First Church of Jerusalem

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Today's Early Church Wisdom
“None of us offers resistance when he is seized, or avenges himself for your unjust violence, although our people are numerous and plentiful…it is not lawful for us to hate, and so we please God more when we render no requital for injury…we repay your hatred with kindness.”
~ Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage (died 258AD)
This week's Psalm is Psalm 31 'My Rock, My Shield, My Song'

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An “Holistic” Witness

The value of helpfulness in preparing the hearts of men and women to receive Jesus is something that is stressed by David J. Bosch (1991) in his Transforming mission: Paradigm shifts in theology of mission. Bosch’s model of mission reframed evangelism as holistic witness within God’s redemptive kingdom. What does Bosch mean by ‘holistic witness’? He uses the concept of "holistic witness" (or holistic mission) to describe an inseparable link between verbal evangelism and social responsibility, arguing that preaching the gospel and actively pursuing justice, peace, and physical healing are two essential, co-dependent dimensions of the same mission. Let us be clear that this is not substituting social care for preaching the gospel! It is opening the door for the gospel. As Bosch makes clear, our mission is: "...the proclamation of salvation in Christ to those who do not believe in him, calling them to repentance and conversion, announcing forgiveness of sins, and inviting them to become living members of Christ’s earthly community and to begin a life of service to others in the power of the Holy Spirit.” No farmer would think of sowing his seed before he had ploughed and prepared his soil. Evangelism is the same. Start with the heart.

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