The Celtic Way of Evangelism

The Celtic Way of Evangelism

George Hunter, in his research for his book, The Celtic Way of Evangelism, saw a theme in the spiritual story of Christians he interviewed. They felt they belonged and were loved and were valued before they believed in Christ. After experiencing life with Christians, they realized they too believed. Then, as a public expression of that belief, they were baptized or confirmed. 

Hunter documents how the United Bible Societies in England actually quantified this in their research. They found that all 511 Christian converts in their study had had similar conversion experiences. They first experienced friendship and community from Christ-followers, and their personal decisions to become Christians took time. 

Jesus tells us to make disciples and to teach them, but we tend to morph those commands together. We act as if teaching is how we make disciples. In reality, making disciples requires doing and being the church together, and, along the way, teaching one another the truths of the Scripture. Many have said, “Faith is about three-fourths caught, and one-fourth taught.”

To fulfill this commandment from the Lord requires being flexible to follow God as he leads us into his harvest – adapting how we share the Gospel so the lost can hear and understand it. The goal is to express the Gospel within a particular culture. They will know you are Jesus’ people by the way you love one another.

John 13.34-35

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

John 17:21 (ESV)

Jesus also prayed, “… that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

In other words, the quality and Christ-likeness of our life and our common life together, according to Jesus, will be the first witness to our world. Making a disciple is helping people belong so that they can believe.

In this post-Christian age, doing and being the church together is our greatest evangelistic tool. As disciples, we can extend hospitality to anyone, believing that our community will be the initial witness to the gospel.

A chief value in the life of Celtic Christians was hospitality. 

If a visitor came to a community or a Monastery, the Abbot or lead pastor would serve the visitor a meal, and if the Abbot was fasting (a common Celtic practice), he would break the fast in order to share a meal.

As missional people, we all can share meals with those not yet believing, over the dinner table, or coffee at a local coffee shop, or on a walk in the park. Hospitality and parties are very missional and effective ways to seek the lost and make disciples. This is a kingdom experience - a kingdom process. Here are some of the key elements:

• Establish a welcoming and safe community
• Engage non-believers in conversation and friendship
• Offer ministry for their needs, and hospitality.

As you share your life with your new friends, they will learn what you believe. Eventually, the time will come when you can invite them to believe. People will see the life of Jesus in the imperfect and cracked lives of us, his clay vessels. In fact, belonging usually comes before believing.

Matthew 28.19-20

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.