Evangelism Conference 30 September 2011

Christian Witness in aMulti-Religious World

Recommendations for Conduct

Can the Mission be corrupt?

• What is the difference between Mission and Proselytism?

• What is Forced Conversion?• Abuse of Power!• What is the difference between Charity

support and financial incentives?• Has exploitation of poverty, a place in

Christian outreach?

Evangelism & other religions !!

• Does Evangelism contradicts with the human right “freedom of religion”

• Do we need to Demean other religions, to lift up our own?

• Can Culture & Language, be very sensitive area that we need to address?

• Can Unethical Practice affects Evangelism / Mission?

“Your Heart is not right”And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.“ But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. (Acts 8:18-21)

وح� 18 الر� �ع�طى ي ل� س� الر� �د�ي ي أ �وض�ع� ب �ه� ن أ يم�ون� س� ى أ ر م�ا ول

اه�م در ه�ما ل قد�م �ق�د�س� هذا:» 19ال �ض*ا ي أ ا ن أ �ي ان ع�ط�ي أ * �ال قائوح الر� ل� ق�ب ي دي� ي �ه� ي عل وضع�ت� من� ي�

أ �ى ت ح ، ل�طان الس� .» �ق�د�س :» 20ال �ك ن أل ، ك� �هال �ل ل معك �ك ف�ض�ت �ن� ك �ت ل �ط�ر�س� ب ه� ل فقال

! اه�م �در ب الله� ة مو�ه�ب �ي ن ق�ت ت ن� أ �ت ن 21ظن وال Dص�يب ن ك ل �س ي لم�ر�، األ هذا ف�ي Dةع الله� ق�ر� مام

أ ق�يم*ا ت م�س� �س ي ل ك �ب قل ن� أل .

“This Good Conscience” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. (1Pt 3:15-17)

ة� 15 �م�جاوب ل �م*ا دائ ع�دIين ت م�س� ، �م� �ك �وب ق�ل ف�ي �له اإل ب� الر� وا قدIس� ل� ب Lةاعدو� ب ، �م� ف�يك �ذ�ي ال جاء� الر� ب� ب س عن� �م� �ك ل أ س� ي من� Iل� ك

، Lف�وخال�ح� 16و ص� ير� م� ض� �م�ون ول�ك�م� ت ش� ي �ذ�ين ال �ون ك ي ي� �ك ل ،�م� �ك ي عل ون ر� ف�ت ي ما ف�ي و�ن �خ�ز ي ، يح� �مس� ال ف�ي �حة الص�ال �م� ك ت ير س�

. Yر ش فاع�ل�ي �م� 17ك �ت ن وأ الله�، ة� يئ مش� اءت� ش �ن� إ �م� �مك ل أ ت ن� ألرا ش �ع�ون صان �م� �ت ن وأ �ه� م�ن ف�ضل� أ ا، �ر* ي خ �ع�ون .صان

Christian Witness in a Multi-Religious WorldRecommendations for Conduct

Who•World Council of Churches (WCC) •The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA)•Vatican’s Pontifical Council on Inter-religious Dialogue (PCID) Why•To identify the biblical call to evangelism•To outline the ethical mandates related to the Gospel.When•June 28, 2011, at the headquarters of the WCC in Geneva.

Recommendations for Conduct3 Parts

1. The “Basis” for Christian Mission. {7}2. The “Principles” Christians are called to

follow in witnessing of Christ in consistency with the Gospel. {12}

3. The “Recommendations” to all Christians, church bodies and mission organizations. {6}

Basis for Christian Mission 1- It is a Privilege and Joy a Privilege and Joy to give an accounting for the hope that is within us

15 ، �م� �ك �وب ق�ل ف�ي �له اإل ب� الر� وا قدIس� ل� من� ب Iل� ك ة� اوب �م�ج ل �م*ا دائ ع�دIين ت من� م�س� Iل� ك ة� اوب �م�ج ل �م*ا دائ ع�دIين ت م�س��م� ف�يك �ذ�ي ال اء� ج الر� ب� ب س عن� �م� �ك ل أ س� �م� ي ف�يك �ذ�ي ال جاء� الر� ب� ب س عن� �م� �ك ل أ س� وخو�فL ي Lةاعدو� ب ،

2- Jesus Christ is the Supreme WitnessSupreme Witness37 : «: » « : �نIي إ ق�ول� ت �ت ن أ وع� س� ي جاب أ ؟ Dل�كم �ذ*ا إ �ت ن فأ أ ط�س� �يال ب ه� ل فقال

ا،. ن أ �د�ت� و�ل قد� �هذا ل Dل�كم . Iقح� �ل ل هد ش� أل � م �عال ال �لى إ �ت� ي ت أ قد� �هذا . ول Iقح� �ل ل هد ش� أل � م �عال ال �لى إ �ت� ي ت أ قد� �هذا �ل� ول كصو�ت�ي مع� س� ي Iقح� ال م�ن ه�و «من�

3- Jesus Christ teachings Jesus Christ teachings (and of the early church) must be theguides for Christian mission.

ف�ي » ش� أل �ي ن ل س ر� أ ، �ين اك �مس ال ر Iش �ب أل �ي حن مس �ه� ن أل علي�، Iب الر� وح� ر�

صر�، �ب �ال ب �ع�م�ي� �ل ول ق� �ط�ال �اإل ب ور�ين س�� �مأ �ل ل اد�ي �ن أل ، �ق�ل�وب� ال ر�ي س� �ك �م�ن ال

�ة�، ي Iح�ر� ال ف�ي ح�ق�ين �س �م�ن ال ل س� ر�� ة� 19وأ �ول �مق�ب ال Iب الر� ة� ن �س ب �ر�ز ك

وأ ».

Basis for Christian Mission4- Engaging in dialogue with people of different religions and cultures

! «: �ون �و�ي �ين ث األ جال� Iالر �ها ي

أ وقال اغ�وس ب �وس ر�ي أ وس�ط� ف�ي �ول�س� ب فوقف�م� �ك ن أ ك Lه�جو Iل� ك م�ن� �م� اك ر

ا، أ ك�ث�ير� ت�د�ي�ن�ون� ا، م� ك�ث�ير� ت�د�ي�ن�ون� �ظ�ر� م� ن وأ از� ت ج� أ �ت� �ن ك ما �ن ي ب �ي �ن ن أل .» «: ف مج�ه�ول Lله� إل �ه� ي عل *ا �وب �ت مك ح*ا مذ�ب �ض*ا ي أ وجد�ت� ، �م� �ك �ودات مع�ب �لى ال ذ�ي ال ذ�ي إ

. ب�ه� ل�ك�م� �ن�اد�ي أ �ن�ا أ هذ�ا ل�ون�ه�، ه� ت�ج� ن�ت�م�� أ و� ون�ه� . ت�ت ق� ب�ه� ل�ك�م� �ن�اد�ي أ �ن�ا أ هذ�ا ل�ون�ه�، ه� ت�ج� ن�ت�م�� أ و� ون�ه� م ت�ت ق� �عال ال لق خ �ذ�ي ال �له� اإل

�ل اك هي ف�ي �ن� ك س� ي ال ر�ض�، واأل ماء� الس� ب� ر ه�و �ذ� إ هذا، ف�يه�، ما �ل� وك

ه�و �ذ� إ ،Lء ي� ش �لى إ Dاج ت م�ح� �ه� ن أ ك �اس� الن اد�ي ي

�أ ب �خ�دم� ي وال اد�ي، ي �األ ب Lةوع� مص�ن�جم�يع ال �ع�ط�ي . ي Lء ي� ش �ل� وك ا ف�س* ون اة* ي :ح (25-22-17اع )

5- We are commissioned by Jesus Christ to witness to himذ�وا ت�ل�م� و� ب�وا اذ�ه� ذ�وا ف� ت�ل�م� و� ب�وا اذ�ه� و ف� � �مم األ و جم�يع � �مم األ م�جم�يع د�وه� د�وه�م�ع�م� وح� ع�م� والر� �ن� واالب اآلب � م �اس� وح� ب والر� �ن� واالب اآلب � م �اس� ب

وع. �ق�د�س� وع. ال �ق�د�س� Iم�وه�م�ال Iم�وه�م�ل ح�فظ�وا ل ي ن� ح�فظ�وا أ ي ن� . جم�يع أ �ل� ك �م� معك ا ن أ وها �ه� ب �م� �ك �ت و�صي أ ما

.» الد�ه�ر� �ق�ضاء� ان �لى إ � �ام ي :األ (20-28:19مت )

6- If Christians engage in inappropriate methods of exercising mission , they betray the gospel.

الله� مج�د� ه�م� ع�وز وأ �وا خ�طأ أ �جم�يع� ال �ذ� :إ (23-3رو )

Basis for Christian Mission7- conversion is ultimately the work of the Holy

Spirit• Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do

not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin,righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me. (John 16:7-9) : �م� �يك �ت أ ي ال �طل�ق� ن أ م� ل �ن� إ �ه� ن أل �طل�ق، ن أ ن� أ �م� ك ل Dر� ي خ �ه� �ن إ �حق� ال �م� ك ل ق�ول� أ Iي لك�ن

ي، Iزم�ع� ي،ال Iزم�ع� . ال �م� �ك ي �ل إ �ه� ل س� ر�� أ �ت� ذهب �ن� إ وعلى ولك�ن� Lة� خط�ي على م �عال ال Iت� ك �ب ي ذاك جاء ى وعلى ومت Lة� خط�ي على م �عال ال Iت� ك �ب ي ذاك جاء ى ومت

Lة �ون �ن دي وعلى Yر� ةL ب �ون �ن دي وعلى Yر� ب�ي : : ب �ون �ؤ�م�ن ي ال �ه�م� ن فأل Lة� خط�ي على م�ا

أ .

ها، صو�ت مع� س� وت اء�، ش ت �ث� ي ح ه�ب� ت يح� Iلر ذ�هب� ا ت �ن ي أ �لى إ وال �ي �ت أ ت �ن ي أ م�ن� م� ع�ل ت ال �ك ذ�هب� لك�ن ت �ن ي أ �لى إ وال �ي �ت أ ت �ن ي أ م�ن� م� ع�ل ت ال �ك . لك�ن.» وح� الر� م�ن �د و�ل من� �ل� ك ذا (3:8يو) هك

مع�ون س� ي �وا ان ك �ذ�ين ال جم�يع� على �ق�د�س� ال وح� الر� حل� �م�ور� األ �هذ�ه� ب �م� ل ك ت ي �ط�ر�س� ب ما �ن ي فب�ط�ر�س،. ب مع جاء من� �ل� ك ، ان� ت �خ� ال ه�ل� أ م�ن� �ذ�ين ال �ون �م�ؤ�م�ن ال �دهش فان �مة ل �ك ن� ال ن� أل أل

�ض*ا ي أ � �مم األ على ت� ب ك �س ان قد� �ق�د�س� ال وح� الر� ة �ض*ا مو�ه�ب ي أ � �مم األ على ت� ب ك �س ان قد� �ق�د�س� ال وح� الر� ة �م�ون .مو�ه�ب ل ك ت ي ه�م� مع�ون س� ي �وا ان ك �ه�م� ن أل

« : . حت�ى �ماء ال ع م�ن ي ن� أ Dدح أ ط�يع� ت س� ي ى �ر ت أ �ط�ر�س� ب جاب أ Lذ� ئ ين ح� الله �عظIم�ون وي Lة ن ل�س� �أ ب

» �ض*ا؟ ي أ ح�ن� ن ما ك �ق�د�س ال وح الر� �وا �ل قب �ذ�ين ال ء� هؤ�ال م�د ع�ت ي (47-10:44اع )ال

The 12 Principles of Christian Mission/ Evangelism1- Acting in God’s loveJesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.‘ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.‘ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.“ (Mathew 22:37-40)

2- Imitating Jesus ChristSo Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.“ (John 20:21)

3- Christian Virtues But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 5:22).

The 12 Principles of Christian Mission/ Evangelism

4- Acts of Service & JusticeHe has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)5- Discernment in ministries of healingFor you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.“ But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! (Galatians 5:13-15).6- Rejection of violence The LORD tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates. (Psalms 11:5)

ه� ف�س� ن �غ�ض�ه� �ب فت � �م الظ�ل وم�ح�ب� ير� Iر Iالش م�ا أ ال�صIدIيق، ح�ن� م�ت ي ب� .الر�

The 12 Principles of Christian Mission/ Evangelism7- Freedom of religion and belief

And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?“ But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." And they went to another village. (Luke 9:54-55)

. م� فل ه� ل �ع�د�وا ي �ى ت ح Iين ام�ر�ي �لس� ل ة* ي قر� �وا ل ودخ �وا فذهب ،* ال س� ر� وج�ه�ه� مام أ ل س ر�

وأ . �ا، ن �وح وي ع�ق�وب� ي �م�يذاه� �ل ت �ك ذل ى أ ر م�ا فل �يم ل ش �ور� أ ح�و ن �ج�ه*ا م�ت ان ك وج�هه� ن� أل ل�وه� ق�ب ي

» �ض*ا؟:» ي أ �ا �ي �يل إ فعل ما ك ، ه�م� �ي �ف�ن فت ماء� الس� م�ن Dار ن �ز�ل ن ت ن� أ ق�ول ن ن� أ �ر�يد� ت أ ، ب� ار ي قاال

! «: �ت� أ ي م� ل ان� �س �ن اإل �ن اب ن� أل �ما �ت ن أ Lوح ر� Iي أ م�ن� مان� ع�ل ت �ما ت لس� وقال ه�ما هر �ت وان فت �ت فال

لIص �خ �ي ل ل� ب ، �اس� الن �ف�س ن أ �ه�ل�ك �ي .«لAnd Jonah began to enter the city on the first day's walk. Then he cried out and said, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. (Jonah 3:4-5) « : �قل�ب� ن ت و�م*ا ي ع�ين ب ر�

أ ع�د ب وقال ادى ون ،Lاح�دو L و�م ي ة ير مس� ة �مد�ين ال د�خ�ل� ي ان� �ون ي دأ �ت فاب�لى«. إ �ير�ه�م� ب ك م�ن� م�س�وح*ا وا �س� ب ول L �صو�م ب ادو�ا ون �الله� ب وى �ين ن ه�ل� أ فآمن وى �ين ن

صغ�ير�ه�م�

The 12 Principles of Christian Mission/ Evangelism

8. Mutual respect and solidarity. Christians are called to commit themselves to work with all people in mutual respect, promoting together justice, peace and the common good. Interreligious cooperation is an essential dimension of suchcommitment.9. Respect for all people. We recognize that the gospel both challenges and enriches cultures. Even when the gospel challenges certain aspects of cultures, Christians are called to respect all people. Christians are also called to recognize elements in their own cultures that are challenged by the gospel.

The 12 Principles of Christian Mission/ Evangelism10. Renouncing false witness. Christians are to speak sincerely and respectfully; they are to listen in order to learn about and understand others’ beliefs and practices, and are encouraged to acknowledge and appreciate what is true andgood in them. Any comment or critical approach should be made in a spirit of mutual respect, making sure not to bear false witness concerning other religions.11. Ensuring personal judgment. Christians are to acknowledge that changing one’s religion is a decisive step that must be accompanied by sufficient time for adequate reflection and preparation, through a process ensuring full personal freedom.12. Building interreligious relationships. Christians should continue to build relationships of respect and trust with people of different religions so as to facilitate deeper mutual understanding, reconciliation and cooperation for the common good.

Recommendations 1. Study the issues set out in this document in this document and where appropriate

formulate guidelines formulate guidelines for conduct regarding Christian witness applicable to their particular contexts.

2. Build relationships of respect and trust with people of all relationships of respect and trust with people of all religionsreligions, in particular at institutional levels between churches between churches and other religious communities, engaging in on-going interreligious dialogue as part of their Christian commitment..

3. Encourage Christians to strengthen their own religious identity strengthen their own religious identity and faith while deepening their knowledge and understanding of deepening their knowledge and understanding of different religions,different religions, and to do so also taking into account the perspectives of the adherents of those religions.

Recommendations 4. Cooperate with other religious communities engaging in interreligious advocacy towards justice and the common good. advocacy towards justice and the common good.

5. Call on their governments to ensure that freedom of religion is ensure that freedom of religion is properly and comprehensively respectedproperly and comprehensively respected, recognizing that in many countries religious institutions and persons are inhibited from exercising their mission.

6. Pray for their neighbors and their well-being, recognizing that prayer is integral to who we are and what we doprayer is integral to who we are and what we do, as well as to Christ’s mission.

Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out

laborers into His harvest.“ (Matthew 9: 37-38)