written directly to church leaders rather than to general congregations and individual Christians. These letters focus on church organization, qualifications for elders and deacons, and instructions for managing doctrine.

For example:
I solemnly exhort you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and exhort, with great patience and instruction.
For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and they will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
But as for you, use self-restraint in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
2 Timothy 4:1-5.

In this passage, who else but pastors (elders) are encouraged and charged to preach? Or, be ready (prepare) in and out of season.
How many people (individuals) run around rebuking and correcting everyone? And they lack patience and instruction. Not that we as individual Christians shouldn't be ready to speak up when needed. But Christ put his church together for a reason.

Anyhow, your OP speaks of 'Individualism'. In what sense were you thinking when you went there? Why were you thinking of that? Versus, perhaps, corporate Christianity, or something else?

 

[Carbon]

Anyhow, your OP speaks of 'Individualism'. In what sense were you thinking when you went there? Why were you thinking of that? Versus, perhaps, corporate Christianity, or something else?

Yes I’ll try to explain more tomorrow.

 

[makesends]

Yes I’ll try to explain more tomorrow.

Not to pursue a tangent, but (I can't help it ), what are you referring to here? What is that reason? Or why that last sentence?



"In this passage, who else but pastors (elders) are encouraged and charged to preach? Or, be ready (prepare) in and out of season.

"How many people (individuals) run around rebuking and correcting everyone? And they lack patience and instruction. Not that we as individual Christians shouldn't be ready to speak up when needed. But Christ put his church together for a reason."


Does that reason have to do with the sentences before that last one, that the Church together—corporate, 'one body'—denies the sort of individuality insisted on by modern thinking?