Alan Hirsch
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...
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.
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.
